Franklin Matters

Monday, November 15, 2021

Thanksgiving Pop-up!! announced by Night Owl Farm

Thanksgiving Pop-up!

Thanksgiving Pop-up!

We may have closed the farm stand for the season, but that doesn't mean the season is over!

We still have veggies growing in the greenhouse, they are just growing MUCH slower now with the reduced heat and daylight. This inspired our decision to have "pop ups" as the veggies mature rather than have a less than stunning selection for your each week.

Our very first pop-up is live NOW!

Our pop ups are all pre-order only, and the ordering window for this pop up is Monday, November 15th to Friday, November 19th at 7:00am.

This gives us time to pack orders and then have your orders available for pick up by Sunday morning at 10am!

We have LOTS of delicious veggies for sale (all organic!) as well as all of the items we had for sale in the stand.

If you're interested, place your order using the link here -> https://night-owl-farm.square.site/ or below (in the button)

Shop our Pop-up Sale

Fall Farm Update

I had these grand visions of sending a monthly update about the farm to our Newsletter sign-ups…. But seeing as it's now November, that clearly didn't happen! Haha

So, instead, I'll just share a little bit about how this season went.

This season was (and continues to be!) so much better than I could have hoped. We have had some struggles throughout the season, but that's to be expected with any first year farm. The good news is it was nothing we couldn't come back from. We've had some support and mentorship from really talented farmers in the area. I couldn't imagine doing this without them.

Special thanks to Grateful Farm, Ramble On Acres, Upswing Farm, and White Barn Farm for the endless support, and for helping beef up my CSA when I've needed it!

The truly incredible thing is that you all have been so supportive. I've been absolutely blown away by the amount of interest and encouragement I've received from the community. I'm so lucky to be starting a business like this in a community that cares so deeply about the local economy and great food.

We have some VERY exciting plans in store for next year. More on those details as we get closer, but we are thrilled to be seeing the farm grow and expand so quickly.

At the end of the day, this first year experience was better than I could have imagined. I am so thankful for you all for the support that's allowing me to do what I love.

2022 CSAs

We had an overall excellent first CSA. I enjoyed packing each individual box for our members, and getting to know them a little bit more at each pick up. So much so that we will be expanding our CSA next year!

2022 CSAs will go on sale in January to those who are on our waitlist. If you haven't joined yet, please do so by following the link below!

Night Owl Farm · 49 Prospect Street · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Stockdale Paradox: stoically accepting reality while maintaining faith in the endgame

"Every good-to-great company faced significant adversity along the way to greatness, of one sort or another. … In every case, the management team responded with a powerful psychological duality. On the one hand, they stoically accepted the brutal facts of reality. On the other hand, they maintained an unwavering faith in the endgame, and a commitment to prevail as a great company despite the brutal facts. We came to call this duality the Stockdale Paradox.
The name refers to Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the highest-ranking United States military officer in the "Hanoi Hilton" prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War. Tortured over twenty times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Stockdale lived out the war without any prisoner's rights, no set release date, and no certainty as to whether he would even survive to see his family again. …"

Read more about the Stockdale Paradox online ->

https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/Stockdale-Concept.html

Listen to Shane Parish's discussion with Jim Collins. Before they close their conversation, they talk about the Stockdale Paradox -> https://fs.blog/knowledge-podcast/jim-collins-2/

Stockdale Paradox: stoically accepting reality while maintaining faith in the endgame

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Link for Strong Towns event Nov 15 - 9:30 AM (updated)

Updated:

Event Details for Congressman Jake Auchincloss’s Municipal Leaders Town Hall featuring Special Guests Charles Marohn of Strong Towns, State Representative Jeff Roy, and Franklin Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo

When: Monday, November 15 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Where: THE BLACK BOX theater (Home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company) at 15 West Central St, Franklin MA 02038

• Free parking is available next to and behind the theater, and on Main Street.
• We request that participants wear face coverings at this indoor event. We will have masks and hand sanitizer available at the entrance to the event.
• Questions? Please contact Dana Hanson at dana.hanson@mail.house.gov.

