1. Community Outreach Plan● Review draft2. Establish Mission and Goals3. Subcommittee Meeting Schedules
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| Franklin, MA: Master Plan Update Committee - Agenda for July 26, 2023 at 6:30 PM |
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| Episode 235 - Sheila Donohue Interview Vero Wines |
Next Books to Go is August 8th. Hope your summer is filled with good people and good books!
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| Books to Go at Horace Mann Middle School - Aug 8 from 11 AM to 1 PM |
"Like many fresh ideas in recent years, the inspiration for an official urban hiking trail in Boston came during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Miles Howard, who would go on increasingly longer walks to feel the “escape of a hike” without leaving Greater Boston.“We really had to make the most of what we had here in our backyard,” Howard, a freelance journalist who has written for The Boston Globe, said of his treks in 2020. “These adventures became kind of a pastime during the first year of the pandemic.”Then, Howard took a hike on the Crosstown Trail, which connects opposite areas of San Francisco through hidden trails, public parks, and shopping corridors. Upon returning to Boston, Howard set out to create a similar path that would use existing parks, streets, and landmarks in the city.The result was the Walking City Trail, an unofficial trail mapped by Howard through existing walkways that stretches 27 miles across 17 neighborhoods from its origin in Mattapan to its finish at Bunker Hill."
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| A 27-mile community-made trail brings urban hiking to Boston |
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| Hockomock Area YMCA |
At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.
"THIS Wednesday night attend the viewing of a documentary on children & internet safety.
It's certainly a heavy topic, but critically important. Professionals will offer a comforting space for viewing and guide the discussion in an inclusive and solution-focused way."
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"Parents: Join us for an important film screening of Childhood 2.0, followed by a discussion with Local Parents.
Childhood 2.0 is required viewing for anyone who wants to better understand the world their children are navigating as they grow up in the digital age. Featuring actual parents and kids as well as industry-leading experts in child safety and development, this documentary dives into the real-life issues facing kids today — including cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more."
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| Childhood 2.0: The Living Experiment - A movie screening for parents Weds, July 26 at 5:30 PM |
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| Franklin High School: newsletter for week of July 24 |
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| wfpr.fm: A More Perfect Union (audio) |
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell reported that Norfolk County recordings for the second quarter of 2023 indicate a continued decrease in overall real estate activity impacted by interest rates along with a lack of inventory. The increased costs of carrying the purchase of a home, along with limited inventory and high real estate costs, are setting the homeownership bar too high for some individuals.
“It is not a secret, and I believe most people can feel it, that the economy is experiencing a downward trend, driven by two factors: limited inventory and high interest rates, relative to what they were in 2020, which makes finding a home difficult for homebuyers in general but especially for first-time homebuyers who must now deal with the added cost of higher interest rates,” stated Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell.
In the second quarter of 2023 (April, May, and June), the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds recorded 27,374 documents. This was 23% less than the second quarter of 2022.
“Looking at the statistics, we can see that fewer properties are being sold. The likely factors that are contributing to this are that while new home construction has increased, it is not enough to keep up with the demand, and we need to increase the supply of new homes,” said Register O’Donnell. “The other factor is that existing homes remain off the market, possibly because individuals that want to sell may be struggling to find a suitable home to move into within their budget, and for those individuals who took advantage of lower interest rates in the past, they may be hesitant to exchange that for a higher rate.”
The total number of deeds for the second quarter of 2023, which reflects both commercial and residential real estate sales and transfers, was 4,193, down 16% from the second quarter of 2022.
“Higher interest rates affect seasoned homebuyers in terms of eagerness to refinance and willingness to sell, but first-time homebuyers are particularly impacted, especially considering average prices for commercial and residential property are 16% above 2021 values and 32% above 2020 values,” said Register O’Donnell. “This means that homebuyers in 2023 are paying higher property prices and a higher interest rate, resulting in a monthly mortgage payment that may not be economically feasible, particularly for first-time homebuyers who may not have the financial resources to overcome this obstacle.”
The average sale price for the second quarter of this year was $996,394, a 23% decrease compared to the second quarter of 2022. The total dollar volume of commercial and residential sales is down, decreasing 42% over the same period in 2022.
