Franklin Matters

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Senator Spilka: It's Time for Action on Women's Health, Equality and Opportunity

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Dear Friend,

Massachusetts is a beacon of equality and justice. It's time that we live up to those values by taking action on equal pay, women in leadership and women's health.

Yesterday, I testified before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development in strong support of my Women on Boards Resolution and the Equal Pay Bill, bills to encourage equitable and diverse gender representation on boards of directors in Massachusetts and to help bridge the gender wage gap.

I also testified before the Joint Committee on Financial Services on my bill to protect access to confidential health care, the PATCH Act.

Women on Boards

The Women on Boards Resolution is a non-binding resolution to encourage companies to increase the number of women on their boards of directors and in their senior management ranks. California and Illinois have passed similar resolutions to improve gender diversity on boards in those states.

We need to help create a pipeline for female leaders and open doors for more women. We need to empower all women to make their voices heard. This is not a women's issue. This is a business issue and an economic development issue. The future of the Massachusetts economy depends on bringing the best talent to the table.

The positive effects of greater diversity on boards are well-documented, yet the representation of women in leadership remains low. Women hold 14.9% of board seats and 11.8% of executive officer positions in the 100 largest public companies in Massachusetts. 24 of these companies have no women on their boards, 46 have no women executive officers and 19 have no women on their boards of directors or in their executive suites.

Thank you to 2020 Women on Boards, the Alliance for Business Leadership and other advocates for your work on this important issue. Thank you especially to local business leaders who joined me at the hearing to share firsthand how their companies have embraced diversity on their boards: Bennie Wiley, President of The Wiley Group; Bob Rivers, President and Chief Operating Officer at Eastern Bank; Javier Barrientos, Senior Director, Global Diversity and Inclusion at Biogen; and Kevin Maggiacomo, President and CEO of Sperry Van Ness.

Immediately following the hearing, the Committee reported favorably on the Women on Boards Resolution, moving the bill along in the legislative process.

Equal Pay

Equal pay for equal work should be a no brainer. Women working hard to support their families deserve fair pay. It is time for action to bridge the gender wage gap and ensure equal pay. It is time for equality and opportunity for all women.

In Massachusetts, women who work full time earn approximately 80.8% of men's earnings. A report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research projects that the gender wage gap will not close on its own until 2058.

In the mid-1980s, one of my first jobs was in the state's Office of Employee Relations working on the issues of comparable worth and pay equity. It's very disappointing that almost thirty years later, we still have work to do on these issues. If we do nothing, a girl born today would be 43 years old when the pay gap finally closes. That is nearly 70 years of inequality and injustice.

The Equal Pay Bill seeks to bridge the wage gap in three main ways: ensure equal pay for comparable work, establish pay transparency and require fairness in hiring practices.

In advance of the hearing, I joined Attorney General Maura Healey, State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, legislators, the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and the Equal Pay Coalition at a rally to highlight the importance of the Equal Pay Bill.

Click here to watch a video from the rally. My remarks are at the 14:45 mark.

PATCH Act

The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on a variety of bills related to women's health, including my PATCH Act, which aims to protect patient confidentiality by requiring personal health information on Explanation of Benefits forms to be sent directly to patients, safeguarding the privacy of people who are dependents on another person's health plan.

Patient confidentiality is a foundational element of the patient-provider relationship. Unfortunately, victims of abuse or minors are often reluctant to seek certain types of treatment, fearing that their abuser or parent will learn these details. This bill would ensure that all patients have confidential access to the health care they need.

Click here to listen to my testimony at the hearing.

Thank you to my colleagues in the legislature and all advocates and constituents for making your voices heard on these important issues for women, families and the Commonwealth.

It's time for equality, justice and opportunity for all women!

As always, if you would like additional information or have any concerns or comments, please call my office at (617) 722-1640 or email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov.

Warm Regards,

Senator Karen E. Spilka

2nd Middlesex and Norfolk

Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka

Room 212, State House

Boston, Massachusetts 02133

Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077

http://www.karenspilka.com

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Senator Karen E. Spilka \| Massachusetts State House, Room 212 \| Boston \| MA \| 02133

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

"The Taming of the Shrew" in the open on the Dean quad Fri, Sat, and Sun

The best way to experience Shakespeare is to see a performance in person. To see an outdoor performance is an opportunity that is rapidly approaching for folks here in Franklin.

The Star Players of MA is collaborating with Dean College to perform "The Taming of the Shrew" in the open on the Dean quad.

This free performance is scheduled for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the Franklin Cultural Festival kicks off July 29th.