To participate in person please RSVP at -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzI0bJ4hSQPlAXpngN5rbv_GWUle6ghAOzKQIh47wTzwUl9Q/viewform

This will be live streamed on Franklin.TV All-Access (online, Comcast 8, Verizon 26)

Remote link and live streaming info -> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83485517073

Link for Strong Towns event Nov 15 - 9:30 AM

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 17, 2021

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

Agenda & Meeting Packet

November 17, 2021 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to Identify Members Participating Remotely.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. October 20, 2021 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/3a._october_20_2021_tc_meeting_minutes_-_draft_for_review.pdf

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - None Scheduled

5. APPOINTMENTS - None Scheduled

6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm - None Scheduled
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS- None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Discussion: Franklin Housing Authority

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Resolution 21-68: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Dept ($1,000), Historical Commission ($100) (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-68 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/11-17_resolution_21-68_gifts.pdf
b. Resolution 21-69: General Funds Appropriation, Transfers and Adjustments FY22
(Motion to Approve Resolution 21-69 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/11-17-21_10b._21-69_resolution_and_memo_fy22_1.pdf
c. Resolution 21-70: Appropriation of Cannabis Fees
(Motion to Approve Resolution 21-70 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/11-17-21_10c._21-70_resolution_and_memo_cannabis_fees.pdf
d. Resolution 21-71: Appropriation to Pay Prior Years’ Bills
(Motion to Approve Resolution 21-71 - ⅔ Majority Vote)
e. Resolution 21-72: Order of Taking Approximately Seventy (70) Acres of Unimproved Land Off Maple Street (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-72 - ⅔ Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/11-17-21_10e._resolution_and_memo_taking_of_70_acres_land.pdf
f. Resolution 21-73: Acceptance of Open Space, Access and Parking Easements at Brookview Condominium Located Off Pond Street (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-73 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/11-17-21_10f._21-73_memo_resolution_and_exh_1_-.pdf

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Full agenda doc (with remote connection info) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_meeting_agenda_nov_17_2021.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 17, 2021

Town Council Quarterbacking - 11/12/21 (audio)

FM #656 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 656 in the series.

This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of November 10, 2021:

ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

Town Clerk Nancy Danello sworn in, then she swears in the Town Council
Council reorganizes by nomination and vote to retain Mercer, Dellorco, and Jones as Chair, Vice-Chair and Clerk respectfully; so while they have officially re-organized, there is no change in the leadership at this time
Appointments of four individuals to Cultural Council approved
Overview of Open Meeting, Law, Ethics, etc. provided by Attny Mark Cerel. As many times as I have seen this overview (8 times, I think?), it is good to review, something different catches my attention each time.
Council entered Executive Session to discuss the latest on the Prospect St property situation and did not return to open session
Finance Committee - reveals budget adjustments coming to council meeting Nov 17

The recording runs about 24 minutes:

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.

Let’s listen to this recording of Town Council Quarterbacking Nov 12, 2021

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/079b36ea-5e70-4719-b2fa-7a5a14dcd78a

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Town Council Agenda doc (including connection info) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-town-council-meeting-agenda.html

My notes captured during the meeting ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html

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If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
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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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Town Council Quarterbacking - 11/12/21 (audio)

Franklin Athletics: FHS field hockey plays Tuesday, Nov 16 at Burlington HS

FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) tweeted Sat, Nov 13, 2021:

Field Hockey Final 4 is set: Tuesday, 11/16. We play Andover at Burlington High School. 7 PM start. #LETSGO

https://t.co/W2uKXdXJJS

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/1459646777951502345

You can find the full updated MIAA bracket -> http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=5764

FHS field hockey plays Tuesday, Nov 16 at Burlington HS

FHS D1 Cross Country meet results - Nov 13, 2021

Results from today's Divisional meet will be posted here -> https://t.co/Dn3Ex8VQl6

Franklin boys finished 24th
Franklin girls finished 9th

"Congrats to all the Franklin athletes that competed in the Divisional Meet today and congrats to Alex Batla who placed 6th with an 18:49"

"The girls finished 9th during the division 1A meet. Sophomore Alex Batla was our top runner, and finished 6th with a time of 18:49. Senior Charlene Peng (26th), Freshman Fiona Morrison (48th), Junior Colleen Golden (67th) and Sophomore Emily Matteson (102nd) also scored."

Alex Batla who placed 6th with an 18:49

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1459530351051788288 and https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1459565191578980356 and https://twitter.com/FHS_girlsXC/status/1459656573555458050?