For the months of April, May, and June, lending activity overall continued to decline. During these months, a total of 4,084 mortgages were recorded, which is 40% less than the same period last year.
“Those who took advantage of the lower interest rates in 2020 and 2021 are also less likely to refinance at current rates, and with property sales going down, this results in a more pronounced decline in the number of mortgages recorded,” said Register O’Donnell. “For individuals who are struggling to keep up with payments now, refinancing at a higher interest rate is not going to help, which is one factor contributing to the increase in notices to foreclose and foreclosure deeds.”
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds continues to closely monitor the foreclosure market. In the second quarter of 2023, there were 26 foreclosure deeds recorded as a result of mortgage foreclosures taking place in Norfolk County, whereas in the second quarter of 2022, there were 16 recorded. Additionally, there were 86 notices to foreclose, the first step in the foreclosure process, significantly more than the 66 recorded in 2022’s second quarter.
“We cannot begin to know all the causes that have contributed to these foreclosures and notices to foreclose, but what we do know is that a number of our neighbors have lost their homes, and even more are dangerously close to losing their homes,” said Register O'Donnell. “We all experience unforeseen events in our lives, and sometimes events beyond our control can have devastating emotional and financial effects, so I would urge anyone struggling to pay their mortgage or who knows someone who is struggling to contact one of the non-profit organizations listed on our website, www.norfolkdeeds.org.”
For the past several years, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds has partnered with Quincy Community Action Programs (617-479-8181 x376) and NeighborWorks Housing Solutions (508-587-0950) to help anyone facing challenges paying their mortgage. Another option for homeowners is to contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division (CARD) at 617-727-8400.
Register O’Donnell concluded, “Overall, the housing market has slowed, especially compared to 2022's busy home sale market, but remains relatively stable. While there may be fluctuations in certain areas and in the country as a whole, the demand to live in and own property in Norfolk County remains high, and the housing market in Norfolk County has shown resilience and continues to provide opportunities for both buyers and sellers.”
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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| Homeownership Bar Too High, Too Few Homes Brings Decreased Sales in Second Quarter |
"The emotional response to the climate crisis – even if we feel fearful during an episode of wildfire smoke or flooding – is similar to what many people who live in war zones may experience, Lickel said. While at first, the threat of bombs and attacks are imminent and extremely frightening, eventually those who remain in these areas adapt somewhat to a life in which the threat becomes just another thing to deal with daily. “If they’re not escalating or the nature of the threat’s not changing,” Lickel said, “it is to be expected that the felt emotion is going to go down.”Though the climate crisis is altering our planet rapidly on a geologic time scale, on a human one, changes are happening relatively slowly. That means that even if we see record-setting temperatures or experience our first indoors-due-to-smoke-days, those occurrences will become a new normal within the timespan of our lives. “I’m skeptical that there is going to be an event that’s going to catalyze us more than any of the things that have already happened,” Lickel said."
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| Psychologists say we aren’t designed to remain in a high state of fear for long. Photograph: John Locher/AP |
Come by and check out all the exciting things going on at the #franklinseniorcenter
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| Senior Center events for week of 7/24/23 |
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| Senior Center events for week of 7/24/23 - Mon |
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| Senior Center events for week of 7/24/23 - Tue |
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| Senior Center events for week of 7/24/23 - Wed |
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| Senior Center events for week of 7/24/23 - Thu |
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| Senior Center events for week of 7/24/23 - Fri |
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| Pub Crawl - fund raising for Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund Walk returns July 26 |
Join us, Saturday, August 19th at 3:00 PM.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP by August 12 to: info@franklin.tv
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| Franklin TV Open Board Meeting |
Section 15. Election of Director by the Membership (a) Members shall be notified by the Clerk of the election of a director by the Membership at the Annual Meeting. Said notice shall be in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4 of this Article IV. (b) Any eligible voting Member may be nominated for election to the position of Director by: (i) Written notification to the Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to Annual Meeting; or (ii) By nomination from the floor of the Annual Meeting made and seconded by no less than three (3) eligible voting members.
See you then. And – as always –Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.And, thank you for watching.
