"focus on engaging students in conversations about how unchecked hate can proliferate"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

Massachusetts recorded the fourth-highest number of anti-Semitic incidents of any state in 2018, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, prompting lawmakers to propose that all schools teach students about the Holocaust and other genocides.

Jewish students throughout the commonwealth have repeatedly encountered anti-Semitic slurs, been told their families should have died in the Holocaust and discovered swastikas scrawled on the bathroom walls of their schools, the ADL reports.

In just the last two months, a middle school student in Great Barrington threatened Jewish students with an alleged kill list and two students at Framingham’s Christa McAuliffe Charter School circulated a “Kill the Jews” Snapchat group.

Recognizing schools as hotbeds for anti-Semitism, state Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, filed the Genocide Education Act, which would require every school district to adopt genocide curriculum that addresses “the notion that national, ethnic, racial or religious hatred can overtake any nation or society, leading to calamitous consequences.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191228/local-anti-semitism-spike-prompts-push-for-state-genocide-education-mandate

Senator Rodrigues' bill https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S327
Representative Roy's bill   https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H566

FHS boys basketball, gymnastics, and boys hockey teams all post wins on Friday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Friday.

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 68 vs. Charlestown, 59 – Final
– Franklin used a 14-6 run over the final 3:34 of the third quarter to create a double-digit lead and made enough plays down the stretch to earn the win in the first round of the Larry Fisher Holiday Tournament held at Bridgewater-Raynham. Senior Steven Karayan scored eight of his team-high 18 points during that run, hitting a pair of three-pointers. Senior Brayden Sullivan also drained a pair of threes in that stretch, finishing with a career-high 11 points. Senior Chris Edgehill helped the Panthers take a lead after one quarter (21-14) and kept his side in the game by halftime (down 36-35) by scoring 14 of his 16 points in the first half. Jack Rudolph (nine points) had a key three in the fourth quarter and Thomas Gasbarro scored five of his seven points in the final frame. Franklin will play host B-R in the final of the tournament on Sunday at 7:00.

– for a photo gallery of this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-Charlestown-Boys-Basketball-12-27-19/

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 3 vs. LaSalle Academy (PA), 2 – Final (OT)
– Franklin junior Joey LeBlanc deposited the game-winner in overtime to help the Panthers upend LaSalla Academy. For MIAA purposes, the game goes down as a 2-2 tie but for the Mount St. Charles Holiday Faceoff, the game went into overtime. LeBlanc’s winner means Franklin will take on host Mount Saint Charles at 8:00 on Saturday night. Franklin took the lead in the first on a goal from Shea Hurley on an assist from Dylan Marchand but LaSalle scored twice in the second to take the lead. Tommy Tasker brought the Panthers level on a goal midway through the third on an assist from Sean Connolly.

Girls Gymnastics = Franklin, 132.7 @ Taunton, 128.65 – Final 
– Sophomores Kate Rudolph (34.2) and Caroline Woelfel (32.25) took first and second, respectively, in the All Around as the Panthers picked up a win over Taunton. Rudolph was first for Franklin in the vault, bars, and floor while Lexi Lupien earned a first place finish in the beam. Woelfel took second in both the vault and floor while taking third in the bars.

Results: Vault – Kate Rudolph 9.0, Caroline Woelfel 8.75, Maddie McGuire 8.65, Lexi Lupien 8.4; Bars – K. Rudolph 8.3, Emma Nelson 8.1, C. Woelfel 7.3, M. McGuire 7.1; Beam – L. Lupien 8.5, E. Nelson 8.4, Olivia Reagan 8.2, K. Rudolph 8.1; Floor – K. Rudolph 8.8, C. Woelfel 8.6, L. Lupien 8.3, E. Nelson 8.2.


Wrestling = Lowell Tournament (Canton, Franklin, Stoughton, Taunton), 9:00

Sackley advances in the championship bracket. DiFilippo, Carlucci, Fracasa, Sauer, and Nawn drop to the consis.

