S.A.F.E. Community Coalition January 2016 Update

This newsletter from S.A.F.E. is to provide you with some updates and information to keep the conversation on opioid addiction going. View this email in your browser Author to speak on Tuesday, Feb. 2 The S.A.F.E. (Support for Addicts and Families by Empowerment) Board is pleased to confirm that Professor Robert Putnam, the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, has accepted our invitation to speak at our next coalition meeting on February 2, 2016 at Franklin High School. The coalition meeting begins at 7 p.m., and we expect Prof. Putnam to speak between 7:30 pm and 8:45 pm. He will begin with a presentation and then will sit down with Dr. Anne Bergen for a one on one dialogue. Our Kids is a groundbreaking examination of the growing inequality gap and why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for upward mobility. You can learn more about the book and research by clicking here. Bowling Alone talks about how we have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures have disintegrated. It should be a fascinating talk and of particular interest to those wishing to understand the sociological climate surrounding the opioid crisis. Our February 29, 2016 meeting will feature Chris Herren, a former Boston Celtic player and founder of the Herren Project, who will speak about his own substance use disorder and the importance of a healthy lifestyle and good decision making. He will also provide "real-world" techniques on how to handle pressure within a teen's life, community or family situation. Please continue to spread the word about S.A.F.E., encourage your friends to sign up for this newsletter by clicking here. And please do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know is in need. We'll do our best to get you on the right path. Outreach center SAFE members Jeff Roy, Jim Derick, and Mike Gervais traveled to East Bridgewater to observe EBHope's outreach center which provides 4 hours of community-based meetings for persons with substance abuse disorder and/or affected family members. The center convenes twice a month at a centralized location in that community to act as a gatekeeper and notify residents about substance abuse services that are available to everyone before an overdose or fatality occurs. SAFE will be discussing a similar proposal for our region at its next board meeting this month. We hope to grow the program into a community center-like system where residents can go to find answers and advice. House opioid bill filed  An opioid abuse prevention bill tagged for debate by House Speaker Robert DeLeo later this month is moving through the committee process in the House. DeLeo has said he hopes the House can vote on the legislation before the end of January. The bill, among its many provisions, would limit first-time patients to a seven-day supply of opioid medication and require substance abuse evaluations before overdose patients are discharged. The bill would also set an evaluation requirement for overdose victims who seek help at hospital emergency rooms. The House bill seeks to end a longstanding policy of placing women with civil commitments for substance abuse – but who have not committed crimes – into the state prison for women in Framingham. It also includes legal protections for anyone administering the overdose-reversing Narcan to a person during an opiate overdose and requires a doctor to check the Prescription Monitoring Program every time a patient is prescribed a high-risk opiate medication. The bill includes numerous other provisions including: requiring schools to have a plan for teaching students about drug addiction; requiring schools to teach student-athletes about addiction to prescription painkillers; making doctors write the reason for an opioid prescription in the patient's medical record; allowing patients to voluntarily limit their access to opiate medications; requiring the state to provide transportation for students attending recovery high schools; and expanding the prescription monitoring program to track Gabapentin, a drug that has increasingly been abused. Learn2Cope Just before 7:00pm on a Monday, the Chestnut Street parking lot of the First Universalist Society begins to fill with cars. People make their way to the sanctuary as they do every Monday night to attend Franklin's Learn to Cope meeting, a support group for parents and family members whose loved ones are grappling with substance use disorder. As 7:00 pm approaches, more than 40 people fill the church for the meeting. While many of the stories shared are painful and tragic, there are many others that talk about how their loved one is in long term recovery from this disease. These stories offer people hope and remind us of the fact that people can and do recover and go on to live happy, healthy and productive lives. Learn to Cope meetings are peer led meetings designed support those who have a loved one struggling with the disease of substance abuse disorder. They are run by community members who have been trained as facilitators. Meetings provide a confidential and anonymous forum where members have the opportunity to express their feelings, find resources and ask questions of those who have traveled this road before. Founded in 2004 by Joanne Peterson, a mother whose son struggled with chemical dependency, the organization has 21 chapters in Massachusetts. In addition to support, attendees may receive Narcan and training in it's proper administration free of charge. Narcan is an opiate overdose reversal drug which can revive an individual quickly while first responders make there way to the scene. Meetings are open to anyone with a family member struggling with any type of addiction. The Franklin Chapter meets every Monday night from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street in Franklin. Please visit www.learn2cope.org for more information and resources. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call Jim Derick at 508-596-4985. Subscribe to this email list Talk about Our Kids Prof. Robert Putnam Author of Our Kids and Bowling Alone Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 7.p.m. to 9 p.m. Franklin High School Auditorium 218 Oak St, Franklin, MA 02038 Our Kids is a groundbreaking examination of the growing inequality gap and why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for upward mobility. You can learn more about the book and research by clicking here.  Bowling Alone talks about how we have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures have disintegrated. Join us for a fascinating talk about the sociological climate surrounding the opioid crisis. SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE Learn to Cope meets on Monday evenings at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 262 Chestnut Street in Franklin at 7 p.m. The group offers support for families struggling with addiction and recovery. Its preserves anonymity and creates a safe place for people and families in crisis. For more information visit the website at http://learn2cope.org/, call Kathy Getchell at (774)893-3878, or email her at kathyg17@verizon.net Community of Hope hosts a family support group meeting every Wednesday night in the Milford Regional Medical Center, Hill Building, Woman's Pavilion, 4th Floor, in Milford. The program is a support group for family members or loved ones of people who suffer from addiction (similar to "Lean to Cope"). For more information, contact Katie Truitt at (774)248-4526 or by email at ktruitt3@gmail.com  Big Book Workshop, 12 step meeting for recovery. Wednesday evenings, 7 pm to 8:30 pm at Community Impact, 211 Main Street Milford, MA 01757. For more information, contact Meghan Giacomuzzi at 508-933-4571. Meghan (Katie Truitt's daughter) is the founder and chair of the Missin' Matt Foundation and a recovering heroin addict. Healing Hearts has begun meeting on Thursday evenings on the second floor of the Franklin YMCA at 45 Forge Hill Road in Franklin at 7 p.m. The group offers support for families struggling with addiction and recovery. Its preserves anonymity and creates a safe place" for people and families in crisis. For more information, call (508) 570-6996 or send an email to Healingheartscircle@gmail.com. Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2016 Jeffrey.Roy@MAHouse.gov, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in joining the fight against obioid abuse in our community. Our mailing address is: Jeffrey.Roy@MAHouse.gov State House - Room 527A Boston, MA 02133 Add us to your address book

