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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 *
Saturday, July 31, 2021
Registration opens August 2nd for the 2021 MNN Annual Conference!
Friday, July 30, 2021
Franklin Senior Center: The last of the blasts July 30, 2021
The Last of my Blasts!
Hello Everyone!
This has been an incredible journey! I have sent 79 email blasts over the past 17 months and it is time for me to transition back into my role as the Supportive Day Coordinator / Respite Coordinator at the Franklin Senior Center. I have enjoyed finding interesting, strange, intriguing, funny and helpful information to share with you all and I hope each one of you has enjoyed my 'informational tidbits' as well.
We have hit highs and lows; had moments of isolation and fear but also kindness and connections. Technology helped us combat social isolation and bridge the gap to access the world. Doors were opened to new friendships with sites like zoom and what's app. People shared their talents, Colleges and Universities opened up to free learning; Museums, Aquariums, Churches and more opened their doors virtually and allowed us to explore. Musicians held free concerts and groups of strangers, from around the world, came together to create beautiful, harmonious music together. Basically anything you have on your bucket list became available (usually for free) right at your fingertips.
We were not limited by distance and had the chance to explore Natural Parks, Underwater marvels, travel to foreign countries and fly over, through and around some of the most beautiful places in the world. What truly matters, the human connection, blossomed and we saw multi generational cross over with children writing cards to seniors and seniors sharing knowledge with the younger generations. There was less division as people reached out to help and make sure nobody was alone. During this time of unprecedented chaos and uncertainty we rediscovered kindness and compassion.
My hope moving forward is that those lessons and kindness remain and we continue to foster, encourage and share them. We have an opportunity to take the positive things we learned, the connections we made and the kindness we showed strangers and step forward, bringing it all with us. COVID isn't over yet and hopefully neither are all the positives that came from the past year and a half of LIVING through a pandemic.
Stay safe, stay kind, we are all in this together. And remember to tell people what they mean to you, that you love them and that you are grateful to have them in your life.
HUGE virtual hugs to you all,
Ariel
Supportive Day Program "Sunshine Club" update
We are excited to announce that our Supportive Day Program will be reopening in September! "Sunshine Club" is a social day program for seniors with mild to moderate cognitive loss, dementia or Alzheimer's. We are finishing up work on the enrollment packets and will be calling those on our waitlist to schedule our assessment interviews. If you have a loved one or know someone who might be interested in learning more about Sunshine Club or attending please email adoggett@franklinma.gov or dhaynes@franklinma.gov
Companion Care Update
The Companion Care Program provides regularly scheduled, in-home respite for caregivers. If you are a caregiver and would like to know more about this program please email adoggett@franklinma.gov. We hope to have this program up and running in mid-September.
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/ and www.franklin.news
Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/
Link to the Franklin Observer - https://franklinobserver.town.news/
Link to Mass.Gov COVID - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information
Tips
Senior Gardening Tips - keeping it easy and safe
Robocalls - We all get them and hate them. Here are tips to stop them!
Music
50 countries unite and sing Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7pdABvpnc
500 greatest love songs of all times (according to someone)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU&list=PLwNv9Hhd8gZjNoQdpd2kBa3fwXNeJjzDX
10 oldest musical discoveries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO-0JjTjpBs
Just for Fun
16 satisfying art techniques from around the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akoNcDKCr-o
The truth behind Italy's $1 homes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2vtDLTAgM
An experiment in gratitude / The science of Happiness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg
Vintage Boston
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/boston/vintage-photos-boston-streets/
How COVID changed our world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihSlDvQwHdg
Humor
Weird things caught on security camera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMpiZrgxHSU
25 Knock Knock jokes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zmza7mupAQ
Dad jokes - HAHAHA These are HYSTERICAL. I challenge you not to laugh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMv2POqYQI
Kindness Matters
Coming together by staying apart - The kindness of COVID (a commercial with a good message)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVz5Do0QWHM
Foster Kid gets his fairytale ending
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MHhU63Q_2A
Son of a fallen Deputy bids on his Fathers car at auction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BF6BUry_C0
Children and Seniors come together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSG_FCQ10fA
Don't put people in boxes - no matter what you believe this is a wonderful message
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwt25M5nGw
Upcoming Events
Please see the attached calendar for August. You can always check out website (link above) or request a copy of the newsletter digitally or hard copy.
Attached you will find:
FRIDAY FOODFEST flyer
August Calendar of Events for the Senior Center
Donna's fun filled activity pages
I am going to miss doing these blasts but hope to see you in person at the Franklin Senior Center! Here is a photo of me so you know what I look like! :-)
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Ariel Doggett |
Franklin's Event Outlook: July 30 - Aug 6, 2021
Busy Friday on the Town Common with the Farmers Market including music and Library activity, and then the Concerts on the Common
2:00pm - Farmers Market
3:30pm - Kids craft activity by Library Youth Services
5:00pm - Concerts on the Common: "Jamie Barrett"
6:00pm - Concerts on the Common: "FSPA"
Saturday, July 31
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)
2:00pm - Trivia Extravaganza
4:00pm - TBB: Jerry Garcia's Birthday Celebration
Thursday, August 5
5:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)
7:00pm - 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
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 |
Music scheduled for the Farmers Market; followed by Concerts at the Common
The Franklin Cultural Council's very own Kaye Kelly will be providing entertainment this week for us from 2-4PM. Enjoy the music while you complete your shopping.
Franklin Recreation Department will be back this week with their concert on the commons! Come enjoy entertainment by Jamie Barrett and FSPA.
Franklin Garden Club Seeks Speakers
The Franklin Garden Club is seeking to involve more community residents in its programs by offering residents with expertise in particular aspects of gardening the opportunity to present at one of the club’s monthly meetings. Participants will receive a stipend for their presentations.
Club Co-Chairs Janice Cederquist and Mary Anne Dean stated, “The Garden Club recognizes that there are many area residents who are very knowledgeable about garden-related topics including, but not limited to, growing successful vegetable or flower gardens; using herbs in a variety of ways; maintaining healthy gardens; cultivating specific perennials, annuals, or house plants; designing floral arrangements; and creating landscape gardens. We invite them to contact us about information they could share with Garden Club members.” Those interested should send an email to franklingardenclubma@gmail.com.
In addition to its monthly programs, the Garden Club supports several service activities including planting and maintaining the Franklin Town Common gardens and the planters at the Franklin Library, sponsoring an annual scholarship awarded to a high school graduate, distributing pine tree seedlings in the elementary schools, and sponsoring special projects with other community organizations. The Franklin Garden Club, founded in 1987, became a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts in 2015.
Franklin Garden Club Seeks Speakers
50+ Job Seekers/Encore Boston/AARP/Operation Able - August Events
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Offer to candidates for the Town of Franklin election - Nov 2, 2021
I extend an offer to conduct and post an interview with you here on Franklin Matters and on the corresponding Facebook page. The interview can be either text or audio.
You are running for a position to conduct business on behalf of Franklin.
Together, we can share your views, your objectives, and help to spread the word to create an informed voter.
Send me an email (shersteve at gmail dot com) and we can arrange a mutually convenient time before Election Day (to be conducted no later than October 15, 2021).
For reference you can dig into the archive of interviews for the prior Franklin elections covered here
- 2019 - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html
- 2017 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/election-collection-2017.html
- 2015 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/election-collection-nov-3-2015.html
- 2013 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/franklin-election-2013.html
- 2011 - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/08/election-2011-summary.html
- 2009 - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/10/2009-election-collection.html