Sacchetti: 4G, 4ADavis: 2G, 4AConsigli: 3G, 2AO'Brien: 2G
23-3 W over Milford. Total team effort! And big welcome back to Riley Cross!!
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FHS Panthers |
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 *
Sacchetti: 4G, 4ADavis: 2G, 4AConsigli: 3G, 2AO'Brien: 2G
23-3 W over Milford. Total team effort! And big welcome back to Riley Cross!!
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FHS Panthers |
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HockomockSports.com 2023 Hockomock League Girls Hockey All Stars - Franklin |
The Conservation Commission will hold its Eighth Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) focus group meeting this Thursday, May 4 from 6-7 PM in Town Council Chambers.
This meeting will also be available via Zoom. Zoom login information can be found here.
In case you'll miss the Thursday meeting or would like further discussion, you are also invited to attend OSRP Office Hours Friday, May 5 between 10 and 11am in the third floor training room (Room 326A) at Town Hall or via Zoom.
Bring your ideas and see you there!
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/2023-osrp-focus-group-meeting-habitat-protection-ecosystem-restoration-other
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2023 OSRP Focus Group Meeting - Habitat Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, Other Conservation Lands - Thursday May 4 |
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Many events on the May calendar with Fairmount Fruit Farm |
"Great ideas sometimes come to people in the shower or while stuck in traffic. For Jake Haendel, lightning struck when he was accidentally locked in a bathroom stall at a nightclub near North Station.Haendel, 34, suffers from a rare neurological disorder, has trouble with fine motor control, and needs an electric scooter to get around. After being unable to grasp and unlock the stall door, he had to text his friends at their table in the restaurant next door, Guy Fieri’s Tequila Cocina, to come help.“It’s definitely not funny, but I do laugh about the absurdity of it,” he told a Globe reporter in recounting the incident, which happened in September 2021. “Places are called ‘accessible,’ but in this meaningless, broad term.”
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Crowd sourced info for navigating with disabilities: "Boston entrepreneur looks to build a ‘Waze for accessibility’" |
"WEEKLY RECAP
The attached google drive link has the Weekly Recap from April 23- April 29.
This recap provides some greater detail about the calls we responded to: https://t.co/WmBxsHpe8g"
Franklin Police - weekly report through April 29, 2023 |
"For much of recent history, intimate private colleges and universities have thrived here, as much a part of the region’s identity as tumbledown stone walls and scenic coastlines, the local highways bristling with signs signaling that another quintessential New England campus is just an exit away.But the business model for the small liberal arts school is much less viable these days, as the population of high school graduates continues to decline and more young people are skeptical of, or unable to bear, the hefty cost of a college degree. Already in Massachusetts, more than 20 colleges closed completely or merged into larger institutions since 2014, according to the state Department of Higher Education.And industry insiders expect more of the smaller or lesser-known schools to fade away, while a handful of private universities boasting massive endowments will continue to flourish.Two of the nation’s big credit rating agencies reported dire financial outlooks for the year for the higher education sector: Fitch Ratings says conditions in the sector are “deteriorating,” and Moody’s Investors Service says the outlook is “negative.”
Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, announces the return of its High School Summer Pass™ program, inviting high schoolers ages 14 – 191 to work out for free at any of its more than 2,400 Planet Fitness locations throughout the United States and Canada from May 15 through August 31. Starting today, high schoolers can visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to register for the program before gaining club access starting Monday, May 15. Teens under 18 in the U.S. and under 19 in Canada must register with a parent or guardian online or in-club.
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Teens Can Work Out FOR FREE All Summer at Planet Fitness: May 15-August 31 |
In its third year, High School Summer Pass continues to offer high schoolers a way to stay active during the summer months in a fun, safe, and Judgement Free environment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), youth up to 17 years of age should get a recommended average of at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity to boost their physical and mental health2. Furthermore, in 2021, The Youth Risk Behavior Survey commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 29 percent of high school students experienced poor mental health, a steady biannual increase since the survey was first fielded in 20113, demonstrating that youth today consistently – and increasingly – face mental health struggles.