Both FHS basketball teams top KP, swim teams split vs. Canton

Both FHS basketball teams top King Philip and the FHS swim teams split vs. Canton in sports action on Friday, Jan 8. The boys freshman and JV teams also won against KP on Thursday. The varsity results provided by Hockomock Sports. The freshman/JV results provided by a Franklin parent.

Swimming

Boys

• Canton, 103 @ Franklin, 63 – Final

Girls

• Canton, 65 @ Franklin, 100 – Final

FHS Panthers

Girls Basketball

Franklin, 64 @ King Philip, 44 – Final 

– Franklin’s Olivia Adiletto scored a game-high 20 points while Aubrie Kutil registered a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Panthers. Maddie Purdue had 13 points, Sam Madden had 11 points and Hadley Zolak and Julia Leroux each had six points for KP.

Boys Basketball

Franklin, 67 @ King Philip, 41 – Final 

– Franklin senior Tim Prunier scored a game-high 14 points while sophomore Paul Mahon had 12 points. King Philip’s Justin Vine had 11 points and junior Noah Goodwin delivered nine points.

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Friday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-010816/


Anthony Rinaldi, HockomockSports.com Contributor, has a full write up on both games

"The Franklin boy’s and girl’s basketball teams both took double-digit victories Friday night on the road at King Philip."

Continue reading the article
http://www.hockomocksports.com/franklin-sweeps-hoops-doubleheader-at-kp/


On Thursday, the boys freshman and JV team also played King Philip

"Freshmen and JV took on King Philip this afternoon. Great effort by both teams!! Varsity takes on KP tomorrow at 5.30 at KP. See you there!!
Freshmen: 70-54. W
JV: 61-53. W"

MA Consumer Affairs: Recap of 2015 Tips

It’s been an exciting 2015 for Undersecretary Chapman and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. This year we focused on educating the consumer, alerting you to rights you may not have known you had and calling your attention to ways to protect your identity and investments.

