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St. Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group - March Meeting announcement |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Sunday, February 14, 2021
St. Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group - March Meeting announcement
Numerous Franklin Police Department officers sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs in Norfolk County
"Norfolk County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Patrick McDermott came to the Franklin Police Department to swear in numerous officers as Deputy Sheriffs in Norfolk County.
Officers from various units including administration, detectives, school resource and others were deputized.
The purpose for this is to help overcome jurisdictional boundaries when officers are working cases that cross town lines in Norfolk County.
Chief Lynch thanked Sheriff McDermott for his time and consideration in including Franklin officers in this program."
Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast - Feb 12, 2021
Staying Connected
Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc
Link to the Senior Center Calendar https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/day
Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news
Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/
Link to Mass.Gov COVID - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information
Some people are concerned about the side effects of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This article explains why the side effects show the vaccine is doing what it is supposed to do.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/02/second-vaccine-side-effects/617892/
Tips
7 Balance Exercises to help prevent falls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNC4bi3Ucac
Gentle stretching for Seniors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfjVFQWWiZw
Music
This is incredible. The link below will bring you to a map of the Earth filled with green dots. Each dot represents a radio station somewhere in the world. You can click and listen live to any station!!!
Absence - Alexandr Misko - Fingerstyle guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTxuNDYIkhU
The history of stringed instruments
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-string-family-instruments-history-facts.html
The Lyre of Megiddo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27opcKxcg1c
Just for Fun
Kinetic sculptures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDHDeoMM82g
Yardi Gras - Due to the pandemic Mardi Gras has changed. See how New Orleans residents are changing it up this year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFUZ-p9lR74
8 cool vehicles you will see for the first time. Would you ride any of these?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prIElcJOrOM
Converting a concrete pipe into a cabin! I want to do this now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX7sAzB0HEE
Amazingly creative water fountains. WOW!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PkM2GOOlFI
Humor
Understanding your love language - Jeff Allen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXpr7SCq4A4
The best of TV News bloopers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnEHMAhqUZM
Kindness Matters
Inspire Kindness a blog for practicing kindness during COVID-19.
https://inspirekindness.com/blog/practicing-kindness-during-the-coronavirus
Upcoming Events email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend unless noted otherwise.
*Monday - CLOSED
*Tuesday at 5pm - Quarantini Time a virtual, social, cocktail hour.
*Tuesday at 1pm - Low Vision Group- email mgunderson@franklinma.gov
*Tuesday at 2pm - Route 128 - Route 128, sometimes despised as 'the longest parking lot in New England' was also the symbol of the new high-tech industries that flocked to our region after World War II. Learn about the amazing story of how venture capital, modern computing and the internet all got their start here in Massachusetts from the 1940s to the 1990s . Alan Earls, author of Route 128 and the Birth of the Age of High Tech will present a slideshow and discussion
*Wed. At 4pm - Caregiver support group - email elaine.owens@verizon.net
*Thursday at 1pm - Tele Bingo call the Senior Center to play 508-520-4945
*Friday at 11am - Sunshine Zoom - for members with memory loss - 1 hour of socialization,
games and activities.
Attached you will find Donna's Fun Filled Valentine's Day themed fun pages.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JG5ZRfybN8ToZGPCrTx-nLMH_DOv8g-I/view?usp=sharingLove, virtual hugs and good health to you all! We are still here for you! Please feel free to email Donna and I with questions, concerns or just to check in!
Ariel & Donna
Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy it. If you want me to add someone to the email blast list just send me a message with their email in it.
REMEMBER:
When searching for information about the Coronavirus, COVID-19 please use caution! Unfortunately there are many false sites that contain viruses and malware that can threaten your computer. Many look like real sites. Your best bet is to go directly to the CDC, WHO or your local government page (links below).
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/coronavirus-information-portal-updates-here
MEMORY CAFE!
For those of you who attend our Memory Cafe events I invite you to learn more about attending a VIRTUAL Memory Cafe through Zoom! There are many options to choose from.
https://www.memorycafedirectory.com/cafe-connect/
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Valentine's Day Indian Cooking Class with Sandhya Jain
Recipe, Ingredient list and link will be sent with your free registration. Only one ticket is needed per computer!
This event organized by the Franklin Cultural Council https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCulturalCouncil
Valentine's Day Indian Cooking Class with Sandhya Jain |
The Love Dogs: Live-Stream Event - Feb 13
THE BLACK BOX presents The Love Dogs this Valentine's Weekend for a special night "in"! Live-streamed from TBB!
Take one red-hot horn section - were talkin' alto, tenor, baritone saxes and trombone - down and dirty. Add liberal amounts of barrelhouse boogie-woogie piano and stinging Fender guitar. Pour over a funky and swinging rhythm section that Blues Review magazine called "the best in the business" and top it all off with a crazy and charismatic front man with one of the biggest blues voices around.
