FM #548 - Inside The Wonderful World of Wine - 05/18/21 (audio)

FM #548 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 548 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Mark Lenzi and Kim Simone about their Wonderful World of Wine podcast. 

Our conversation was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We find out about the story of Kim and Mark, and the making of The Wonderful World of Wine. The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Kim and Mark. Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a1eae6f0-fed1-479b-a6ae-8fff17c94c2a

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Franklin Liquors -> https://www.franklinliquors.com/

Wine Club Meetup group -> https://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/ 

Commonwealth Wine School -> https://www.commonwealthwineschool.com/

Wonderful World of Wine social links

• Facebook page: https://facebook.com/TheWonderfulWorldOfWine/

• Twitter  @wineeducation  https://twitter.com/wineeducation

• Daily Newspaper  https://paper.li/TheWonderfulWorldofWine#/

Wonderful World of Wine podcast -> 

Google Podcast -> https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnNvdW5kY2xvdWQuY29tL3VzZXJzL3NvdW5kY2xvdWQ6dXNlcnM6MzE0MTA3MzUwL3NvdW5kcy5yc3M?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjuuuLiruDwAhUeM1kFHSaHCnAQ9sEGegQIARAD

via player.fm (and many other podcast services)

https://player.fm/series/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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"

 

Podcast: The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

Veterans Coffee Social - Jun 2 - 10 AM

June 2021 Veterans Coffee Social

Wednesday, June 2 at 10:00 AM

At the Franklin Senior Center

 

PLEASE JOIN US!

When: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 10:00 Hours

Where: Franklin Senior Center Multi-Purpose Room

As of June 1, all restrictions and protocols will be lifted in Town facilities. Feel free to wear a face covering, without judgement, if you so choose.

As always, we'll mention upcoming veterans' events and refreshments will be provided by our wonderful friends at Starbucks!

All veterans are invited to join us for coffee and conversation. 

Veterans Coffee Social - Jun 2 - 10 AM

 

Prof. Feynman: "The problem is ... "

Prof. Feynman (@ProfFeynman) tweeted  on Sat, May 29, 2021:

"The problem is not people being uneducated.
The problem is that people are educated just enough to believe what they have been taught, and not educated enough to question anything from what they have been taught." 🧠  https://t.co/YgTiGXABMT

 
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProfFeynman/status/1398492567017197573

Who is Richard Feynman? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Feynman

Official website -> http://www.richardfeynman.com/

 

The problem is not people being uneducated

Summer Arts Series Presented by Phipps and MAPFRE Insurance - Hopkinton

Free concerts featuring Ayla Brown and Rob Bellamy, Willie J Laws, and a whole roster of great bands!

Live arts are back! Summer is around the corner and the HCA is kicking it off with our biggest season ever! 21 FREE outdoor music concerts, three art exhibits, theatrical performances, and even a salsa night! This is the HCA's 10th year bringing the arts together under one roof and we are here and ready to celebrate with you. Bring your family or join a friend you haven't seen in awhile. Everyone is welcome. Please note that tickets are required for entry to all events, including free concerts. Reserve yours now at the link below and don't miss one minute of summer fun!   Schedule =  https://www.hopartscenter.org/events-calendar Full Schedule of Events Hopkinton Center for the Arts | 508-435-9222 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Hopkinton Center for the Arts | 98 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 Sent by kelly@hopartscenter.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!

FHS Theatre Company - Our ticket sales are LIVE for Bright Star - Concert Version!

FHS Theatre Company (@FranklinHSDrama) tweeted on Wed, May 26, 2021:

Our ticket sales are LIVE for Bright Star - Concert Version! Don't miss out on this exclusive, live musical performance in June 18 & 19. 

Visit the link to reserve your tickets now - https://t.co/rtXoYNv23S https://t.co/JZxNSthZO4

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinHSDrama/status/1397727844118237184

FHS Theatre Company - Our ticket sales are LIVE for Bright Star - Concert Version!

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities - multiple positions open

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

Administrative Assistant - Senior Center  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/admin-assistant-seniorcenter-job-posting-may2021.pdf

Payroll Administrator - Finance Department  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/payroll-administrator-job-posting-may2021.pdf

Executive Assistant - Town Administrator's Office  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/executive-assistant-posting-may2021.pdf

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/hmeo-external-posting-april222021.docx.pdf

Summer Jobs - Facilities and Department of Public Works - FACILITIES IS STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS  ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/summer-jobs-posting-draft-march2021.pdf

Part-Time Office Assistant and Passport Acceptance Agent - Department of Planning and Community Development  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/office-assistant-and-passport-agent-jobposting-april12021.docx.pdf

Substitute Custodian ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/sub.custodian-posting-april2021.docx.pdf

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities - multiple positions open