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) December 28, 2019

Cogavin, Jacoby, and Leofanti are still alive in the consis. Jawando and Walker drop out of the tournament.

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) December 28, 2019

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-12-27-19/

And via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports

Congrats to all the strong performances at Holiday today! Shoutout to Nick Calitri for placing 3rd in the 1000!

— FHS Boys XC+TF (@FHSPanthersTF) December 28, 2019

Grit and determination is what gets you there. The second you give up or allow yourself to doubt is the exact moment you miss out on what could have been. Tough win tonight but you never gave up!! Proud!! @FHSSports @FHSPantherbook @MetroWestSports @milforddaily @HockomockSports pic.twitter.com/tryulhi1Ic

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) December 28, 2019

The Panther Track and Field Team competed at the Boston Holiday Challenge held at the Reggie Lewis Center. The Franklin Girls had several outstanding performances led by junior Lindsey Morse, 3rd in the High Jump. Senior Sabrina Addi finished in the top ten.

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) December 28, 2019

FHS Senior Brayden Sullivan

Commuter Rail notice: Include the MBTA in your New Year's Eve plans

On New Year's Eve, the Commuter Rail will run on a regular weekday schedule with some changes to last train departure times due to the fireworks.

All MBTA service, including the Commuter Rail, will be free after 8 PM on New Year's Eve.

Bikes, including folding bikes, are not allowed on all inbound trains between 10 am and 6 PM and on all outbound trains from 4 PM until the end of service.

For additional information visit mbta.com/holidays.

Last Updated: Dec 27 2019 02:30 PM 

What is the Franklin Line schedule?  https://mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/timetable

Commuter Rail notice: Include the MBTA in your New Year's Eve plans

"Promote participation of eligible voters in elections"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"In Massachusetts, automatic voter registration begins Jan. 1 as directed by legislation that state lawmakers passed and Gov. Charlie Baker signed in 2018. 

When Baker signed the election-reform bill two summers ago, Massachusetts became the 14th state, plus Washington, D.C., to adopt an automatic-voter registration system. 

Now, beginning immediately in the new year, the state registers eligible citizens to vote when they interact with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth and Health Connector – unless they opt out. The system will be in place ahead of the presidential primaries in March, according to Secretary of State William F. Galvin."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191227/in-massachusetts-automatic-voter-registration-begins-jan-1

For more on the MA Legislation
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c51-ss-65

For more about Franklin voting, visit the Town Clerk page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Dec 27 to THU - Jan 2

Friday, December 27

10:00am

 Knitting Group

10:30am

 Performer: Sound Explorers!

1:30pm

 Storytime S.T.E.A.M.

7:00pm

 Community Outdoor Menorah Lighting and Shabbat Service

Saturday, December 28

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

10:30am

 Sing to Your Baby with Julie Stepanek (FOFL)

1:00pm

 Girls Who Code Holiday Party

1:00pm

 Box City!

Sunday, December 29

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

3:00pm

 Whalemobile!

Monday, December 30

10:30am

 Move Along

1:00pm

 Stop-Motion Legos with Fungineers!

3:30pm

 D&D for Kids

Tuesday, December 31

New Year's Eve

9:30am

 Cool Cruisers

11:00am

 Noon Year's Eve Party!

2:00pm

 Library Closing

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

 Library Closed

 New Year's Day

Thursday, January 2, 2020

9:30am

 Baby Tummy Time

4:00pm

 Chess Club for Kids

4:00pm

 Bookworm Bounce Storytime!

5:45pm

 FAA Booster Mtg

6:00pm

 Volunteens

For the interactive version, please visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/links/submit-event

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Dec 27 to THU - Jan  2

In the News: map at the Library restored; growing alarm over salt used for treating ice

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Sometimes, it takes a map to locate historical treasures -- the proverbial “x” marks the spot on a faded document, in ink turned brown. 

But at the Franklin library, it is a map that is actually the treasure: An age-stained, 26″ x 20 3/8″ document that provides a view of the town’s layout when Henry Clay sat in the oval office -- about to be defeated by Andrew Jackson -- and Princess Victoria was still five years shy of ascending the throne of Great Britain. 