MA Consumer Affairs header

Continue reading the article to find the recap of tips published during 2015. Tips on 

• home improvement projects
• renting
• car buying
• scams
• shopping

http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/2015-recap-how-the-office-of-consumer-affairs-and-business-regulation-affects-you/

Spectra Access Northeast Open Houses Announced

Dear friends,

Spectra has just put out its schedule of Open Houses.

Algonquin Open Houses for the Access Northeast Project

Per Spectra's notice:

Algonquin will hold Open Houses in January in order to provide updated information concerning the Access Northeast Project to landowners, public officials and interested stakeholders.  The Open Houses are designed to enable people to get their questions answered by Project representatives.  In addition, since there is no formal speaking program, individuals may arrive at any time during the hours listed.  FERC representatives will also be in attendance and will be available to speak with attendees.

WALPOLE/SHARON/CANTON/STOUGHTON: Tuesday, January 19, 2016
5:30PM – 7:30PM
Four Points Sheraton
1125 Boston Providence Turnpike
Norwood, MA

MEDWAY/BELLINGHAM/FRANKLIN/MILLIS/NORFOLK:
Thursday, January 21, 2016
5:30PM – 7:30PM
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
835 Union St.
Franklin, MA

They are lumping MILFORD (and strangely enough MEDWAY again) into the West Boylston 16-inch lateral pipeline called the West Boylston Lateral:

MILFORD/MEDWAY/UPTON/GRAFTON/MILLBURY/SUTTON/SHREWSBURY/BOYLSTON/WEST BOYLSTON:

Monday, January 25, 2016

5:30-7:30PM

Highfields Golf & Country Club

42 Magill Drive

Grafton, MA

For those of you live on the east end of the Q-1 Loop, there's a piece of pipeline also proposed in Quincy and Braintree as well as the compressor station in Weymouth.  If you'd like to support their fight as well:

QUINCY/WEYMOUTH/BRAINTREE:

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

5:30-7:30PM

Boston Marriott Quincy

1000 Marriott Drive

Quincy, MA

If you want to attend any other Open Houses to show support for other towns, here's some basic information.  Let me know if you want more details:

• Wednesday, January 20: Rehoboth
• Thursday, January 21: Burrillville, RI
• Tuesday, January 26: Freetown/Acushnet/New Bedford

I will send out more information next week about what to expect at the Open Houses and what you can learn and do at them.

As usual, call me with questions.

Carolyn

508-473-3305 H

508-335-0848 C

one of several Franklin lawn signs

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Also of note:

• a group in NY against the project   http://sape2016.org/
• the group in Quincy has a website  http://nocompressor.com/tag/access-northeast/

and if you need some of the pipeline material

• Spectra Energy's Access North East page

http://www.spectraenergy.com/Operations/New-Projects-and-Our-Process/New-Projects-in-US/Access-Northeast/

as well as 

• the Atlantic Bridge portion of the project

http://www.spectraenergy.com/Operations/New-Projects-and-Our-Process/New-Projects-in-US/Atlantic-Bridge/

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 1/8/16 - THU 1/14/16

FRIDAY 1/8/16
9:30am   Canvas and Coffee at the Franklin Art Center

SATURDAY 1/9/16
10am-12pm   Information Session and Building Tour of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School
1-3pm   Family Paint at the Franklin Art Center
6:30pm   Electric Youth 2016 Debut at The Black Box
8:00pm   Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: John Gorka and Honor Finnegan, FUSF (262 Chestnut Street, Franklin)
8:30pm   Electric Youth 2016 Debut at The Black Box

SUNDAY 1/10/16
7:30-10:30am   Sunday Morning Breakfast at Franklin Rod and Gun Club

TUESDAY 1/12/16
6:30-8pm   Knitting Circle for Adults at Franklin Public Library
7:30pm   Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Meeting at the Franklin YMCA. Public welcome!

THURSDAY 1/14/16
7-9:30pm   Zentangle (Winter Bear) at the Franklin Art Center

For all the Town of Franklin Public Meetings click HERE.