FHS girls lacrosse top Taunton on Friday

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS spring sports results:  

Girls Lacrosse = Taunton, 3 @ Franklin, 20 – Final 
–  The Panthers scored 10 times in the first quarter, jumping out to a 10-1 lead, and never looked back, remaining unbeaten and moving a step closer to another league title. Kaitlyn Carney led the way for the league leaders, scoring four goals. Katie Jones (two assists) and Stella Regan (three assists) both recorded hat tricks and Kenzie Baker tallied twice. Katie Peterson, Kate O’Rourke, Ali Socci, Katherine Ryan, Lindsay Atkinson, Anna Grasso, Payten Crandall, and Maura Cogavin each scored once for the Panthers. Alana Tavares scored twice and Anastasia Lajoie scored once for Taunton and Emily Gannon was busy in goal, making double-digit saves.

For a Photo Gallery from this game -> 

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2020-2021/Spring-2021/Franklin-Taunton-Girls-Lacrosse-05-28-21/

For other results around the Hockomock League on Friday

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-05-28-21/

Lindsay Atkinson leads the charge (HockomockSports.com photo)

DESE issues guidance for school in Fall

"All coronavirus-related protocols, including social distancing, will be lifted at schools for the start of the 2021-22 academic year, and every school will be required to be back fully in person, state education officials told superintendents on Thursday.

School districts will not be allowed to offer remote learning as a standard learning model, according to the new guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“Pathways that existed prior to the pandemic for offering virtual learning to individual students in limited cases will remain available to districts and schools,” including single-district virtual schools or home- or hospital-based tutoring programs for documented medical conditions, the state education agency said."

Continue reading the article online  (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/27/metro/all-covid-19-restrictions-will-be-lifted-mass-schools-this-fall-fully-in-person-learning-will-be-required-state-says/

Read the full set of guidelines here ->  https://twitter.com/MASCSchoolComm/status/1398213566981943298

and here ->  https://twitter.com/MASCSchoolComm/status/1398213566981943298

Franklin ArtWALK Celebration June 11-13

Franklin Culture (@franklinculture) tweeted on Thu, May 27, 2021:

Take a walk in Downtown Franklin & enjoy the new exhibits! The Franklin Art Association will be displaying their work in Downtown storefronts during the Franklin ArtWALK Celebration June 11-13th! 

Visit https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts for details!#ArtWALKCelebration #EscapetotheArts 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/franklinculture/status/1397984361211957249

Franklin ArtWALK Celebration June 11-13

Register to participate in the Virtual State House Day 2021

You're invited to join the 495/MetroWest Partnership for State House Day on June 15th

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if the Partnership can be of any assistance to you: Jason Palitsch, Executive Director (774) 760-0495 x105 Jason@495Partnership.org Thank you for your continued commitment to strengthening our region. Registration link ->   https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UNo6Ol1xRUGtHXzeOzH47g

The 495/MetroWest Partnership | 200 Friberg Parkway, Suite 1003, Westborough, MA 01581 Sent by jason@495partnership.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Recap: Town Council - May 27, 2021 - $138M FY 2022 budget passes

Quick Recap:

• A shorter evening to close out the two night budget hearing. Not as long this time, total meeting under 2 hours.
• FY 2022 budget passes unanimously to fund the operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1 as recommended by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and already approved by the Finance Committee.
• Dr. Sara Ahern returned with answers to questions from the prior night. The answers apparently will give some council members new reading material to help with their apparent new interest in the details of the school budget, particularly in chasing down the unfunded mandates. For the record, the School Committee has held a Legislative Forum four years running to help with that topic with our legislative team (currently Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Becca Rausch and State Rep Jeff Roy). Kudos to Councilor Frongillo for recognizing that while chasing the $5M (in unfunded mandates quantified by the Schools), there is a bigger number to look at: What would take us to get us from our current per pupil spending to get to the State average? Approx. $18M. Or was the expression of interest in the schools a reflection that November is coming? Time will tell. It is too late to do much with this year's budget but as been reported here before housing, stormwater, and the school budget are the major issues Franklin faces.
• LaCantina was approved for their pouring license to help with their presence at the Farmer Market for this summer, their 6th year there.