Recently, a custom-framed reproduction of the map was put up for display in the hallway by the circulation desk on the first floor of the library, so it could be shared with the public. The original, restored through the efforts of the Friends of the Franklin Library, is carefully stored in the library’s new climate-controlled archives room. 

“It was found rolled up in a drawer, as I’m told, during packing up for the renovations,” said Phil Sweeney, president of the Friends board, referring to the renovation and expansion project completed in 2017."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20191224/early-map-of-franklin-preserved-replica-hung-in-library

In the News: map at the Library restored;

"Each year, Americans spread more than 48 billion pounds of salt on roadways to ward off the effects of winter weather. But it comes at a cost: De-icing salt degrades roads and bridges, contaminates drinking water and harms the environment, according to a slate of scientists expressing growing alarm. 

“The issue of road salt has been out in front of us for decades but has received very little attention until the past five years,” said Rick Relyea, a biological scientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute near Albany, New York. “Then we see, my goodness, it is everywhere, and it is a growing problem.” 

It’s a problem that’s growing exponentially. 

The country used about 164,000 tons of road salt in 1940, U.S. Geological Survey data shows. It broke one million tons in 1954, 10 million in 1985, and now averages more than 24 million tons a year."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191226/scientists-alarmed-by-massive-amounts-of-road-salt-used-in-northeast

Lifelong Community Learning: 2020 Winter / Spring Registration Open

Registration is open for winter/spring classes at Lifelong Community Learning. Classes begin in January and continue through the spring months.

Participation is open to individuals, organizations, and businesses alike in Franklin and the surrounding region towns. Classes include everything from arts and crafts to child care education and various food and wine offerings. 

February and April vacations will include babysitting certification classes held in partnership with the Hockomock Area YMCA in Franklin. For children, the Kids’ Corner programs include cooking, language, coding with JavaScript, family paint night, and so much more!

This spring, participants will also find as many exercise and sports programs as ever, including yoga, Zumba, and community walking. Badminton is back along with men’s basketball and coed volleyball classes rounding out the field.

Looking ahead to late spring, Enhancing Your Economic Security, a special one-night expert panel discussion will take place on May 7. This is a free event BUT registration is required.

For more information, go to www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com and click on Lifelong Community Learning. Or call Lifelong Community Learning at 508-613-1480.

ABOUT US: Lifelong Community Learning is a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing diverse and enriched education and experiences for all area residents and children – a resource for all ages.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczV2R1V1E3LW5IRDJHTXJwamFXS3hnSVBtQ2hz/view?usp=sharing

Lifelong Community Learning: 2020 Winter / Spring Registration Open

"Community Arts will be adding another layer"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"You won’t need 20/20 vision to see the artistry of Franklin next year when the town launches its first visual art installation project, painting its town buildings with collaborative art pieces created by residents of all ages. 

The end product – which will be a surprise up until it’s mounted – will reflect the culture and character of Franklin, said Anne Marie Tracey, Marketing and Communications Specialist at Franklin Public Schools (FHS) and the town of Franklin. 

Late last week, the town of Franklin announced the project – called Franklin Community Arts – with the goal to permanently display at least five pieces of collaborative artwork around in town buildings, like the Town Hall, library, and the Senior Center, said Tracey. Each two-dimensional painting or mixed-media piece will involve 32 to 40 participants, and once combined, mounted and framed, the final image will result in a large-scale visual piece with the subject matter relating to Franklin and/or its artists. 

Each project will require two workshops to complete, said Tracey. The first workshops are scheduled in January and will be geared towards children ages 10-14. The workshops are free and are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Another set of workshops will be scheduled for late February/early March and will involve a different age group of artists working on another collaborative piece for display in a different location, she said, the trend continuing with each piece."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191225/visual-arts-installation-project-coming-next-year-to-franklin

https://franklinrecreation.activityreg.com/selectactivity_t2.wcs

Step by step process for the website navigation:

Step by step process for the website navigation

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/franklin-community-arts-project

Franklin Downtown Partnership 2020 Calendar of events

Time to set some events on the calendar as we get closer to 2020. Here is the Franklin Downtown Partnership listing of the major events (Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival) and minor events (general meetings, networking breakfasts, etc.) to put on your planning calendar.

