I Leave You Now - The Silent Sleep of Trees

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director   11/15/2020

I leave you now. ‘tis time to leave.

I leave – that you alone may grieve 

the waning loss of warmth and light, 

and lenghtening of Winter night.

This moment left to cherish 

in the fading of the lush,

and bright chromatic flourish I leave, 

with whispered rush.

My emblematic red and gold 

that rustle ‘round to fall and fold 

in swirly-whirly waves of wind

my crested crown has fallen, thinned.

I leave you now, with one lament. 

These remnants of a Summer spent,

I leave them all, my last release 

of glory, reconciled in peace.

When naked branches, Winter-stark

defy the sky’s encroaching dark. 

Remember Now – This now – This time 

This last autumnal lilt, sublime.

I leave you now, I leave to sleep 

that Winter slumber, soft and deep.

On Spring’s return we meet again. 

to grow again – renew and then 

rejoice the rising of the days.

But, here and now, I leave, ablaze.

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching.

For the full program guide for Franklin TV and wfpr.fm public radio

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  and for archive purposes

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FyEGNCakke4K8bS1QIdPL0kzcXWv61Qk/view?usp=sharing

 I Leave You Now  - The Silent Sleep of Trees

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - Nov 17, 2020 - 6:30 PM

Finance Committee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
November 17th, 2020
6:30 PM

 

Agenda

1.    Call to Order
2.    Public Comments
3.    Approval of Minutes - None
4.    Beaver Street Interceptor Replacement Update - DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi
5.    Future Agenda Items
6.    Adjourn
 

Connection info in Agenda document

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/finance_commitee_agenda_11-17-20.pdf

 

Beaver Street Interceptor Replacement Update

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Budget Sub Committee Meeting/Workshop - Nov 17

Budget Sub Committee Meeting/Workshop
Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda) 

Nov 17, 2020 - 6:00 PM

 

Call to Order 

Discussion

1.    Budget Development Process and Timelines

a.     Process  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hUNEMYeZGR07TcOCCcnmxQRdGHO_hVLPabIrejnHJco/edit
b.     Timeline  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pv4YhUoNoOUzPk-sNEQwQmcaiOgT0GkS/view

2.    FY 22 Priorities
3.    Per Pupil Expenses  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qegibWEASNACal1hmpFV_ciRZXHkEjGFJXXQqrwpRs8/edit#gid=164888986

a.     Scenario at 50th percentile  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kCnT6f7tzJvVyOeRFXMhAEC7gBfPpKnxAei4zrWKqmY/edit

i.    What would the budget look like?
ii.    What additional enrichment services would be funded?

4.     Unfunded Mandates -- Quantified, Where Possible  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rhjSDdp42EMubSTyeGpyh1jSsTNeDNxQ/view

a.     Cost Analysis of Selected Unfunded Mandates (not all inclusive)  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dM6rRxMs3HzOCb6HKXf0vnF7UpP6r1T86Gt30ptS7hw/edit

5.    Medicaid reimbursement information

a.     MA School Based Medicaid Program Overview  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHmIQsu9MJOLSs9fB-sLaje8dQmlegYCPknldCioAWQ/edit

6.    New Business -- January Budget Workshop

a.    Revolving accounts
b.    Special Education Process and the budgetary impact
c.    Budget drivers
d.    Student teacher ratios

Adjournment 

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/budget_workshop_agenda.pdf

 

 

Budget Sub Committee Meeting/Workshop - Nov 17

Town of Franklin, MA: Think Franklin First gift cards coming Nov 25

"BIG NEWS ALERT! We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of Think Franklin First gift cards!

With the incredible support of Dean Bank & the Random Smile Project, these Franklin-only gift cards will be available for purchase beginning on Wednesday, November 25th.

See more... https://t.co/XQ3RcLIvwj"

"They will be redeemable at a wide variety of local businesses! This economic development initiative is intended to help support our local businesses by directing spending away from competition/online retailers into our local economy, where it makes an important impact"

"especially in these difficult times. Stay tuned for more information as we move towards our official launch date! http://franklingiftcard.com #shoplocal #shoplocalma #ThinkFranklinFirst"

 

Think Franklin First gift cards

Think Franklin First gift cards coming Nov 25

FHS Chamber Concert November 5, 2020 (Video)

FHS Chamber Concert November 5, 2020 => https://youtu.be/Z1psRmPU-WY 

Statement from Hockomock on Girls Soccer Post-Season

The Fall 2020 sports season has almost reached its conclusion. Special thanks to everyone’s flexibility and tremendous support through all of the COVID protocols. The Hockomock League is proud to stand by its athletes, coaches, school administrations, and parents to conduct this unique season.

