Register now for the 11th Annual FBRTC 5K Road Race and 1.5Mi Walk - May 7, 2022

Hello Runners,  Registration is open for the 11th Annual FBRTC 5K Road Race and 1.5Mi Walk.   Please see TVFR Website or Register Now for more information.    Thank you, Tri-Valley Front Runners mark_capparella@waters.com 11th Annual FBRTC 5K Road Race 5/7/2022 Remington Middle School Franklin, Massachusetts

Register now -> https://www.active.com/franklin-ma/running/distance-running-races/11th-annual-fbrtc-5k-road-race-2022

Tri-Valley Front Runners
PO Box 125, Milford, MA, 01757 United States

Charles River Watershed Association: "Let the Rivers Run Free" (video)

#ICYMI Watch the full recording from Thursday (02/24/22) night's webinar "Let the Rivers Run Free" about dam removal & recreation featuring Cameron Salvatore of the #CharlesRiverNavigationProject and Climate Resilience Specialist @RobertKearns!

https://t.co/PcVTDKKvLs  or https://youtu.be/pcqWOZtgaHQ

Visit the Storymap  "A River Interrupted" here -> 

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/62917edcb76c4e10868cbb7a79638282

For more about the CRWA -> https://www.crwa.org/

Make it easier: "We humans are organisms, so we do what they do"

As we get into the discussion about what downtown Franklin should be like, we can consider the axiom of biology Jarrett Walker talks of in this article: 

"Induced demand is the observed fact that if you make something easier to do, people will do it more.  For example, if you create new capacity for cars in a place where travel demand is high, the result is more cars.  If you build more capacity to “fix congestion”, you end up back near the same level of congestion you had before.

After decades of observing this pattern, most people, including many road-building authorities, are still reluctant to face what this means.  Part of the problem, surely, is that we’re presenting induced demand as an observed discovery, allowing us to perform quarrels over data, research methods etc.

But induced demand isn’t just an observed fact.  It’s also an axiom of biology, so we are as sure about it as we are of the facts of math.  This means we don’t really need to be doing this experiment over and over, just as we don’t need to keep measuring circles to be sure of the value of pi."

Continue reading the article online

https://humantransit.org/2022/01/induced-demand-an-axiom-of-biology.html

Make it easier: "We humans are organisms, so we do what they do"

Franklin's Event Outlook: Feb 25, 2022 to Mar 4, 2022

Snow today, so most of us are bundled up inside. This was a relatively quiet week due to school vacation anyway. Winter Farmers Market on Saturday and the debut of Electric Youth with two performances scheduled for Saturday. The Historical Museum is scheduled to be open both Sat/Sun.

Saturday, February 26
10:00am - Winter Farmers Market
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)
4:00pm - Electric Youth 2022
8:00pm - Electric Youth 2022

Sunday, February 27
1:00pm  - Historical Museum (always free)

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

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

The School district calendar is found   https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

Community Calendar

Franklin Residents: Closure of Municipal Buildings 2/25/2022

Closure of Municipal Buildings 2/25/2022

Dear Franklin Constituents, 

All town administrative offices and buildings will be closed today, Friday, February 25th, 2022 due to inclement weather. 

The Police Department has declared a town wide parking ban in effect 2/25/2022 from 1am through 8pm.

All non-emergency personnel will continue to be available for remote work through our regular department business hours of 8am-1pm. Staff will still be available via phone, email and other networks to conduct business. Please call for service and a staff member will get back to you.

Please see the department directory for contact information:

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/local-phone-directory

Emergency information is here:

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/emergency-management-information

Franklin DPW direct contact is here: 

https://www.franklinma.gov/public-works

Please stay safe Franklin! And stay in touch with our social media channels for any updates.

Shared from Town of Franklin -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/closure-municipal-buildings-2252022

Franklin Residents: Closure of Municipal Buildings 2/25/2022

Inside the Shamrock Walk for Refugees scheduled for Mar 19, 2022 (audio)

FM #739 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 739 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Jerika Lowry and Adam Calvert. They came together as part of the Franklin Neighborhood Support Team to provide support for an Afghan family now living here. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Feb 22, 2022.  

We talk about the Shamrock Walk for Refugees scheduled for March 19, 2022 on the Franklin High School track, the organization of the Neighborhood Support Team and their fundraising effort.

The recording runs about 17 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jerika and Adam. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-739-shamrock-walk-for-refugees-02-22-22

--------------

Register or donate to the Shamrock Walk For Refugees -> https://walkforrefugees.org/ 

For more about Acentria, the New England based non-profit providing some of the infrastructure for the Neighborhood Support Teams ->  https://www.ascentria.org/ 

--------------

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

Inside the Shamrock Walk for Refugees scheduled for Mar 19, 2022 (audio)

FHS boys basketball top Worcester North to capture Worcester Tournament title

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Thursday:

 
Boys Basketball = Franklin, 41 @ Worcester North, 39 – Final

• End of 1Q: Franklin 7  North 13
• Halftime: Franklin 20 North 19
• End of 3Q: Franklin 25 North 26
• Timeout with 4:34 left in the 4th. North leads 34-28.
• Timeout with 2:44 left. North leads 34-31.
• Timeout called by North with 57.8 seconds left. North leads 37-35.
• Franklin timeout. North up 39-37. 34 seconds remain.
• Panthers timeout. Tied at 39. 18.2 seconds left.
• Panthers lead 41-39 with 5.8 seconds. North ball.
• Wow! Great team effort to win the Worcester Tournament with a great win over North! 41-39 final score. Congrats boys!   https://twitter.com/fhsboysbball/status/1497004004047532034