Residents can join the Partnership for only $25/year, students and senior citizens for only $15/year. For more about the Downtown Partnership, visit their web page  https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Franklin Downtown Partnership 2020 Calendar of events

Disclosure: I am proud to be a member of the Downtown Partnership since 2010

“We need a commitment to start it"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, sits in his office gesturing at a table with maps of high-speed rail in Massachusetts. In 2014, the former Obama White House staffer came home and ran for state Senate – his pitch to voters included plans for an ambitious infrastructure project. 

Five years later, he has large printouts of the final six options the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has come up with. 

A feasibility study – which failed to pass the House in 2015, was vetoed in 2016, and didn’t pass again in 2017 – is finally expected to be completed next spring. Lesser wants to create an economic corridor that will equalize quality of life and housing across the state and take cars off the road, despite roadblocks such as building through mountains. 

“The technology is not the issue, the logistics are not the issue, the issue is building the political will,” he said. “For us in western Massachusetts that’s always been the challenge because we have a relatively small share of the state’s population so getting attention and investment and focus on western Mass. projects has always been a challenge.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191225/how-will-high-speed-rail-service-get-from-pittsfield-to-boston

More from MA DOT on the high-speed rail study
https://www.mass.gov/east-west-passenger-rail-study

MassDOT is conducting a study to examine the costs, benefits, and investments necessary to implement passenger rail service from Boston to Springfield and Pittsfield

Merry Christmas

Amid the darkness of winter, there is more light each day. I hope you are all able to spend some quality time with family and friends.

If you need some additional reading, feel free to cruise through the archives. The archives contain over 21,000 posts going back to 2007.

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.

Merry Christmas

Trash delayed one day this week for those scheduled for Wed-Thu-Fri

Christmas falls on Wednesday so those with trash/recycle pick up (like at my house) get delayed one day along with those scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Trash delayed one day this week for those scheduled for Wed-Thu-Fri (Franklin DPW Facebook photo)

Town Council recap for Dec 18 - plastic bag waste reduction moves forward

The FHS student group working on the plastic bag reduction plan achieved a milestone after several meetings with the Economic Development Subcommittee to prepare, the Town Council agreed to move the measure forward to be developed as a bylaw. The draft language previously discussed in the EDC meetings will be tweaked and brought forward to the Council for the first of two public readings, a public hearing and eventual vote.

Several items on the alcohol license front:

• La Cantina received a license for the Farmers Market
• Acupalco's move from downtown to Union St was approved
• The Chateau corrected their operating hours changing them slightly
• Glen Pharma Distillery gained approval for their tasting license
• The yearly batch of license renewals was approved

The Actions Taken document has not yet been published. Once it has that link will be added.

Additional details can be found in my notes recorded live during the meeting

• Live reporting: TA Report through to Closing

 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-ta-report-through-to.html

• Live reporting: Town Administrator Evaluation

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-town-administrator.html

• Live reporting: Plastic Bag Waste Reduction

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-plastic-bag-waste.html

• Live reporting: Alcohol Licenses - new, changes, a...

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-alcohol-licenses-new.html

• Live reporting: Town Council - December 18, 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-town-council-december-18.html

Glen Pharma Distillery gained approval for their tasting license

FHS' Olivia Quinn = HockomockSports.com Player of the Week

"Franklin sophomore Olivia Quinn has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for Dec. 15 through Dec. 21. Quinn is the 13th player chosen as Player of the Week for the 2019-20 school year and the second for the winter season.

Quinn has gotten off to a great start to her second season on varsity, helping the Panthers win their opening three games and scoring at least 17 points in all three, including 20-plus in both games this week. Her emergence as an inside-out threat has added a different dimension to the Panthers’ attack and helped them score 80 points twice and win by an average margin of 38 points per game.