Friday, July 24 - 7:00 PM

Saturday, July 25 - 7:00 PM

Sunday, July 26 - 2:00 PM

The Taming of the Shrew

Photos from dress rehearsal

Taming of the Shrew #1

Taming of the Shrew #2

Taming of the Shrew #3

In case of the rain, the performance will move inside to the Chapel in Dean Hall.

For a quick recap of "The Taming of the Shrew" check the wikipedia entry here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Taming_of_the_Shrew

Franklin Cultural Festival - Sunday Stage Performances - Aug 2

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse will set up stage outside THE BLACK BOX to provide a round of good music Sunday, Aug 2 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Also around the parking lot at the same time will be the 8 restaurants offering a "Taste of Franklin" with a $2.00 minimum for 1 signature taste. You can sample from: 3, BAMBOO HOUSE, ELIZABETH’S BAGELS, MAC DELI, THE CAKE BAR, THE CURRY HOUSE, THE ROME, and the UNION STREET GRILL

Carolyn Waters - website

Carolyn Waters

Stefilia's Stone - website

Stefilia's Stone

Jamie Barrett (Franklin music teacher) - website

Jaime Barrett

Jesse Hanson - website

Jesse Hanson

Kim Jennings (originally from Franklin) - website

Kim Jennings

Lydia Warren - website

Lydia Warren

Schedule subject to change, any changes will be updated here as soon as known

The full schedule of performances and events for the first annual Franklin Cultural Festival can be found here http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/

THE BLACK BOX Summer Concert Series presents The Kenny Hadley Big Band

THE BLACK BOX Summer Concert Series Jazz in July
welcomes
The Kenny Hadley Big Band
Friday, July 24, 2015
8:00 PM

Kenny Hadley Big Band

The critically acclaimed 16-piece juggernaut, led by drummer Kenny Hadley, boasts masterful musicians with performance ties to Big Band legends Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and more. The Kenny Hadley Big Band has shared the stage with such notables as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and has hosted guest soloists including Clark Terry and Louie Bellson.

Click here for Tickets

Tickets will also be available at the door

Cash Bar for Beer and Wine

Franklin Performing Arts Company uses Vendini for ticketing, marketing, and box office management.

Franklin Performing Arts Company - PO Box 16, Franklin, MA, 02038, (508) 528-8668
Vendini, Inc. - 660 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, 1 (800) 901-7173

View as a web page.

MassBudget: Massachusetts Third in Nation for Child Well-Being, But Many of Our Children Face Difficult Challenges

Massachusetts Third in Nation for Child Well-Being, But Many of Our Children Face Difficult Challenges

Children in Massachusetts lead the nation in educational achievement, and are at or near the top in a number of measures of health, but one in six children live in poverty and an increasing number of our children are growing up in very high poverty neighborhoods. These findings and detailed data on a wide array of measures of child well-being are presented in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today.

The Data Book contains significant good news, particularly on education. In addition to our children leading the nation in reading and math proficiency, we are making real progress on reducing the number of students dropping out. Now 14% of our students don't graduate on time - that's too many, but it's down from 18% on 2008. But we remain a long way from providing each of our children with the support they need to succeed. For example, we lead the nation in the share of our children who are proficient in reading by fourth grade. But still more than half of our students - 53% - are not reading proficiently by fourth grade. We know that our economy and our society are stronger when every child has the opportunity to thrive (more info: Roadmap to Expanding Opportunity).

While Massachusetts ranks at the top in educational attainments and near the top in child health, on measures of family economic well-being we rank 17th. Raising the incomes of low and middle income families remains an important challenge for our Commonwealth (more info: The State of Working Massachusetts). The recent increase in the minimum wage, and the scheduled increases over the next two years should help - as will the likely to be enacted increase in the earned income tax credit. There is, of course, more that could be done to help working parents succeed in the workforce be better able to support and nurture their children. Working parents need affordable child care, a transportation system that lets them get to work, and often education and job training to improve their skills. There is strong evidence that when the income of low wage families increases, their children are helped not just in the short term, but also in the long term: they do better in school and earn more as adults (more info: Massachusetts's Earned Income Tax Credit).

Read the 2015 Data Book HERE.

