Jamie & Amy provide updates on FinCom, migrants, municipal aggregation, and outlook to Council Mtg (audio)

FM #1064 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1064 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Monday, September 18, 2023.  

Topics for this session

Finance Cmte recap

Migrant update

Municipal Aggregation

Town Council outlook

• Open Space plan

• Council goals update

• Tri-County ballot question

• Demolition bylaw

• Spring St decommission

The recording runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie & Amy on Monday, September 18, 2023 Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1064-talk-franklin-09-18-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Finance Committee agenda for 9/13/23 ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/finance_committee_agenda_9.13.23.pdf 

Town Council agenda for 9/20/23 -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

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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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Jamie & Amy provide updates on FinCom, migrants, municipal aggregation, and outlook to Council Mtg (audio)

Town Council asked to approve ballot question to authorize funding for new Tri-County school for the Nov 7 election

Among the key items on the Town Council agenda Wednesday, Sep 20 is the proposed ballot question to fund the Tri-County new school building. The proposed ballot question is part 2 of the school building approval. Part 1 of the approval is the 11 community vote on October 24, a simple yes or no answer required to build the school. Assuming the school is authorized by a 50% plus 1 margin, then this question is required to authorize Franklin to fund its portion. The proposed ballot question is before the Council to get on the Nov 7, 2023 election ballots.

"Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of

proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the

Town’s allocable share of the bonds issued by the Tri-County Regional

Vocational Technical School District to pay costs of designing, constructing

and equipping a new high school to be located at 147 Pond Street, in

Franklin, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?"

Agenda doc includes supporting docs as well as remote participation info  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

Tri-County building project update provided, some questions remain but the date to vote is set as Oct 24, 2023

FHS boys soccer, golf, field hockey, and boys & girls cross country teams all post wins on Tuesday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023.

Boys Soccer = Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final 

– Behind a pair of first half goals, Franklin earned its fourth straight win following a 3-0 decision at Taunton. Senior Owen Munichiello opened the scoring for the Panthers and classmate Andrew O’Neill doubled the lead, finishing off an assist from Garrett Scagliarini. Just minutes into the second half, Scagliarini orchestrated another Franklin goal by setting up Wyatt Herndon to make it 3-0.

Girls Soccer = Taunton @ Franklin, 3:45

Field Hockey = Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 12 

– Final – Chloe Essam found the back of the net four times to lead Franklin to a big win over visiting Taunton. Essam scored the first two goals of the game and added one in each the second and third.

Golf = Franklin, 151 vs. Grafton, 180 – Final 

– Franklin notched a solid non-league win on its home course, landing a big win over visiting Grafton. Jack Nelson (one birdie) fired a 1-over round of 36 to earn medalist honors in the win for the Panthers. CJ Steel (one birdie) and Tyler O’Brien (three birdies) each added a 38 while Caden Sullivan came in with a 39.

Boys Cross country = Taunton 50 @ Franklin, 15 – Final 

– It was a clean sweep at the top for the Panthers, who moved to 2-0 on the season with a win over Taunton. Jason Huff won the race in 17:38 and was followed by teammates Jonathan Pink (17:38.5), Joshua Diehl (17:54), Andrew Scotland (18:00), and Jack Halter (18:06).

Girls Cross country = Taunton, 38 @ Franklin, 22 – Final 

– Highlighted by strong races from Alex Batla and Fiona Morrison, Franklin improved to 2-0 on the season with a win over Taunton. Batla won for the second time this season, clocking in at 20:00 for first place while Taunton’s Emersyn DePonte took second at 20:12. Morrison was third overall, edging out Taunton’s Sarah Mendonca by less than a second. After splitting the top four, the Panthers had the next four runners: Emma Pruitt, Abby Baker, Katie Sweeney, and Emily Matteson. Taunton’s Maddie Dias was ninth overall and Franklin’s Gianna Stoddard rounded out the top 10.

For other results around the league (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-19-23/

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Reminder that HockomockSports.com changed to a subscription model in July. I have a subscription to view and share the FHS results that they provide. If you want to view all the worth Hockomock League reporting they do, subscribing is a good thing. It is quite reasonable. The subscription link is provided below.

To subscribe to HockomockSports.com ->

https://hockomocksports.com/sign-up/#utm_source=HockomockSports&utm_medium=HomepageDesktop&utm_campaign=20232024

FHS Panther sports results shared via subscription to HockomockSports.com

Watch "Riffin' on Main Street: Michael Walker Jones" on YouTube

Ken Elmore, President of Dean College and special guest Michael Walker Jones are featured in this "Riffin' on Main Street" episode.