For event details click HERE.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

The Tri-County Insider January 7

JANUARY 7 To the Tri-County Community, Happy New Year! We are almost at the midpoint of the school year- there is a Ferris Bueller quote in here somewhere about time flying by. Our Winter Sports are in full swing. We are preparing freshmen to select their programs soon, and seniors will begin their Senior Project presentations next week. Ms. Haney will be planting the garden before we know it. Our MCAS results have been made public and Tri-County is once again a Level 1 school with all of tested programs making gains towards their 2017 goal. It is rewarding to see students work so hard to achieve these goals and a faculty so willing to do whatever they can to help them. We hear and read a great deal about college and career readiness in the news, and here at Tri- County and the other vocational programs across the state this idea of college and career readiness is lived out every day. Congratulations to all the teachers, students, and parents on our 2015 performance. More congratulations to our Computer Information Systems students on their "Late Pass" app that was entered into the Verizon App Contest and won Best in State winner in the Verizon Innovative App Challenge. Please read below how to help our students succeed at the next level of the competition. Thank you all for your support, Mr. Procaccini Upcoming Events Grade 9 Shop Selection Night Wednesday, January 13 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 18 About The TC Insider The TC Insider is a biweekly newsletter for the families of Tri-County students. Forward to a Friend Follow on Twitter Like us on Facebook View Email In Browser Tri-County RVTHS 147 Pond Street Franklin, MA 02038 www.tri-county.us 508-528-5400 Tri-County admissions webpage image Note: the newsletter was shortened for publication here, you can view the full set of contents here

Blood drive and bone marrow drive this Saturday in Norfolk

Via the Franklin network:

The Gary Mirliss Memorial Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Campaign Has Arrived Next Saturday your donation can make a difference in someone's life. We need your help, your family's help, your friend's help, and your neighbor's help to reach our goal of collecting  200 Units of Blood       BE THE ONE THAT PUTS US OVER THE TOP  When Saturday, January 9, 2016    From 8 AM to 3 PM Where King Philip Middle School 18 King Street  Norfolk, MA 02056 All participants names will be placed in a raffle for the chance to win great donor raffle items and enjoy a pancake breakfast and pizza See you next Saturday, January 9th Schedule Appointment Sponsor Code: Mirliss Forward to Family, Friends, and Neighbors STAY CONNECTED:

MBTA: New feature: Subscribe-by-train for Commuter Rail

Dear T-Alerts subscriber, We've introduced a new feature for Commuter Rail T-Alerts. Subscribers can now choose a specific commuter rail train(s), instead of everything that runs during a specific time of day. This way you'll only receive the alerts that matter most. To update your subscriptions to take advantage of this feature: Log in to edit your T-Alert subscription at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MABTA/subscriber/new Check your trains to subscribe to them (You can hover your mouse over the blue "i" symbols to see each train's scheduled stop times) Click "submit" at the bottom when you're done We hope this feature improves your T-Alerts experience. - The MBTA T-Alerts Team

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train at Franklin/Dean station

Strategic Materials fined for violating state air pollution control and wetland protection regulations

"The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $17,200 penalty on Strategic Materials, Inc. of Houston, Texas, which operates a glass recycling facility at Kenwood Circle in Franklin, for violating state air pollution control and wetland protection regulations. 

State of MA DEP

Strategic Materials holds an air quality permit issued by MassDEP, which establishes emission limits and operating requirements for the glass bottle-crushing facility. Inspections conducted by MassDEP staff in 2014 identified violations of both the permit and the Wetlands Protection Act regulations."

Continue reading the press release by the State of MA DEP
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/news/releases/franklin-recycling-facility-assessed-17200-penalty.html

Live reporting: Economic Development Committee - Jan 6, 2016

Wednesday night was a rush as the Economic Development Committee met in the 3rd floor training room at 6:00 PM and ran until just before the Town Council meeting scheduled for the Council Chambers at 7:00 PM.

I chose to take my notes both on paper and tweet the highlights. I did make an audio recording of the meeting and assuming the quality is good, I'll share that soon.