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #tc0527

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc0527&src=typeahead_click 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album = https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUq9pC3jWZzo1mgD6

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

• Getting ready for the Town Council meeting, part 2 of the budget hearing. Weds went over 4 hours; not likely to be as long tonight. Doc with connection info https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/5-27-21_tc_agenda.pdf  #tc0527
• What is right with this budget? What is wrong with this budget? Please elaborate... #tc0527   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/5-27-21_tc_agenda.pdf 
• Meeting underway #tc0527
• Citizen comment against stormwater fee and the potential nurse proposed for Health Dept. Citizen #2 speaking on school funding needs and confusion/misunderstanding among the councilors. Thanks to Dr Ahern, had observed she wasn't treated with the respect of other -> #tc0527
• Department heads. Q on historical commission and museum. Pellegri wasn't aware of capital budget available to use (and yet she leads Capital Budget Subcommittee) withdraws her request to move amounts. #tc0527 Jones talked with HC chair about funds and not to move
• Explanation on Town Council role of school budget, only have the top line item and not detail control. One of few times for TC to discuss budget, hence questions. #tc0527 Dr Ahern hands out follow up data to councilors. Enrollment of Franklin students
• Trend on decline of enrollment seen across the schools, charter included (yes, overall population is growth is flat) #tc0527 births compared to graduation steep decrease in last 10 years. Per pupil comparison for Accept/BICO collaboratives to Franklin #tc0527
• Midpoint in comparison with the DOT communities. #tc0527 had provided a listing of such in the November budget workshop, shared that with Council. Mandates on 3rd page that were hard to quantify. Clarification on birthrates. Issue of recruiting for Tri-county/Norfolk
• Need for trades is there. Middle school students don't do tours anymore but we do have them come in to talk about the opportunity and set up visits for those interested. #tc0527 need to discuss the unfunded mandates (yes, but even if they were funded we would still need ->
• To fund more, period per state minimum requirements. #tc0527 point of record, Jones asked for this mandate last year, the schools provided it in their workshop previously. Lobbying legislation is only part of the issue. Assume we got half, we still would need to ->
• Figure out what we need to restore. Kudos to Frongillo, he just said we need to find the $18m which would get us to the state average. The $5m of unfunded is small change #tc0527 the state accounting is the same across the entire district. Can we use meritorious credit with ->
• The state? Not likely, however we should use it internally.#tc0527 citizen confused about per pupil expense, not understanding it by nature allows for comparison at a student level not the district level. Dewsnap talks for schools, Spencer talks for schools ->
• What do we value? Our values are reflected in the budget. #tc0527 Budget hearing closes. Next up license for LaCantina to add pouring samples at the Farmers Market. 31 vendors at the market this year. https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_license_transaction.pdf 6th year for LaCantina at market
• Motion to approve, second, passes 9-0 #tc0527 Moving to legislation for action - adoption of FY 2022 budget $138,564,865  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_5a_license_transaction.pdf 
• Motion to approve expense limits, https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_5b.pdf second, passes 9-0 Limits the same as last year, no requests to increase. #tc0527
• Motion for CPA reservations, second, https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/web_5c_cpa.pdf #tc0527 Annual reserve account allocations for CPA funding which starts collection in FY 2022, and 1st disbursement likely 4Q 2022. passes 9-0
• TA report: public health nurse (RN) is required by state law, we contract out and are now working on a shared grant for a nurse for 3 years; learned from COVID-19 experience, needed more than what we had. #tc0527 Municipal building will open June 16 for meetings
• Main reason for delay us not COVID related, actually due to the construction still underway at the building #tc0527 Councilor comments: Fund established at Rockland Trust, also asking for gift cards for the fire victims. Thanks to FDP and Eileen Mason for ->
• The beautification day last weekend. Recognition of Bob Dean and work with the cable operations. Thanks to all for the work on the budget. #tc0527 thanks to the councilors for the work on this budget. Nick Gaspar 8th grade Horace Mann has cancer fund raising efforts
• Have a safe Memorial Day. #tc0527 Thanks to the town employees, long listing, for the hard work and effort during pandemic. Motion to adjourn, second, passes 9-0 that's all for tonight, Catch you next time!

Recap: Town Council - May 27, 2021 - FY 2022 budget passes

“I forgot,” Baker said of the meeting

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said Friday he “forgot” he had spoken with former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh before naming him to the post, and expressed interest in taking action to implement reforms at the home after last year’s deadly COVID-19 outbreak.

Though Baker had previously said he first met Walsh, who was hired despite a lack of experience in health care management, when he swore him in, his administration confirmed in a Boston Globe Spotlight report into the events leading up to the outbreak that killed at least 76 veterans that Baker had interviewed Walsh beforehand."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/baker-i-forgot-about-walsh-interview/ 

and Boston Globe coverage  (Subscription may be required) -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/28/metro/baker-wrongly-claimed-he-never-met-holyoke-soldiers-home-leader-before-swearing-him-i-forgot-he-says/

FHS PCC: Attention parents, Senior Car Parade can use your help

FHS PCC (@FHS_PCC) tweeted on Fri, May 28, 2021

Attention parents, Senior Car Parade can use your help
Signup form -> https://t.co/FZLWoV3QMY 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHS_PCC/status/1398376995550072839

FHS PCC: Attention parents, Senior Car Parade can use your help