Video file -> https://youtu.be/Pxb7VOGeIFk?si=T7iWpsXhhGMMtWpq

Town of Franklin, MA: Children's flu clinic - Oct 11

The Franklin Department of Health is hosting a free Flu Clinic for children (18 and under) on October 11, 2023 from 3-6 PM at the Franklin Senior Center.  

Register here: https://buff.ly/3R9PQhv

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1703891818415260081

Town of Franklin, MA: Children's flu clinic - Oct 11

Dean College Announces New Deans For School Of The Arts And Sanders School Of Business

Dean College is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Ingram, Ph.D., as the new dean for the Dean Sanders ’47 School of Business and Patsy Collins Bandes as the new dean for the School of the Arts.

Bill Ingram joins Dean from the University of North Texas Dallas, where he was on the faculty since 2016, most recently serving as the assistant dean for the School of Business. He brings 10 years of experience teaching business and hospitality operations at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as over 10 years of professional experience in hotel and restaurant management with Walt Disney World Resort, Loews Hostels and Sky Hotels and Resorts. Ingram holds a Ph.D. in hospitality management from the University of Central Florida and an MBA from the University of North Texas. He is also an alumnus of Texas Tech University, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in restaurant, hotel and institutional management.

Bill Ingram

As dean of the Sanders School of Business, Ingram will oversee programs in Athletic Coaching and Recreation Management, Business Management, Communications, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice and Homeland Security, Marketing, Sport Management and Sports Broadcasting. He is tasked with building the baccalaureate culture and raising the bar for the College’s business programs to stay current with the ever-changing industry.

“My biggest focus is aligning our business programs with what the industry wants and needs, especially in areas of cross concentration, whether that be data analysis, accounting, artificial intelligence or business ethics,” Ingram explained. “I’m also here to create business partnerships locally, maximize the relationships we already have, like with Kraft Sports + Entertainment, and think globally so that our students have opportunities that lead to careers.”

Ingram is also heavily focused on building experiential learning into every area of the Sanders School of Business.

“I want our faculty to be as innovative as possible,” he said. “I want to be able to walk through downtown Franklin and see our students out there working, getting hands-on experience and getting outside of the traditional classroom. The courses they are taking should look very similar to the jobs they’ll be doing once they graduate, so they are prepared for a seamless transition to their careers or graduate work.”

Meanwhile, Patsy Collins Bandes comes to Dean after 18 years with the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She first joined the Conservatory as the production stage manager in 2004, joined the theatre and dance faculty in 2006, and served as chair of the Conservatory's Theater Division from 2018 to 2022. As an arts administrator and academic leader with a diverse background in the management of theatre production, Collins Bandes has directed, produced and stage-managed productions for a number of companies, including the Boston Conservatory, North Shore Music Theatre, National Theatre Conservatory, Lizard Head Theatre Company, Intermezzo Chamber Opera, Prometheus Dance, Boston Children’s Chorus and Denver Center Theatre Company, which received a 1998 Tony Award for Excellence in Regional Theatre during her tenure. She holds a B.A. in theatre with an emphasis in directing from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Liberal Arts with a concentration in dramatic arts from Harvard University Extension School.

Patsy Collins Bandes

 Collins Bandes will oversee the entire School of the Arts at Dean, which includes Bachelor of Arts degree programs in Arts and Entertainment Management, Performance, Production and Design, and Theatre Studies, as well as new Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in Acting and Musical Theatre. She aims to build on the school’s foundation of holistic education while increasing the visibility of Dean’s arts programs both locally and nationally, as well as building industry-leading inclusive and diverse curriculum and practices.

“In the first semester, my focus really is getting to know the students and the culture and learning what everybody feels like they love and what they feel could change,” Collins Bandes explained. “Another priority is how we can make our performances, our season and our curriculum culturally aware and as diverse and inclusive as possible and actively engage in anti-racist theatre work. Over the course of the year, we’ll be looking at what is working really well and how we can bring some change into our curriculum and productions.”

To accomplish this, Collins Bandes is taking a holistic approach – not only training students to be artists, but to be citizen artists.

“Every student is a unique human being that has something to offer the world,” she said. “I truly believe that the goal of art is to change the world. By training students to be citizen artists, they can each go out and do so. My responsibility as an arts educator and an arts leader is to help students be a better version of who they are, not strip them down and make them into cookie cutter artists. And what’s great about Dean is that the idea of training the whole student and using a holistic approach is already built into The Dean Difference. It is perfect synergy with my own personal philosophy of how we teach theatre and the arts.”