Season with a few years on the road tearing up juke joints, festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada and on both sides of the Atlantic. Sound tasty? It's a recipe for music and mayhem, for intensity and irreverence; it's THE LOVE DOGS!
Tickets available https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1437
FHS gymnastics posts win vs. Canton - remains undefeated this season
Via Hockomock Sports and Twitter we can share the results of the FHS gymnastics meet on Friday
FM #461 SchComm - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Meeting - 02/03/21 (audio)
This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 3, 2021.
The meeting was conducted in a remote format; all the subcommittee, Central Office personnel and the public participants were remote via conference bridge, to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Catching up to this, after the fact, yes, but sharing this as a matter of public record. I was unable to participate fully in this meeting on Feb 3 due to the multiple meetings scheduled in competing time slots. You may recall that I chose to cover the Board of Health meeting (5:00 to 5:25 PM - it was short and ended then), the beginning of this meeting (5:30 to 5:43 PM) and left to cover the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting (from 5:45 to 6:50 PM) followed by the Town Council meeting at 7 PM.
I did listen to the recording provided by the Franklin Public Schools to prepare this for sharing. Unfortunately, there is not much to add to what was already reviewed and discussed during the School Committee meeting of Feb 9. In case you did not hear, the School Committee did accept the report and did vote to close the school by a 5-2 vote.
Due to the recording I viewed to make this audio copy, I could not tell how many participants there were. The three members of the committee, Supt Ahern, and Business Manager Miriam Goodman are the voices acknowledged that we hear. At the end of the meeting, Subcommittee Chair Stokes states that they will not take comments as this is their last meeting. So I feel bad for anyone in the public who did participate hoping to get to say something. My two cents would also have been silenced.
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda.
The recording runs just about 51 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Davis Thayer Facility Analysis meeting of Feb 3, 2021. Audio file => https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ef72fb33-5539-40e0-baf7-3d4eb9b3c6d0
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https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_subcom_1.28.21.docx.pdf
https://www.franklinps.net/district/davis-thayer-facilities-analysis
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/davis_thayer_closing_options.pdf
Feb 3 meeting choices
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/too-many-meeting-choices-for-wednesday.html
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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FM #461 SchComm - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Meeting - 02/03/21 (audio) |
Boston Globe: MA "officials Friday unveiled a substantial upgrade"
"THE STATE’S COVID-19 vaccine website now lists available appointments for some locations, part of a new platform the Baker administration launched Friday to smooth the sometimes-challenging process of securing doses.
A new appointment-finder hub on mass.gov/covidvaccine lists all public vaccine sites across Massachusetts, searchable by location — much like the existing website — but will now add information on whether there are vaccination slots available and link visitors directly to the booking page.
Baker administration officials who outlined the new tool said it will eliminate an existing barrier by centralizing availability and searching in one location, rather than listing vaccine sites and requiring residents to search through multiple different separate sites to learn where appointments are still open."
Franklin's COVID-19 status improved this week. The positivity dropped from 4.7 to 3.7. Keep up the good work folks, especially with school vacation here. Be safe, be social (at a distance)!
https://www.canva.com/design/DAERJvYx-CA/RDnuYIFlWB8rUKQrGQlX0Q/view
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Franklin's COVID-19 status improved this week |
St John's Episcopal: Ash Wednesday - Feb 17
FPS: Budget Subcommittee Meeting - March 3, 2021
- FY22 Budget Development
Senior Center Coffee Hour - Thu, Feb 18
The next Senior Coffee Hour with Officials will be held on Thursday, February 18th at 8:30am.
Find the meeting link here https://t.co/P0l7grjjr0 or else call in (audio only) +1 617-865-5269, Pin 61414166#
(Note - this is using Microsoft Teams for the meeting not Google or Zoom)
Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/0wBntU2NGL
Senior Center Coffee Hour - Thu, Feb 18 |
Town of Franklin, MA: Offices will be closed on Monday, Feb 15
"ToF Offices will be closed on Monday for the President's Day holiday. We will reopen at 8:00am on Tuesday."
Friday, February 12, 2021
Franklin's Event Outlook: Feb 12 - Feb 18, 2021
Winter weather forecast for the school vacation week ahead of us. Opportunities to get out and about are increasing. Be safe, be social (at a distance)!
7:00pm - FHS Jazz Night
7:00pm - Giggles for Good - Virtual Comedy Show
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation opens
10:00am - Winter Farmers Market
10:00am - Scout Troop 126 - Bottle/can drive
1:00pm - Zoom Cooking Class for families with Miss Sandhya
1:00pm - Historical Museum (open and free admission)
- Presidents' Day (regional holiday)
7:00pm - Roots of Black Music in America presented by Karlus Trapp
7:30pm - Let’s Laugh Today is Free on ZOOM!