Launching during Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, High School Summer Pass allows teens the opportunity to prioritize their mental and physical wellness goals during a critical time when school is out and important academic and extracurricular programs such as sports, gym class and after-school activities are in recess. Research also shows that students who complete the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity experienced greater academic achievement compared to those who did not4. Last year, Planet Fitness' High School Summer Pass program motivated 3.5 million high school-aged students to prioritize their health who completed 17 million workouts at Planet Fitness over a three-and-a-half-month period.
"At Planet Fitness, it's our continued mission as the leader in fitness to provide high school students free access to our more than 2,400 locations in the U.S. and Canada to start and stick with a health and fitness journey. Research shows that teens are struggling with overall wellness, and this is one of the many reasons why the High School Summer Pass program is so important," said Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer at Planet Fitness. "Having joined the gym for the first time when I was 16, I know firsthand the benefits exercise has had on my life, so we look forward to helping teens create lifelong habits in the Judgement Free Zone® this summer."
SCHOOL AND STUDENT REWARDS
To further motivate high schoolers to prioritize fitness, all participants who sign up are encouraged to enter the Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass Contest5. Planet Fitness will award 10 lucky teens in the U.S. and Canada with $10,000 individual academic scholarships ($100,000 total) via a TikTok video submission contest. To enter, teens are asked to post a TikTok video tagging @planetfitness using the hashtags #contest and #HSSP23US (U.S. members) or tagging @planetfitnessca using the hashtags #contest and #HSSP23CAN (Canada members) that describes their High School Summer Pass experience. The contest submission period runs through August 31.
Additionally, the top 10 schools on the leaderboard across U.S. and Canada in each tier (as described in the rules) will each receive $10,000! These scholarships can be used to fund athletic equipment, field renovations, physical fitness classes and health and wellness initiatives.
OVERCOMING MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES WITH FITNESS
To understand what is top-of-mind among high schoolers today to better support them over the summer, Planet Fitness commissioned a national study6 which found 61 percent of teens face mental health struggles and 93 percent of teens appreciate how fitness can positively impact their lives and lead to healthier lifestyles into adulthood.
Key findings include:
All High School Summer Pass participants will have access to free fitness training from in-club certified trainers7, free workouts designed specifically for high schoolers in the free Planet Fitness App as well as workout plans available at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass.
For more information on High School Summer Pass, including how to sign up for the free membership at any of the more than 2,400 Planet Fitness locations in the U.S. and Canada, visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass.
About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2022, Planet Fitness had approximately 17 million members and 2,410 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. Approximately 90 percent of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.
1 Teenagers ages 14 – 19 can visit any Planet Fitness location in the United States and Canada. Teens must work out at the location they sign up at and are not permitted to use other locations. Teens under 18 must sign-up with a parent or guardian in-club or online at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass. Once the parent or guardian waiver is signed for teens under 18, teens can work out alone. Students who are already 18 do not need a parent or guardian to be present during the sign-up process.
2 Recommendation of Level of Physical Activity by Age – United States, October 2022, World Health Organization.
3 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data Summary & Trends Report – United States, 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
4 Academic Achievement and Physical Activity: The Ideal Relationship to Promote a Healthier Lifestyle in Adolescents – 2020, Human Kinetics Journal.
5 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to residents of the 50 US/D.C. and Canadian provinces of ON, AB, MB, SK, NB, NL & BC, 14-19 years of age (with parent approval if a minor). $100,000 USD available in the U.S. and $100,000 CAD available in Canada. Void where prohibited. Begins 12:00 a.m. ET on 5/15/23; ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 8/31/23. Grand Prizes (5 for US Students): a $10,000 USD scholarship. Grand Prizes (5 for CAN Students): a $10,000 CAD scholarship. School Prizes (5; 1 per US school tier): $10,000 for athletics and fitness. School Prizes (5; 1 per CAN school tier): $10,000 CAD for athletics and fitness. Winning schools selected based on number of HSSP members from the school and applicable school tier. All prizes awarded as a check to schools/winners (or parent/legal guardian if winner is a minor). For Official Rules, eligibility, entry and school tier details, visit www.pfsummerpasscontest.com. Sponsor: Planet Fitness Holdings, LLC.