Our Divisional Champions earned their title through traditional hard-fought dual meets and games. We then constructed a postseason tournament, the Hockomock Cup, for our team sports in Field Hockey and Soccer, to provide additional games for our athletes in a postseason competition in lieu of the cancelled MIAA tournaments. Golf concluded, and Cross Country will conclude, their seasons with their traditional team and individual championships.

Throughout this season, we have followed closely the COVID mandates of our local Boards of Health and must respect their professional decisions on the rules of quarantine. Consequently, the Girls Varsity Soccer Hockomock Cup was impacted by those BOH decisions forcing Foxboro and Canton Girls to forfeit opening round games due to quarantine.

Once again, working together, the League has come up with a flexible solution to keep our athletes engaged in competition. As Canton and Foxboro honor their quarantine, the Girls Varsity Soccer Hockomock Cup will continue with its scheduled games into next week to determine the Hock Cup champion. A Challenge Cup bracket has been added in Girls Varsity Soccer to allow Canton and Foxboro to play against each other on November 19. The winner of that game will then face the Hockomock Cup champion on November 20 for the Challenge Cup title. 

Sincerely,
The Hockomock League ADs

Mark Houle, Attleboro           Danny Erickson, Canton

Joe Cusack, Foxboro              Tom Angelo, Franklin

Gary Brown, King Philip            Mike Redding, Mansfield

Peter Boucher, Milford            Kurt Kummer, North Attleboro

Bill Matthews, Oliver Ames    Nick Schlierf, Sharon

Ryan Donahue, Stoughton      Mark Ottavianelli, Taunton 

 

This statement was shared from the Hockomock League page

https://hockomockleague.blogspot.com/2020/11/statement-from-hockomock-on-girls.html

 

Statement from Hockomock on Girls Soccer Post-Season

 

“People need to change their behavior and get serious”

From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin:

"THE NUMBER of communities at high risk for COVID-19 nearly doubled on Thursday even with a new set of metrics sharply raising the threshold for attaining that designation.

The new metrics were implemented last week and caused the number of high-risk, or red, communities to drop from 121 to 16. But the number rebounded this week to 30 as rising case counts began to overwhelm some communities.

Norfolk, which reported 48 cases per 100,000 people last week, saw the number increase to 145.8 this week, largely because of an outbreak at a state prison there. Its positive test rate (positive tests divided by total tests) rose to 11.6 percent."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/despite-new-metrics-high-risk-covid-19-communities-double/ 

 

"SOUNDING MORE and more like a coach trying to rally his team against a superior opponent, Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday implored Massachusetts residents to take COVID-19 seriously.

He said infections have been headed in the wrong direction since Labor Day and are rising faster and faster. He insisted the problem for the most part is not at workplaces, schools, or restaurants, but in situations where people let their guard down while engaging in familiar activities in casual settings with people they know.

“It’s the innocent acts of small gatherings where COVID is finding its greatest opportunity to spread,” Baker said at a State House press conference. “People need to change their behavior and get serious.” 

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/baker-implores-mass-residents-to-get-serious/

 

The latest dashboard  https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-november-13-2020/download

 The Governor's Press Conf YouTube link =>  https://youtu.be/6YsmzPZaU1c

 

FHS field hockey tops Attleboro, heads to Hockomock Cup Final

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the fall sports results for Franklin High School on Friday, Nov 13

 

Field Hockey = Hockomock Cup = #KR3 Attleboro, 1 @ #KR1 Franklin, 6 – Final 

– Franklin scored four unanswered second half goals to pull away from the upset-minded Bombardiers to secure its spot in the Hockomock Cup final. The Panthers pounced early as Amanda Lewandowski scored twice, unassisted at 3:04 and from Kaitlyn Carney at 8:47, to take a 2-0 lead after one quarter of play but Attleboro’s Madison Ellis cut the deficit in halftime with a second quarter goal. In the third, Stephanie Bell scored back-to-back goals to push the Panthers’ lead to 4-1, and Sara Carney and Jill Fenerty added fourth quarter goals to seal the win. Neilee Hess made six saves in net for the win. Franklin will host King Philip in the Hockomock Cup final on Tuesday at 4:00. 

 

For other results around the Hockomock League 

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-11-13-20/

 

 

 

FHS field hockey tops Attleboro

CommonWealth Magazine: FY 2021 budget moves in Senate and House this past week

From CommonWealth Magazine we share articles of interest for Franklin on the state budget:

"House budget addresses COVID-related education dilemmas"

"The coronavirus pandemic created – and exposed – multiple problems with the state’s education system, from preschool through high school. Now, lawmakers appear poised to use the must-pass vehicle of the annual state budget to begin figuring out how to address some of these issues.

A large consolidated amendment passed at the end of Tuesday’s budget debate, after midnight, includes several education-related study commissions, funds, and data tracking requirements.