Shared from ->  https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/dean-college-announces-new-deans-for-school-of-the-arts-and-sanders-school-of-business/

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, September 21, 2023

Please join us for the next meeting of the 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, September 21, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a ZOOM meeting only. 

   

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

 

As always, we will discuss 350 Mass' campaigns for 2023-24, and review local and statewide developments and opportunities in climate and energy advocacy. We will also hear from our members who participated in the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City this past Sunday. 

 

Here are a few additional items and actions for your attention:

Evaluating Climate Solutions: A National Forum Series. Are the various proposed climate solutions effective, scalable, affordable, technically possible, and politically feasible? Come to a series of virtual forums by national experts to explore the options. See information and registration for all forums here.

(final forum in the series:) Creating Sustainable Systems: Soil, Carbon, and Food. Thu, Sep 28, 7:30 pm. 

This series is sponsored by 350 Mass and Elder Climate Action Massachusetts and National in cooperation with Food Tank, 350.org, and Massachusetts Sierra Club.

 

Boston Globe Summit, Climate Sessions, Thursday, September 21. The Globe Summit is online (and in-person) from Sept, 19-21. See the schedule of climate sessions and speakers here.  There are 4 sessions on climate and energy on Thursday morning. (Register to stream them.) 

Housing and Climate Justice Lobby Day, Tuesday Sept. 26.  Join us at the Massachusetts State House to meet with our legislators and advocate on behalf of two critical initiatives: The Housing Environment and Revenue Opportunities (HERO) bill; see the fact sheet. AND The Zero Carbon Renovation Fund (ZCRF) bill; see the fact sheet. Learn more and RSVP here. Tue, Sep 26, 10 am-3 pm, Massachusetts State House, Room 428.

 

Please try to join us for Thursday's meeting. If you have questions or items for the agenda, you can contact the Node coordinators,  carolyncbarthel@gmail.com  and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net. We will send a reminder on Thursday.  

Thank you.

 

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

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

339-203-5017   

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)

• This slot features the Chalkboard Chat session with Dave Callaghan & Dave McNeill  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/2-daves-join-this-chalkboard-chat-to.html

10:00 AM 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone    All about wine, its culture, lore and finer point.

• In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi  talk about Wine Stories & Wine in Glass -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode.html

11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)

• This slot features the new Franklin Food Pantry episode talking about client services  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/this-franklin-food-pantry-conversation.html

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am     Franklin Library Association: Role of the Library in American Democracy

8:30 am     Franklin Farms and Gardens: Farmer's Market 2023

9:00 am     It Takes A Village: Hockomock Area YMCA

10:00 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 1

11:00 am Senior Connection: Public Health

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Tai Salad

1:00 pm     Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2

1:30 pm     Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 1

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

5:30 pm     Riffing on Main Street: Steve Sherlock

8:00 pm Circle of Friends: Small Potatoes

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am     Public School Event: FHS Summer Music 2021

9:00 am     Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22

11:00 am FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Barnstable 11-04-22

1:30 pm     Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 1

2:00 pm It Takes A Village: Hockomock Area YMCA

3:00 pm All-Town Showcase 2023: Band

4:30 pm     FHS Boys Varsity Soccer: v King Philip 09-12-23

8:00 pm FHS Senior Awards Night 2020

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council 09-06-23

2:00 pm Town Council 09-06-23

7:00 pm     Town Council:  LIVE Chambers  858 8825 7084

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Nick Gaspar 3v3 Basketball Tournament - Nov 10, 2023

Join us at our first Nick Strong Foundation fundraising event. This will be an annual basketball tournament in memory of Nick Gaspar. All proceeds will go to The Nick Strong Foundation, a 501(c)3, which donates to pediatric brain tumor research and assists pediatric cancer patients and their families.  This event will be run by high school basketball coaches & players.

• Friday November 10, 2023 
• Franklin High School Gymnasium and Horace Mann Middle School
• Time and location TBD. Will update 1 week prior event. Join newsletter to stay updated!
• 2nd to 4th grade girls and boys: 1 hour clinic 
• 5th to 8th grade boys and girls

Registration:  $50.00 (t-shirt included) 

• First come first serve. No spots will be saved without registering. 
• 4 players per team, 3 games guaranteed for 5th -8th graders 
• For Grades 5th – 8th : Your son or daughter may register with one other player of the same gender and grade. We will try our best to accommodate your request. Our goal is to balance teams as best as we can to benefit all and make this a fun event.  
• Note: Players who register together cannot both be on the Metro A roster from last year. 