Franklin High School newsletter - Nov 12, 2021

The latest FHS newsletter is available

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEugoEHsdI/gyNlxtfsqa8aW26lRdbdmQ/view?

make sure to scroll to the right to view all 8 pages of info

GOOD DEEDS: Paid Consultant - Not a Cybersecurity Expert

GOOD DEEDS: PAID CONSULTANT - NOT A CYBERSECURITY EXPERT

By William P. O'Donnell, Norfolk County Register of Deeds

This is part of a series of essays which demonstrate why a much heralded by some Abrahams Study when it comes to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and Registry Technology is flat out wrong. Recommendations to eliminate the on-site Registry Chief Information (CIO) and the on-site Registry IT Technology Department which has been an integral part of the Norfolk Registry of Deeds operations for decades is not a sound policy. These misguided recommendations from a paid consultant who never visited the Norfolk Registry of Deeds do not recognize the role the Registry IT Technology Department has had on modernization initiatives that have benefited Registry users and Norfolk County residents.

A Register of Deeds is tasked to run the Registry of Deeds by state law and the voters. The Norfolk Registry of Deeds is a place where land records from the deed to your home and business, from the homestead that protects your home to the mortgage discharge that tells the world your loan has been paid off all are recorded. During the last fiscal year over 205,000 land record documents got recorded and processed by the Norfolk Registry of Deeds. These recordings could not be done without a dedicated staff. But it also could not be accomplished without using technology as well as the expertise and knowledge of the Registry IT Technology Department. As Register of Deeds it is my fiduciary duty to fight these bad policy recommendations on behalf of home and business owners who rely on the land records and data at the Registry of Deeds for the legal title to those homes and businesses. There are frauds going on now as it is that involve stealing the legal title to homes and property. Imagine what would happen at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds if there was no on-site Registry IT Technology Department to at least battle the cybersecurity predators and criminals.

State law requires monies to be collected by all 21 of the Registries in Massachusetts. The Norfolk Registry of Deeds collected over 81 million dollars during the last fiscal year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. These monies got collected using technology. If there is no on-site Registry IT Technology Department what could happen to this money which comes back to cities and towns in the form of local aid, public safety, educational reimbursements as well as social services programs? If there is no on-site Registry IT Technology Department in the Registry building working with and helping Registry staff collect Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds through the use of technology what could happen to those Community Preservation Act projects in the cities and towns of Norfolk County? Nothing good is coming out of this “Abrahams recommendation” as there are too many possible bad outcomes that could take place without a robust on-site Registry IT Technology Department.

The report of consultant, Mark Abrahams, who never came by the Norfolk Registry of Deeds as part of his study, just does not properly recognize the role of the Registry IT Technology Department has in the overall scheme of operations at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds. Does anyone think in five years there is going to be less technology in protecting the land records that authenticate the title to your home or in providing services to Registry users, departments in county municipalities and the general public? Technology will continue to transform and be an integral part of our day to day society. Another question that needs to be answered is why make a recommendation to get rid of a 2 permanent person Registry IT Technology Department in this age of cybersecurity attacks and ransomware? There is a newly appointed legislative committee at the Massachusetts State House that is examining cybersecurity and the tremendous costs in terms of money and operations on towns, businesses even a local ferry system that have been victims of cybersecurity intrusions and breaches. Paid consultant Mark Abrahams missed the boat on his study of the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and its IT Technology Department. It is crucial that the Norfolk County Commissioners recognize this and do not implement the Abrahams recommendations as it relates to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.

Another compelling reason to totally disregard Mark Abrahams’ IT Technology recommendations is that right in his report Mr. Abrahams states “IT security is not part of our scope.” How can someone in this day and age of cybersecurity breaches and ransomware be making any IT Technology recommendations when you did NOT look at IT security? It would be a dereliction of duty amounting to negligence some may argue gross negligence to act on IT Technology recommendations at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds made by a paid consultant where “IT security is not part of our scope.” What is at stake is the land records and data that are used to authenticate the legal real estate title to your home as well as your business. The biggest asset most of us have is our home. This asset is too valuable to act on recommendations of a paid consultant who also wrote “…we are not security experts, however cybersecurity and disaster recovery came up in our interviews and meetings.” Mark Abrahams and his assistant who looked at “Information Technology” are not proficient in cybersecurity why should their IT Technology recommendations be followed?