On the childcare side, Massachusetts’ childcare system is primarily private-pay and expensive, with some subsidies available for low-income children – a system that has long raised concerns about the lack of affordable, quality childcare for many families. Forced closures due to COVID-19 and expensive reopening requirements put many providers in financial peril.

The House budget includes several investments in early education, including a new $10 million fund to help lower income parents pay for childcare on a sliding scale."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/house-budget-addresses-covid-related-education-dilemmas-2/

"Senate spending plan hews close to House version"

THE SENATE WAYS and Means Committee on Thursday released its own nearly $46 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2021, a 5.5 percent spending increase over the current year, which is in many ways similar to the budget proposal currently being debated in the House.

The House’s initial proposal was slightly higher – $46.021 billion – and amendments are still being added on the House floor.

Like the House budget, the Senate budget includes no new broad-based taxes and relies on a significant draw from the state’s rainy day fund. There are no major cuts to services. Both the House and Senate budgets adopt proposals made by Gov. Charlie Baker to require large businesses to remit sales tax collections more quickly – though not to require daily remittances of sales taxes – and to delay implementation of a state charitable deduction.

“There’s definitely more similarities than differences in our budgets,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, a Westport Democrat.

 Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/senate-spending-plan-hews-close-to-house-version/

 

https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/House

 

Elections: Voting for Military and Overseas US Citizens

In addition to ballot by mail, absentee ballot, there is sometimes mention of UOCAVA. What is UOCAVA?

 

UOCAVA is the acronym for the MA legislation:

 

If you are a Massachusetts citizen, you have the right to vote in all elections, even if you are deployed, stationed outside the Commonwealth, or residing overseas.

Military voters, dependent family members of military voters, and overseas citizens are protected by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), a federal law which guarantees your voting rights.

If you are a military or overseas voter, you are exempt from voter registration requirements in Massachusetts. In order to get your ballot, you simply need to submit an absentee ballot application.

 

Find out more about UOCAVA on the Secretary of the Commonwealth page

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elemil/milidx.htm

 

Elections: Voting for Military and Overseas US Citizens

MBTA Update: Commuter Rail notice - Interstate travel COVID-19 changes

According to the new travel order, passengers traveling from NY, WA or DC coming to MA must also quarantine for 14 days or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Passengers must also fill out the online Massachusetts Travel Form or risk a fine.

For more information visit Mass.gov/MAtraveler or text MATraveler to 888-777.

Last Updated: Nov 13 2020 04:35 PM

 

The update to the existing travel order reflects:

Travelers from COVID-19 lower-risk States are not required to fill out the Massachusetts Travel Form and do not need to quarantine. The Department of Public Health metric for determining lower-risk states for the purposes of Massachusetts’ interstate travel policy considers data over two weeks before moving a state from lower risk to high risk. One week of data is the standard for moving states into the lower risk category.

Additionally, the threshold of daily cases per 100,000 residents is 10 (which ensures that Massachusetts’ standard is in line with other states). States are included on the “lower-risk” list based on meeting two criteria: average daily cases per 100K below 10 AND positive test rate below 5%, both measured as a 7-day rolling average.  

Data is from covidexitstrategy.org as of November 11, 2020.

The current list of COVID-19 lower-risk states includes: 

Hawaii Maine

New Hampshire

Vermont

More info on the MA Travel order can be found  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

Interstate travel COVID-19 changes

Franklin events: Nov 13 - Nov 16

A quiet looking calendar with the FPAC Virtual Gala and Telethon scheduled for Saturday, a virtual concert at the Library on Sunday, and the Cultural Council Masterclass scheduled for Monday evening.

Friday, November 13

5:30pm

 Franklin Interact: Monster Dash - CANCELED due to COVID-19

Saturday, November 14

8:00pm

 FPAC: Virtual Gala and Telethon

Sunday, November 15

3:00pm

 Franklin Library: Hungrytown (folk concert)

Monday, November 16

7:30pm

 FCC: Annarella's Favorites: Italian Ricotta Cookies & Almond Crunch Biscotti

Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6
 

Community Calendar

Panther News November 13, 2020  

video link = https://youtu.be/3NVMz-Ro6BE

Town of Franklin, MA: December 5 Election Update

The mail-in ballots for the upcoming Town Election on December 5th have arrived and are being sent out by the Town Clerk's office. 

 

Want to know more about important election dates, voting options, and candidates?

 

Visit our website at https://t.co/6vZoiF1KQe  

 

https://t.co/uEYSGL7P7v

Town of Franklin, MA: December 5 Election Update

The mail-in ballots for the upcoming Town Election on December 5th have arrived and are being sent out by the Town Clerk's office. Want to know more about important election dates, voting options, and candidates? Visit our website at https://t.co/6vZoiF1KQe pic.twitter.com/uEYSGL7P7v

— Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) November 12, 2020

Dean College: Spring 2021 Plan

 October 29, 2020

Dear Dean College Community,

Thank you to everyone for your dedication and commitment during the
past several months as we have navigated our way through the Fall 2020
semester.