See all of our Kids Count Resources HERE.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700

BOSTON, MA 02108

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Franklin Cultural Festival Schedule - Sunday, August 2

Sunday, August 2

Circle of Friends stage (on THE BLACK BOX property )

12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Lydia Warren
Jamie Barrett
Jesse Hanson
Kim Jennings
Stefilia’s Stone
Carolyn Waters

Taste of Franklin (on THE BLACK BOX property )

12 Noon – 5:00 PM

3
BAMBOO HOUSE
ELIZABETH’S BAGELS
MAC DELI
THE CAKE BAR
THE CURRY HOUSE
THE ROME
UNION STREET GRILL

COST: $2.00 minimum for 1 signature taste

also on THE BLACK BOX property

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Ceramic bowl fundraiser for the Franklin Food Pantry

Franklin Historical Museum

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Wool Spinning, Rug and Straw Braiding, Historical Film

Franklin Methodist Church

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - FAA Art and Photography; Robots and Magical Machines

Inside THE BLACK BOX

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - FAA Art and Photography by the FAA

5:00 PM: CLOSING CEREMONY, THE BLACK BOX

Franklin Cultural Festival - Arts Happen Here

The full schedule of performances and events for the first annual Franklin Cultural Festival can be found here http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/

Economic Development Committee meeting - July 27 - 5:00 PM

From Town Councilor Matt Kelly

"We have set up the next EDC meeting for Monday the 27th.

Here is the schedule:

5:00 p.m. Kearsarge Energy, Lease for Solar Proposal

5:45 p.m. Solect Energy Development, Lease for Solar Proposal

6:30 p.m. Baystone Development. Purchase and Develop Proposal

Each company will have 10 to 15 minutes to present their proposed projects, and then Town Officials will ask questions".

Franklin aerial photo of the Pond St Property

The RFP response documents can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/07/pond-st-rfp-responses-available-for.html

Prior meeting notes can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html

Franklin Library: Discover India through Dance - July 22, 1:00 PM

The Franklin Public Library will host a program on "Discover India through Dance". Scheduled for Wednesday, July 22 at 1:00 PM.

Franklin Library: Discover India through Dance

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/07/discover-india-through-dance.html

Another in the series of summer programs sponsored by the Friends of Franklin Library.

The Franklin Public Schools announces limited Preschool Openings

Franklin residents who are between 3 and 5 years old are eligible to participate in the F.X O'Reagan Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) integrated preschool program. Our NAEYC Accredited early childhood program features low student-teacher ratios and highly qualified public school early childhood and special education teachers and support staff.

Limited spaces are still available in our 2, 3 and 5 day half-day programs, so act now!

Additional information about tuition, staff, curriculum, school hours, and much more can be found on the ECDC website http://franklinecdc.vt-s.net/pages/index or by contacting Kelty Kelley, ECDC Principal @ 508 541-8166 or kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us.

Entrance to the ECDC building on Oak St

Kelty Kelley, Principal

F. X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center

224 Oak Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Phone: 508-541-8166

Fax: 508-541-8254

kelleyk@franklin.k12.ma.us

"There is no hand so small that it cannot leave an imprint on the world!" Klub Kidz

MassBudget : Debt-Free Public Higher Education: What Would It Take?

Debt-Free Public Higher Education:
What Would It Take?

Expanding access to affordable higher education would directly help tens of thousands of students in Massachusetts and their families. In addition to giving more of our young people the opportunity to go to college, over the long term expanding access to quality, affordable, higher education would increase the productivity of our workforce and the strength of our state economy.

Debt-Free Public Higher Education: What Would It Take? examines options for making public higher education more affordable in Massachusetts, including making it possible for young people to graduate from college debt free. The paper examines three options:

Eliminating tuition and fees for in-state students at Community Colleges and State Universities. Cost: roughly $325 million/year.

Providing grants to cover Community College costs (tuition, fees, books, and transportation), but which could also be used to defray the costs of attending State Universities and UMass campuses. Cost: roughly $524 million/year.

Eliminating tuition and fees for in-state students at all campus types. Cost: roughly $631 million/year.

While eliminating or significantly reducing tuition and fees would have upfront costs, these should be considered alongside the many immediate and long-term benefits: more of our young people having access to all of the benefits of higher education; our economy benefiting from a better educated workforce, and students and families being relived of the burden of excessive debt.

Please click HERE for the full paper.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700

BOSTON, MA 02108

Monday, July 20, 2015

Not just any "Thank you" card

You call for service, someone comes out.

The job is done, they go away.

And sometimes something special happens.

At least one Franklin plumber sends a "Thank you" card. Yes, you got that right. He sends one to us to thank us for calling him and providing the opportunity.

Thank you from Jim Patete, Patete Plumbing

That is service I like!

Franklin Library: Jesse Liam Band - 6:00 PM

The Jesse Liam Band will perform an outdoor concert on Tuesday, July 21 beginning at 6:00 PM at the Franklin Public Library.