8:30am - Town Council Office Hours
If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6
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Community Calendar |
Franklin Public Schools, MA: Return to School Plan Update and Survey Request
I am writing today to share some information with you about where the District stands with respect to more in-person learning for students.
We are so proud of all that our educators have accomplished to teach our students whether in person, in a remote setting, or in the hybrid model.Each day, they are making meaningful connections with students, supporting social-emotional learning, and academic growth. All of us, however, are looking forward to a time when we can all be in person in our schools.
The Franklin Public Schools is in the process of developing a return to school plan for full and in-person instruction. It is premature to discuss a timeline, as we are just in the beginning phases of the pool testing pilot; however, we are exploring options that return students to school this spring.
As previously communicated, being full and in person is not feasible at 6 feet of social distancing. In order to bring more students into the school setting, we will need to explore utilizing social distancing with students at less than 6 feet of distance. While specific distances have not yet been determined and will depend on various factors, including student density, building and classroom availability, and specific program and school activities, distances of 3-6 feet have been supported by scientific data and are being applied at schools both locally and internationally in combination with other mitigation measures, including surveillance testing, masking, and hand hygiene.
The Franklin Public Schools is in the process of developing a return to school plan for full and in-person instruction. It is premature to discuss a timeline, as we are just in the beginning phases of the pool testing pilot; however, we are exploring options that return students to school this spring. As with our initial reopening plan, we would seek to prioritize certain grade levels.
The district’s Reopening Monitoring Team, which includes administrators, faculty/staff, and parents, will involve not only monitoring of our current learning model but will also be contributing to planning for further school reopening. It is anticipated that discussions of further school reopening will also include a discussion about all appropriate mitigation measures.
In order to assist our planning, we are surveying families across the district.
Sincerely,
Sara Ahern
Additionally, please find the Physical Distancing Survey for Families here https://t.co/aJPVnrgqpX
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Franklin Public Schools, MA: Return to School Plan Update and Survey Request |
Senator Rausch: State House Briefing - Feb 10, 2021
Senator Rausch State House Briefing
Part 2, Chapter 2 (February 10, 2021)
Dear friends,
I hope you are staying safe and well. I write with some important updates concerning COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and vaccination sites in our district:
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Vaccinations Scheduling Call Center: The process of signing up for a vaccination appointment online is frustrating and unnecessarily challenging. My colleagues and I are advocating to change that, and we’ve gotten some positive changes already, like being able to search for appointments by zip code. We also advocated for a call center, and got that too. If you are 75+ or scheduling an appointment for an older adult and you are unable to do so online, call 2-1-1 or (877) 211-6277 for assistance. This service is available between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Unfortunately, you should anticipate long wait times on the phone.
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Mass Vaccination Site Coming to Natick: Exciting news for our district! A mass vaccination site is coming to the Natick Mall this month. The first vaccines will be given starting February 22nd, and at full capacity this site will administer up to 3,000 vaccinations daily. Appointments should open up next week.
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Expanded Vaccine Eligibility: Effective Thursday, February 11, an individual who accompanies a person age 75 or older to a mass vaccination site will also be eligible to receive the vaccine, if they have an appointment booked together for the same day. Only one companion is permitted.
While
I am heartened to see certain expansions in vaccine access,
I remain very concerned by a lack of racial, economic, and
regional equity in COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Last week, I filed
the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Act,
crafted in collaboration with infectious disease experts and
legislative colleagues, to generate exactly that equity. Read more below
about my efforts to make vaccine distribution more equitable within our
Commonwealth.
Questions and comments about the COVID vaccine distribution plan and
implementation can be emailed directly to the Baker administration at COVID-19-Vaccine-Plan-MA@mass.gov. I welcome constituents to copy me on those emails as well.
As always, if you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen
on hard times during this pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out
to my office via phone (617-722-1555) or email (becca.rausch@masenate.gov). We are here to help. You can also find robust resources to help you navigate through COVID-19 on my website.
Yours in service,
Senator Becca Rausch
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Senator Rausch: State House Briefing - Feb 10, 2021 |
FHS boys hockey skates to 2-2 tie with Canton
Via Hockomock Sports we can share the results of the FHS boys hockey game on Thursday
"Even in the most irregular of seasons, Canton and Franklin’s rivalry on the ice matters.
When the two teams met on Thursday night at the Metropolis Rink, the game had no bearing on either winning yet another league title and neither team was preparing for its typical postseason run. But, regardless of the circumstances, both teams skated a little faster and things were a little more intense because of who was on the opposite bench.
Five days ago, Franklin battled back to tie the game only for Canton to score a late winning. On Thursday, nothing could separate the two teams. Twice Franklin went in front and twice Canton found the tying goal. The teams skated to a 2-2 tie, with all four goals scored in the second period.
“We were on the phone for hours one night figuring out how to do this in a shortened season,” said Canton coach Brian Shuman. “I know the kids appreciated it immensely on both teams."
For the other results around the Hockomock League