Some may argue you should not be even making any IT Technology recommendations in this day and age without assessing cybersecurity. In courts of law individuals come in to offer opinions on various subject matters. However, before these persons give an opinion to a jury a judge would examine their credentials to be an “expert” and give an opinion. Who can forget the trial court scene when Joe Pesci as criminal defense attorney Vinny Gambini was trying to qualify Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito as an automobile expert in the comedy movie “My Cousin Vinnie.” Unlike Mona Lisa Vito in the movie however, Mark Abrahams and his opinions on Information Technology should be disqualified. This paid consultant is not qualified to give an opinion on Information Technology. It is not just an unsound decision to just accept Mr. Abrahams IT Technology recommendations, it borders on reckless given all the possible negative impacts and bad outcomes that could take place in implementing Information Technology (IT) recommendations made by this paid consultant.

The Abrahams IT Registry technology recommendations are not about saving money. The Norfolk Registry IT Technology Department is a 2 permanent persons operation. Mark Abrahams writes in his report “We feel that from a management perspective, the IT operations are being well run considering the limited staff.” All things being fair and equal those words should end any debate about eliminating the on-site Registry IT Technology Department working at the Registry building for and with Registry staff, Registry users, Norfolk County municipal governments and the general public.

If you are as concerned about this matter as I am or have received good service from the Norfolk Registry of Deeds, please feel free to sign the online petition linked here https://chng.it/YY9MvxNqcq.

Please contact the three Norfolk County Commissioners that will make this decision. Norfolk County Commissioners, Joseph P. Shea, Chair, Peter H. Collins, Richard R. Staiti 614 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026

Or email them at: JandJSheaquincy@gmail.com, Petercollins@collinsandcollinspc.com Rrstaiti55@yahoo.com

Thank you.

GOOD DEEDS: Paid Consultant - Not a Cybersecurity Expert

Inside New England Chapel - Open House 11/13/21

If you missed getting to the Open House of the New England Chapel on Saturday, you can also watch the preview done by NECN here -> https://www.necn.com/on-air/as-seen-on/bowling-alley-in-franklin-transformed-into-church/2616029/

View the photos captured during my walk through which also includes photos of the outside as the changes began to take place transforming it from Ficco's to New England Chapel

Open house -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/vMHAE8vK1EALrNEaA

Outside transformation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/LMEoUw44vky1vQ8P9

The handout provided a self guided walk through of the facility. You can view a copy of it here -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Wk8BHJoOxij4SixQwVuv5Oia4pOBM-I/view?usp=sharing

To find out more about the services of New England Chapel visit them -> https://www.nechapel.org/

Inside New England Chapel - Open House 11/13/21

"You Are the Object of a Secret Extraction Operation"

As part of the run up to Nov 30, there'll be a series of articles on Facebook and its technology. I have made my decision. Maybe the information will help inform you.

"You Are the Object of a Secret Extraction Operation"

- By Shoshana Zuboff

Dr. Zuboff is a professor emeritus at Harvard Business School and the author of “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”

"Facebook is not just any corporation. It reached trillion-dollar status in a single decade by applying the logic of what I call surveillance capitalism — an economic system built on the secret extraction and manipulation of human data — to its vision of connecting the entire world. Facebook and other leading surveillance capitalist corporations now control information flows and communication infrastructures across the world.

These infrastructures are critical to the possibility of a democratic society, yet our democracies have allowed these companies to own, operate and mediate our information spaces unconstrained by public law. The result has been a hidden revolution in how information is produced, circulated and acted upon. A parade of revelations since 2016, amplified by the whistle-blower Frances Haugen’s documentation and personal testimony, bears witness to the consequences of this revolution."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/opinion/facebook-privacy.html

"Why Facebook won’t let you control your own news feed"

"In at least two experiments over the years, Facebook has explored what happens when it turns off its controversial news feed ranking system — the software that decides for each user which posts they’ll see and in what order, internal documents show. That leaves users to see all the posts from all of their friends in simple, chronological order.

Both tests appear to have taught Facebook’s researchers the same lesson: Users are better off with Facebook’s software calling the shots.

The internal research documents, some previously unreported, help to explain why Facebook seems so wedded to its automated ranking system, known as the news feed algorithm. That system is under intense public scrutiny."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/11/13/facebook-news-feed-algorithm-how-to-turn-it-off/