Franklin Matters

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Franklin Fire Dept announces receipt of FEMA Grant of $594,654

Franklin Fire (@FranklinMAfire) posted on Fri, Jul 26, 2024:

The Franklin Fire Department is pleased to announce that we have been awarded $594,654 from the @fema Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

These funds will be used for training and upgrades to both station's vehicle exhaust capture systems.

Shared from -> https://t.co/KNrDn6skQd

Franklin Fire Dept announces receipt of FEMA Grant of $594,654

Tracy O'Connell Novick provides insights into the education accounts for the State FY 2025 budget

Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) posted:

There's a few interesting wrinkles in the education accounts in the conference committee budget passed last week by both chambers.

As it sits on Governor Healey's desk, a few notes from me: https://t.co/23xsnwVHSa

#MAEdu #mapoli #mabudget

Shared from -> https://x.com/TracyNovick/status/1815704598293700881

Or go directly to Tracy's blog page -> https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2024/07/state-conference-committee-budget-on.html

Tracy O'Connell Novick provides insights into the education accounts for the State FY 2025 budget

South Street Six at The Gavel on Friday, Aug 2

We're kicking off August at The Gavel!

Come grab a burger or some tacos and your favorite summer libation then stick around for the show.

Hope to see you there! Friday, August 2, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C92caKYuAQh/

South Street Six at The Gavel on Friday, Aug 2

Your food is more expensive – are US corporate profits to blame? | Inflation | The Guardian

"As inflation shot to its peak around mid-2022, Chipotle’s prices also rose, pushing up what customers paid for burritos and bowls by as much as several dollars. Since then, the fast casual restaurant’s costs have broadly fallen. Prices have not.

Chipotle’s decision to maintain high prices helped boost profits 110% in recent years, while its executives boasted to investors that they raised prices higher than inflationary costs.

Chipotle’s sparkling financials are representative of much of the food industry, according to a Guardian analysis of financial documents and earning calls transcripts from 36 top US food corporations.

It reveals that while you may be feeling the pain from high prices at restaurants and supermarkets, many companies making and selling the products are doing remarkably well. Most have seen their profits jump as they continue raising prices on customers, the analysis found.

Some companies say they have no choice but to pass inflationary pain on to consumers. Others, however, acknowledge they are exploiting the inflationary atmosphere to raise prices, or to shrink product sizes, a strategy dubbed “shrinkflation”.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/26/food-price-inflation-corporate-profit

Your food is more expensive – are US corporate profits to blame? | Inflation | The Guardian

Friday, July 26, 2024

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, July 26, 2024

Friday, July 26

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm Franklin Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

3:00pm It's a J Thing (Franklin Town Common)

6:00pm Frank Padula Band (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

7:30pm Honey Badger (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

9:00pm Dom DeBaggis (live music) (3 Restaurant)

** NO Town Meetings today **

What's happening today in Franklin?

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

Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events -> calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

What vendors and activities are at the Farmer's Market today - July 26, 2024?

We are glad you asked.

Thanks to the good folks operating the Franklin Farmer's Market, we have the answers to share.

Concerts on the Common also provides musical entertainment on the bandstand.

What vendors and activities are at the Farmer's Market today - July 26, 2024

Discover Exciting Fall Activities in Our New Recreation Brochure!

Dear Franklin Residents,

Discover Exciting Fall Activities

As the vibrant colors of Fall will soon to begin to paint our town, we are thrilled to announce the release of our Fall Recreation Brochure!

Registration for all Fall Programs opens Monday, August 5th

Click the link below to view the brochure

Fall Brochure -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fall_brochure_2024.pdf

For more info visit the Franklin Recreation page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department

Master Plan Update Cmte meeting runs long, acknowledges work to be done, schedule slipping (video)

The Franklin (MA) Master Plan Update Committee met on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. 11 members participated, 10 in the 3rd floor training room, 1 remote (Frongillo), 2 were absent (Williams, Power).

Quick recap:

Meeting opened by Chair Jones, round of updates from each subcommittee chair, many have not met since the public hearing to incorporate the feedback gathered, one had, others scheduling, or have scheduled such sessions
Much time spent reviewing the internal committee working doc on objectives section by section
Doc formatting to be worked on by Beta & Barrett to set up goals, objectives, and actions for subcommittees to fill in the responsibilities, priorities, etc.
Next meeting for the committee scheduled for Aug 21 to work on the implementation steps, as well as iron out the cross points among the subcommittees, and continue work on the language for the objectives to be voted on by the committee
Discussion around if this could be accomplished in the next session, or if another session is needed. The current timeline for presentation to the Planning Board and Town Council in September acknowledged that it is not going to be met. As the session was over an hour longer than planned, side conversation between Taberner, Jones, and Beta/Barrett to be held and then provide an update to the committee on possible timeline adjustments

Franklin TV video link for replay ->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjUIdmORU9Q

Agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/master_plan_agenda_-july_24_2024.pdf

My notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EhCkDnDJA8bdL8FIGw917UnLu079KMaA/view?usp=drive_link

Master Plan Update Cmte page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/master-plan-update-committee

Audio link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/master-plan-update-cmte-meeting-runs.html

Master Plan Update Cmte meeting runs long, acknowledges work to be done, schedule slipping (video)

Here is the order of the five statewide voter questions that will appear on the ballot in November - The Boston Globe

"Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin on Thursday released the order that five statewide measures will appear on the ballot in November.

ballot questions
The five ballot questions are the most since 2000, when voters had eight to consider. The numbers are assigned at the discretion of the secretary of state’s office.