6 Online survey conducted by Wired Research to 1,000 parents of teens ages 15-18 and their respective teens, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.
7 Locations are independently owned and operated; please check your local club for details.
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
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Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St |
FM #983 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 983 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin resident, artist, and disability advocate Ali Rheaume. We had our conversation via the Zoom conference bridge on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Our conversation introduces Ali to the community as she shares some of her story living with a brain injury. We talk about her art work, and in particular, about the forthcoming free Disability Expo scheduled for Saturday, May 20 at Franklin Senior Center from 11 AM to 2 PM.
The recording runs about 25 minutes so let’s listen to my conversation with Ali Rheaume. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-983-ali-rheaume-on-disability-and-the-disability-expo-04-25-23
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Ali Rheaume’s Embracing Unique page -> https://alirheaume.com/embracing-unique
Town calendar - (not on there yet)
Disability Expo - May 20 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/04/2023-disability-expo-scheduled-for.html
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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"
FHS Senior Project students polished their ambulance skills |
FHS Senior Project students learned the importance of community outreach |
As home transactions pick up speed as spring continues and in light of recent publicity relating to “deed theft,” Norfolk County Register of Deeds, William P. O’Donnell, today, reminds residents about the Registry's Consumer Notification Program
Deed theft can take different forms. The most common type of fraud preys on people who are in danger of losing their property, usually rental property, through foreclosure. The owners are told that they qualify for a "short sale," a process where the foreclosing lender settles for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, and that if they sign the deed over to a third party, they can avoid the foreclosure. The owner signs a deed over to the third-party scammer, not realizing they are still responsible for the debt, and the scammer, rather than negotiating the short sale, collects and keeps the rental payments until the lender eventually forecloses.
Another type of deed theft targets elderly people who sign over their property without realizing what they are doing. This is often done by a family member. Deed theft is a serious crime that can result in the loss of one's home and equity. Homeowners should be aware of these scams and talk to a lawyer before signing any papers that have to do with their property.
Less common is forgery, where a scammer fakes a homeowner’s signature on a deed and records it in the registry of deeds. A forged deed is not valid and conveys nothing. If a buyer or a lender rely on a forged deed and don’t do their due diligence on a property’s title, they are out of luck. They, not the legitimate property owner, will ultimately lose any money paid to the thief. Forgery is a felony in all fifty states, punishable by jail time and heavy fines. The court may also require restitution for damages caused by the forgery, such as the costs of clearing the title.
Companies now offer paid subscription services that will check public records and let a property owner know if a deed has been recorded that changes who owns their property. It is not title insurance, and most of the time, if a fraud has happened, it won't offer any extra services.
Commenting on the issue, Register O’Donnell stated, "Our mission at the Registry of Deeds is the safety and security of all property records. We recognize that there are unscrupulous individuals who may try to take advantage of the property rights of others. In 2015, we at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds initiated a Consumer Notification Service, a free service whereby subscribers sign up to be notified when any document is recorded under their name. This initiative came about in response to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) indicating property and mortgage fraud was one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in America."
Information on "Consumer Notification" can be found on the Registry website, www.norfolkdeeds.org under the heading "Services". The Registry Customer Service Department can assist anyone who would like to set up the notification for their property.
Register O’Donnell concluded, "I want to reiterate that our free notification service, like the paid services, does not protect against fraud but will at least alert the owner if a fraudulent deed has been recorded. This way the homeowner can take steps right away to combat the fraud. Also, Owners should always be aware of what they are signing when it comes to any document that may affect the title to their real estate and should scrutinize any company that promises to alleviate debt if you sign over a deed to them. In Massachusetts, a deed should always be signed in front of a notary public. Massachusetts notaries are obligated to request identification from the party signing the deed."
If you have any questions about the notification service, please contact our Customer Service Center at 781-461-6101, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Our trained staff is more than willing to answer any questions you may have.
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.
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Register O'Donnell Promotes Consumer Notification Service |