Franklin Library: Jesse Liam Band

This was shared from the Franklin Library page
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/07/outdoor-concert-with-jesse-liam-band.html

For more about Jesse Liam visit his website http://jesseliam.com/

Franklin Cultural Festival - Schedule - Saturday, August 1

Saturday, August 1

Performances

on The Town Common

12:00 PM to 2:00 PM - Kevin T. Wolfe Band

Kevin T Wolfe Band

2:30 PM to 3:00 PM - Dean College and The Star Players MA, preview The Wiz

The Franklin Library

1:00 PM - All Hands Drumming

all hands drumming

The Sculpture Park

1:00 PM - Dean College Palladino School of Dance and Franklin Art Center
2:00 PM - Dean College Palladino School of Dance and Franklin Art Center

Franklin Sculpture park - hands

THE BLACK BOX

4:00 PM - School House Rock (ticket purchase required)

7:30 PM - FPAC: One Acts

Events

on The Town Common

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Watercolor Painting and Mural Painting for adults and children, FAA

12:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Fashion design with newspaper and dance for children and adults. FAA and Dean College

Franklin Methodist Church

-- FAA Art and Photography and Robots and Magical Machines

Franklin Cultural Festival - Arts Happen Here

The full schedule of performances and events for the first annual Franklin Cultural Festival can be found here http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Franklin Cultural Festival schedule --> Wed-Thu-Fri, July 29-31

The Franklin Cultural District Committee is working hard to present the First Annual Franklin Cultural Festival. The Festival will showcase many of Franklin's talents and be held at locations in and around downtown Franklin.

The schedule for opening day, Wednesday, July 29, Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 are shown below. The full schedule for Saturday and Sunday will be shared here shortly.

Wednesday, July 29

1:00 PM - Pumpernickel Puppets, Franklin Library
6:00 PM - Zentangle at Jane’s Frames (pre-registration req'd but a no cost event)
6:00 PM - OPENING CEREMONY, Town Common
6:15 PM - Electric Youth, Town Common
8:30 PM - FPAC: One Acts, THE BLACK BOX

Thursday, July 30

7:00 PM - Ben Gardner’s Boat Band, THE BLACK BOX
8:00 PM - Shakespeare on the Common

Friday, July 31

1:00 PM - Davey the Clown, Franklin Library
2:00 PM - Student art and music performances, Franklin High School
4:00 – 8:00 PM - Music and art, Jane’s Frames
6:45 - 7:45 PM - Laughter Yoga, Town Common
8:00 – 9:30 PM - Shakespeare on The Common

Arts Happen Here - Franklin Cultural Festival

Note: the schedule is subject to change. For additional info please visit the Franklin Cultural Festival on the web here www.franklinsculturalfestival.org or on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCulturalFestival?

"addiction is not what we think it is" (video)

In this TED Talk, Johann Hari spends 15 minutes getting to the heart of addiction. He says we are approaching the problem wrong.

"And what I've tried to do now, and I can't tell you I do it consistently and I can't tell you it's easy, is to say to the addicts in my life that I want to deepen the connection with them, to say to them, I love you whether you're using or you're not. I love you, whatever state you're in, and if you need me, I'll come and sit with you because I love you and I don't want you to be alone or to feel alone.

And I think the core of that message -- you're not alone, we love you -- has to be at every level of how we respond to addicts, socially, politically and individually. For 100 years now, we've been singing war songs about addicts. I think all along we should have been singing love songs to them, because the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection."

Watch and see how Johann got to this point:

GBFB presented the Franklin Food Pantry with a $10,000 capacity grant

Shopping local has its rewards. The Franklin Food Pantry buys fresh produce from two local farms (Akin-Bak Farm and Hoffman Farm). As a reward the Greater Boston Food Bank has awarded the Food Pantry a $10,000 grant.

Franklin Food Pantry, located in the Rockland Trust
parking lot in downtown Franklin

GBFB presented the Franklin Food Pantry with a $10,000 capacity grant that will help them increase families' access to the most nutritional foods!

Specifically, the grant will fund equipment needs for their mobile pantry, food transportation, and their Healthy Futures Market, which offers fresh produce weekly from June to October from nearby Hoffmann Farm and Akin Bak Farm, LLC.

GBFB presenting the check to Erin Lynch

You can contribute to the Greater Boston Food Bank via their webpage
http://www.gbfb.org/

You can contribute and find more about the Franklin Food Pantry via their webpage http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/