Register online -> https://t.co/B39jC2rP8S 

Nick Gaspar 3v3 Basketball Tournament - Nov 10, 2023

Shared from ->  https://t.co/ugYziIzfPD

This Franklin Food Pantry conversation focuses on Client Services (audio)

FM #1063 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1063 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Amber Baur, Franklin Food Pantry regular volunteer and recent addition to the Board of Directors along with Laura Du, Food Pantry Client Services Manager. We had our conversation in the new location of the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s. 

We talk about the happy news that the Food Pantry has their own home, finally. While they are appreciative of the space Rockland Trust has let them use for many years, their needs had outgrown the space. The shower curtain that had divided the intake process within the room in the former building is now replaced by an office and regular doors/windows.

We talk about how the role of volunteers is critical to the successful operation of the Food Pantry assisting our neighbors. How the new facility enables the Food Pantry to better meet the needs of our neighbors in welcoming and treating them with the respect and confidentiality they deserve.

Disclosure: during the conversation you will hear about my background with the Food Pantry and that I have committed to this capital campaign.

The recording runs about 33 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Laura and Amber. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1063-franklin-food-pantry-client-services-08-30-23

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The Franklin Food Pantry is here for you. If you need us, we are here with not only food, but useful programs and resources for individuals, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity. If you can support us, we thank you - visit franklinfoodpantry.org to explore volunteering, donating funds, donating food, or supporting our Capital Campaign to keep the lights on and the programs, from food elves to weekend backpack stuffing. It truly takes a village to keep our food pantry running and supporting the increasing demand, supporting our Franklin neighbors.

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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 www.franklin.news or www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin Food Pantry Launches Building Campaign (audio)

Not just for Newcomers . . . Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club Scheduled to Meet - Oct 11

Come join your Franklin friends and neighbors at the Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club October Meeting.

Join us Wednesday, October 11, 7:00 PM at Franklin’s local bookstore, Escape Into Fiction, 12 Main Street, Downtown Franklin. This season we will meet in October, December, February and April.

There is always time to socialize and we offer varied speakers and events at our gatherings. Light refreshments are provided. Come early to shop the Bookstore … for yourself or for gifts. There is always a wonderful selection for all ages.

We are a multi-generational, member-driven organization and are always excited to welcome new faces and new ideas. Residents of Franklin, or any surrounding town that doesn't have a Newcomers Club, are welcome to join us. In addition to our meetings, we hold fun and varied events to stay connected throughout the year.

We’re excited to announce that our 48th annual Craft Fair is set for Saturday, November 18th at Tri-County High School in Franklin. You’ll find a great selection of items for yourself, your home or for gift- giving. This popular event is an opportunity for members to volunteer and work together, help raise funds, and give back to the community.

Look for us on social media for more information: https://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Newcomers-Friends https://www.facebook.com/FranklinNewcomersCraftFair/

Not just for Newcomers . . . Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club Scheduled to Meet - Oct 11

FHS Volleyball tops Taunton 3-0, field hockey & gold rescheduled due to rain

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Monday, Sep 18, 2023.

Field Hockey = Taunton @ Franklin – Postponed to Tuesday, 9/19 at 4:15.

Volleyball = Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final 

– Franklin had a dominant performance to start the week, sweeping visiting Taunton (25-5, 25-11, 25-8). Taylor Lacerda recorded 10 digs, seven kills, and three aces for the Panthers.

Golf = Franklin @ Nashoba – Postponed to TBA.

For other results around the league on Monday  (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-09-18-23/

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Reminder that HockomockSports.com changed to a subscription model in July. I have a subscription to view and share the FHS results that they provide. If you want to view all the worth Hockomock League reporting they do, subscribing is a good thing. It is quite reasonable. The subscription link is provided below.

To subscribe to HockomockSports.com ->

https://hockomocksports.com/sign-up/#utm_source=HockomockSports&utm_medium=HomepageDesktop&utm_campaign=20232024

FHS Panther sports results shared via subscription to HockomockSports.com

Watch "Riffin' on Main Street: Pauline Spender" on YouTube

Dean College President Ken Elmore has a new "Riffin' on Main Street" episode to share. Watch Pauline Spender's discussion here -> https://youtu.be/xwUv0r21jFc?si=WAm5yFFAcmc7Cdxa

or via the embedded via here