Following careful planning by all in our Community for the past several
months, Dean College is excited to announce that we will resume inperson instruction and the residential educational experience for the Spring Semester 2021. While being online for the fall semester was the best choice for our community, we are thrilled to see our students in person once again.

The 2020-2021 academic year has been and will continue to be a different experience for all of us. I marvel at the level of engagement our staff and faculty have provided during the fall semester and I am so proud of the effort of our students. Through their determination, creativity and support of each other, our entire community has risen to the challenge and shown what The Dean Difference is all about.

Dean has made and will continue to make a substantial investment in numerous areas as we prepare our campus for residential operations. From testing procedures and personal protective equipment to dozens of facility updates in residence halls and other buildings, we are making every effort to provide the safest campus experience possible.

For students, multiple options exist when determining how to attend classes. Students may choose to return to campus for in-person instruction either as a residential or commuter student or take classes online, similar to our fall semester. For those selecting to live on campus, Dean will do our best to deliver an enjoyable and fruitful campus life experience. Students should be aware however, that there will be safety requirements and behavioral practices to which we must all adhere.

We have created a guide, Dean College Spring 2021 Plan, that summarizes the most important changes to the academic and student experience for the Spring Semester 2021. Please read and review this guide carefully while making plans for the upcoming semester. Our guidelines will continually be updated to reflect current public health conditions. We will make our community aware of any significant updates to these guidelines through ongoing communication.

Dean has also established a COVID-19 section of our website which will contain the most current information including the Spring 2021 Plan, a list of frequently asked questions, and short videos.

The College will continue to be thoughtful and transparent in our communications as we finalize and implement this plan. We ask for everyone’s cooperation and attentiveness to these guidelines as we all navigate through these unprecedented times.

With warm regards

Dr. Paula M. Rooney

Dean College President

The full plan can be found on the Dean web page

https://dean-www.s3.amazonaws.com/files/resources/dean-college-spring-2021-plan.pdf

Dean College: Spring 2021 Plan

"I need to go do whatever I can"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Throughout the presidential campaign, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon often repeated a mantra from her collegiate softball days to rally staff on endless Zoom calls: We can do hard things.

Even for someone with an optimistic attitude, 2020 presented a particularly high number of “hard things” for the woman running Joe Biden’s campaign — a pandemic that turned traditional campaigning upside down, a polarized left that wasn’t thrilled about a three-time, middle-of-the-road presidential candidate, an unpredictable opponent who frequently said the election was rigged before any votes were cast.

But the mantra, however unflashy, turned out to be true.

“Once she commits to a goal, she’s going to grind it out,” said longtime friend Cloe Axelson, who played softball at Tufts with Dillon and worked on early campaigns with her. “She’s so tough, and she just does the work.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/12/nation/one-most-important-political-operative-youve-never-heard/

You may recall the Washington Post ran an article in August

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/washington-post-how-jennifer-omalley.html

The Milford Daily News picked up on the Post article in October

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/in-news-jennifer-omalley-dillon-is-from.html

 

The Washington Post and MDN had also run an article in March when she joined the campaign https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/bidens-new-campaign-manager-is-franklin.html

“She’s so tough, and she just does the work," a friend said of Jennifer O'Malley Dillon.Andre Chung/For The Washington Post

FHS boys soccer tops Foxboro 3 - 1

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the fall sports results for Franklin High School on Thursday, Nov 12

 

Boy Soccer = Consolation Rounds = Franklin, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final 

– Franklin opened the scoring just before halftime and tacked on two straight in the second half on its way to a 3-0 win on the road at Foxboro. Ben Moccia redirected a free kick from Terry O’Neill to put the Panthers ahead just before the halftime whistle. O’Neill doubled the lead in the third quarter, blasting a penalty into the back right corner with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter. Charlie Amante shouldered in a cross from Moccia to extend the lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Foxboro’s Matt Angelini got the Warriors on the board, burying a touch from Adam Connolly. 

 

For other results around the Hockomock League 

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-11-12-20/

 

 

FHS boys soccer tops Foxboro 3 - 1

 

Town of Franklin, MA: Senior Coffee Hours - Nov 19

This month's Senior Coffee Hours with State and Local Officials will be held on Thursday, November 19th at 8:30 AM.  

 

Join Zoom Meeting  =  https://t.co/3NfQGIfN78
Meeting ID: 865 3864 3813  Passcode: 883566

Via Phone: Dial-in at 1-646-558-8656 

 

#Seniors #Connections @jeffroy @FranklinSrCntr 

https://t.co/788RD39SuU

Town of Franklin, MA: Senior Coffee Hours - Nov 19