Note: be sure to scroll within the Storify window to read the full set of notes

image shared from Eileen Mason

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In the News: senior assistance approved, recycling business fined, feedback from seniors sought

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Town Council considered - and ultimately accepted - two initiatives intended to make it easier for local seniors to pay their property taxes. 

The council unanimously approved a higher tax exemption for seniors older than 70 who make less than $19,000 a year and a higher ceiling for the senior tax work-off program. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said an increase in the state's minimum wage at the beginning of the year - from $9 to $10 an hour - allowed the town to bolster its work-off program, in which seniors volunteer at town departments in exchange for credit on their tax bills. The town is only allowed to pay seniors up to the minimum wage.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160107/franklin-council-approves-senior-tax-measures

A Kenwood Circle glass recycling business has been fined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for violations of state air quality and wetlands rules, the department announced Thursday. 

The company - Houston-based Strategic Materials, Inc. - was fined $17,200 by the department after staff discovered violations in 2014, according to the announcement.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160107/franklin-facility-fined-by-dep

Franklin Senior Center

State Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy, D-Franklin, will host a community conversation with senior citizens to discuss issues that impact their lives and to provide information on the various state programs available to them. Area seniors, their loved ones, and caregivers are invited to the event that will take place at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St. 

Roy’s special guest for the event is State Rep. Denise C. Garlick, D-Needham, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. Garlick, who is also a registered nurse, will speak about the $3.5 billion dollars allocated to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and MassHealth for senior programs. Aside from MassHealth, Garlick will address other funded initiatives including homecare and nursing homes, prescription drug assistance, Council on Aging funding, protective services, elder housing and nutrition programs.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160107/state-rep-roy-to-host-conversation-with-franklin-medway-seniors

FHS track and swimming teams split meets, both hockey teams win

The results from Hockomock League action on Wednesday show the FHS teams split the track meets against Taunton (boys losing, girls winning), also split the swim meets against Taunton (boys losing, girls winning), while both hockey teams won (girls vs KP, boys vs OA). All the details from Hockomock Sports.

Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)

Boys 

• Franklin 32 vs. Taunton 68 – Final

Girls 

• Franklin 72 vs. Taunton 28 – Final

Swimming

Boys

• Franklin, 36 @ Taunton, 58 – Final

Girls

• Franklin, 60 @ Taunton, 34 – Final

Girls Hockey

• King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 5 – Final

Boys Hockey

• Oliver Ames, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final

– Jake Downie and Jeremy Miller had two goals and an assist apiece to lead the Panthers. Brendan O’Reilly had the other goal for Franklin and Nick Jasinski recorded 15 saves for the shutout. OA goalie Zach Walsh made 30 saves in the loss.

http://www.hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-010616/

Jake Downie (9) and Jeremy Miller (5) each scored a pair of goals for the Panthers in a 5-0 victory over OA. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Josh Perry, Managing Editor writes in detail on the game:

Heading into their first Hockomock game of the season, the Panthers seem to have solidified the blue line, but there are still question marks about who will provide the goals for the defending league champs. 

On Wednesday night at Pirelli Veterans Arena, senior Jake Downie and sophomore Jeremy Miller provided the offensive punch. The second line forwards contributed four goals and two assists to propel the Panthers to a 5-0 victory over visiting Oliver Ames.

http://www.hockomocksports.com/downie-and-miller-spark-panthers-against-oa/

"They want us to pay for their pipeline so they can export their gas"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Area residents at Wednesday's Town Council meeting said a proposed natural-gas pipeline that would run through Franklin - as well as other nearby towns - was unnecessary and environmentally unfriendly. 

A group of concerned citizens gave a presentation to the council, saying the local demand does not justify the 119-mile Spectra Energy pipeline. 

Mendon residents Rand and Carolyn Barthel narrated a slideshow presentation in which they made their case against the project. 

"This is a regional issue, a national issue and an international issue," Carolyn said, noting that such area towns as Milford, Bellingham, Medway, Franklin, Millis, Norfolk and Walpole would be affected by the pipeline.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160106/franklin-residents-decry-pipeline-project

screen grab of one of the presentation slides

Live reporting from the meeting including a copy of the presentation document used can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-presentation-on-spectra.html


Also on the Spectra pipeline from Upton
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160106/upton-residents-seem-unconcerned-by-pipeline-proposal