“Olivia has work tremendously hard during the off season,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “She has developed into a threat from the wing as well as in the paint. We are excited to see her continue to grow as a player.”

Continue reading about Olivia at HockomockSports.com
https://hockomocksports.com/player-of-the-week-olivia-quinn-franklin-basketball/

FHS' Olivia Quinn = HockomockSports.com Player of the Week

FHS gymnastics, wrestling, girls and boys basketball teams all post wins on Monday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Monday.

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 63 @ St. Peter Marian, 53 – Final 
– The Panthers used a strong first half to go on the road and secure a win over a potential playoff foe in St. Peter Marian on Monday evening. Franklin put up 16 points in the first quarter and then outscored the Guardians 19-8 in the second frame to take a 35-19 advantage into the halftime break. Eight different players scored in the opening half to help the visitors create the double-digit lead with Chris Edgehill (16 points) scored five in the first, Brayden Sullivan (eight points) added four in the first, and both senior Steven Karayan (11 points) and Declan Walmsey (six points) hit a pair of second quarter three-pointers to give Franklin the lead. Andrew Byfield scored eight of his 10 points in the opening half as well. Edgehill sank a pair of fourth quarter triples to help the Panthers keep the lead.



Girls Basketball = Franklin, 44 @ Holy Name, 40 – Final 
– The Panthers trailed by as many as eight at several points but were able to rally in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. Erin Quaile came up with the big defensive play in the final 10 seconds, stealing the ball and making a pair of free throws to seal the win. Ali Brigham scored 24 points to lead Franklin, while Olivia Quinn added 11.


Wrestling = Franklin, 48 @ Ashland, 19 – Final
Pins by DiFilippo, Carlucci, O’Leary, Fracasa, Sauer, Sackley, Nawn, Leofanti.
https://twitter.com/FHSWrestle/status/1209256910924460034


Girls Gymnastics = Franklin, 136.75 @ Norton, 122.6 – Final
– Franklin sophomore Kate Rudolph took All-Around honors for the second straight meet, helping the Panthers pick up a non-league win over Norton. Rudolph was the top Panther in each event, earning All-Around score of 35.4.

Results: Floor – Kate Rudolph 8.9, Caroline Woelfel 8.5, Ashley Hammann 8.3, Lexi Lupien 8.15; Beam – K. Rudolph 8.8, A. Hammann 8.4, L. Lupien 8.15, Elizabeth Schirduan 8.2; Bars – K. Rudolph 8.5, Emma Nelson 8.3, A. Hammann 8.3, E. Schirduan; Vault – K. Rudolph 9.2, L. Lupien 9.1, C. Woelfel 8.9, Maia Keohane 8.3.

So proud of the teams win today! Way to go girls!! @FHSSports @HockomockSports @MetroWestSports @FHSPantherbook @milforddaily @FranklinHS @FranklinMatters pic.twitter.com/MwzVabUfDZ

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) December 23, 2019

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-12-23-19/

And via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports
 

So proud of the teams win today! Way to go girls!!

The 2020 schedule for the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse has one or more concerts you'll like!

Great music coming your way

Winter/Spring Circle of Friends Concerts View this email in your browser Give the gift of music this season. Visit http://circlefolk.org/sched.html The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available.

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

"need to take ample time to study it further -- thoughtfully and thoroughly”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Results of a district-wide demographic study of the town’s school population is expected to be ready in January, according to Superintendent Dr. Sara Ahern.

Meanwhile, school officials continue to define the scope of a facilities adequacy study of Davis Thayer School, as well a functional space study of all of the town’s schools as part of determining whether to shutter the Davis Thayer building.

“The first step for the space study will be to assess the current use of all facilities,” Ahern wrote in an update sent out last week.

At a recent meeting of the school board, a three-person subcommittee was formed to work with Ahern on a Davis Thayer closing analysis."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191223/franklin-continuing-functional-space-study-of-schools/1

Davis Thayer School sign from May 2019