“Numbers are typically assigned in a manner that will ensure the best possible ballot layout, given the length of the question summaries,” Galvin’s office said in a statement."

Question 1: State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature

Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement

Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers

Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances

Question 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers

Shared from -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/07/25/metro/these-five-statewide-questions-will-appear-massachusetts-ballot-november/

The State will send out the "red book" the voters guide before the November election early voting starts. The early voting timeline for both the Sep primary and November election as contained in this PDF (and image below)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/news/2024_election_schedule.pdf

early voting timeline for both the Sep primary and November election

"Yarn bombing" project crochet class scheduled for Aug 16 at 1 PM

The Franklin Cultural Council is funding a grant for a “Yarn Bombing” project here in Franklin.

Want to help the project or learn more? On Friday, August 16th at 1 PM in the Franklin Public Library, YOU CAN!

Best for Ages 14+

A granny square is like a plain sheet of paper. Sure, it comes in different colors, textures, sizes and weights however in and of itself, it’s not very exciting until you use it as an integral part of your creative process.

During our two hour crochet class we will explore the basic structure of a granny square as we make one traditional style square using a basic worsted weight wool. You will leave the class with a new respect for the humble Granny square and how to bring it to life in your crochet journey.

All class materials will be provided. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bellingham and Franklin Cultural Councils, local agencies, which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Pre-requisites: Ability to chain, single crochet, double crochet, knowledge of how to count stitches

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/Qz5A9cUUZWSqpATo/

"Yarn bombing" project crochet class scheduled for Aug 16 at 1 PM

Mass Cultural Council launches d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan

Mass Cultural Council’s first-ever d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan (FY25-28) went into effect on July 1. This marks the culmination of an inclusive planning process leading us to this key moment in the Agency’s work.

Endorsed by a vote of our governing Council, the d/Deaf and Disability Equity Plan joins a suite of plans developed by the Agency and its stakeholders to center equity as a guiding principle and a strategic practice; directing Agency advancement and investment.

Rooted not only in compliance, the plan incorporates the experiences, responses, and perspectives of people with disabilities. It has been developed in response to the recommendations of people with disabilities at every juncture. People with disabilities were leaders in the research and development of surveys, evaluations, audits, and site visits. People with disabilities were on both sides of the data gathering process.

Shared from -> https://massculturalcouncil.org/blog/planning-for-access-announcing-our-d-deaf-disability-equity-plan/

Direct link to the actual plan (Word doc) ->

https://massculturalcouncil.org/documents/dDeaf_Disability_Equity_Plan.docx

Part of the plan includes a guidebook for organizations to use in planning their event for accessibility (from the National Endowment for the Arts) -> https://www.arts.gov/about/publications/design-accessibility-cultural-administrators-handbook

Elson Fortes paints in his studio at Humphreys Street Studio during Dorchester Open Studios. Photo: Annielly Camargo.

It's time for the Franklin DPW's 2024 Hydrant Painting Event! Applications due Aug 2

Yes, that time of year has rolled around again.

Pick out a hydrant, define a design, submit your application by Aug 2, and wait patiently! Notification happens after August 7.

For more information, including event rules, application and frequently asked questions, please visit: https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/news/franklin-dpws-2024-hydrant-painting-event?

Or download the rules, application here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/news/town_of_franklin_2024_hydrant_painting_event_1.pdf

It's time for the Franklin DPW's 2024 Hydrant Painting Event!

Social Security Matters: Celebrate the ADA and Ticket to Work During Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, a month-long celebration to commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The landmark legislation was signed into law on July 26, 1990. It guarantees that people with disabilities can enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

The law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in schools, workplaces, transportation, and other spaces and places open to the public.

Our Ticket to Work program relates to the employment piece of the ADA. It celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. President Bill Clinton signed the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 that created the program. The goal is to help more people with disabilities go to work, reach financial independence, and reduce or eliminate their need for benefits.

Continue reading the article at the Social Security Matters blog ->

https://blog.ssa.gov/celebrate-the-ada-and-ticket-to-work-during-disability-pride-month/?

Social Security Matters: Celebrate the ADA and Ticket to Work During Disability Pride Month

Could you be the next Treasurer/ Collector for the Town of Franklin?

Shared from the Town of Franklin:

"Check out our latest posting and feel free to share to your network

Do you know someone who could add their talents to our magnificent management team; or, are you the person we are looking for?

Have questions? Check out the posting or reach out: https://lnkd.in/ey8JY_dD

Ready to submit?

Send your materials (cover letter / resume) to apply@franklinma.gov by priority deadline of August 16, 2024."