No better way for @fhsboysbball to prep for playoff ball than to roll in and crush the Worcester Tournament! Beating North High School in the finals by 2 #pantherpride #LETSGO #tourneytime @CoachCJNeely @CoachMDoherty @FHSSports   https://twitter.com/cathyklein03/status/1497007174819659778

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-24-22/

https://twitter.com/cathyklein03/status/1497007174819659778/photo/2

Sorry we missed you: How can Franklin Build Climate Resilience? (video)

"So sorry that you missed our presentation last evening "How can Franklin Build Climate Resilience?". You can find a recording of the presentation on our YouTube Channel and slides on our website. 

Additionally I wanted to share our Climate Resilience Toolkit which is located on our website and includes different policy solutions to help increase climate resilience. "

Best,

Robert

--

Robert Kearns
Climate Resilience Specialist
Charles River Watershed Association
41 West St. Suite 800

Boston, MA 02111
t 617.540.5650 x 1075
He, Him, His

www.crwa.org/support

Diversity Awareness Club schedules a Geography Night for Tuesday, March 1 at FHS Cafe

"Don't forget to join the Diversity Awareness Club's (DAC) Geography night next Tuesday (3/1) from 5-8 PM in the FHS cafeteria! 

Explore and learn more about different cultures around the world in one night"  

https://t.co/zZAqFhtnOG

Geography Night - Mar 1, 2022 from 5 to 8 PM in the FHS cafeteria

Short video contained here -> 

Don’t forget to join DAC’s Geography night next Tuesday (3/1) from 5-8pm in the FHS cafeteria! Explore and learn more about different cultures around the world in one night @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinMatters pic.twitter.com/zZAqFhtnOG

— Diversity Awareness Club (@DiversityFHS) February 22, 2022

Vaccination rate for Franklin moving oh so slowly upward

"Explore the overall first-dose vaccinations in each community, and see the racial/ethnic breakdown of who is receiving those vaccines. A * indicates no data was provided by the state, and the state does not report numbers below 30.

Updated Feb. 24, 2022. The state releases new data each Thursday evening."

Vaccination rate moving oh so slowly upward

Town	Franklin
Total Vaccinated	28,567
Total Vaccination Rate	84.10%
White Vaccinated	24,362
White Vaccination Rate	80.30%
Black Vaccinated	346
Black Vaccination Rate	93.30%
Hispanic Vaccinated	891
Hispanic Vaccination Rate	99.80%
Asian Vaccinated	1420
Asian Vaccination Rate	78.40%
Multi Vaccinated	923
Multi Vaccination Rate	186.10%
AI/AN Vaccinated	*
AI/AN Vaccination Rate	*
NH/PI Vaccinated	*
NH/PI Vaccination Rate	*
Other/Unknown Vaccinated	625
Other/Unknown Vaccination Rate	*

Shared from the Boston Globe
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/18/nation/see-who-has-been-vaccinated-your-town/

SSA: 6 Ways to Make Saving for Retirement Easier

I heartily endorse starting small as one of the steps to save for your future retirement. The Social Security Administration provides additional tips in this article. I am fortunate to be in a good retirement position now having saved early on and then gradually increased my savings along the way. 

"It’s America Saves Week! That means it’s a great time to see how you’re doing with your savings goals. Most working Americans know they need to save for retirement. Sometimes though, because retirement is far off in the future, we may delay saving. When everyday expenses routinely pop up, saving for a time that is years away in the future can seem less urgent.

We’re working with Social Security to help you consider what your retirement will look like. The following strategies can make it easier for you to save for retirement:

Start Small. Saving something is better than saving nothing – especially with compound interest. Just $5 per day could yield a return of $1 million in 48 years with the right investments. Consider saving as early as possible. Start with 1% and increase how much you save each year."

Continue reading the SSA's tips to save
https://blog.ssa.gov/6-ways-to-make-saving-for-retirement-easier/

6 Ways to Make Saving for Retirement Easier

 

Big Y: On The Spot Hiring Event! - March 1, 2022

SHOP | SAVE | MYBIGY

Click Here to Apply Before the Event

Urgency of Equity: a toolkit to help communities sort out fact from fiction

There is a moral urgency to protect all students & staff, including those who are most vulnerable.

We put together a toolkit to help communities sort out fact from fiction & advocate for a safe, healthy learning environment for everyone: https://t.co/YBDVlqUgKm #UrgencyOfEquity

Shared from -> https://t.co/ue8XtL20YM

Urgency of Equity: a toolkit to help communities sort out fact from fiction

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Feb 25, 2022

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Narcan Availability

8:29:00 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19

9:00:00 am Frank Presents: State House Pt. 3

10:00 am Physician Focus: Common and Emerging Diseases

11:00 am Senior Connection: Sleep

11:30 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Narcan Availability

12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:30 pm Sandhya: Eclairs

1:00:00 pm Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19

1:30:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Show 3

3:00 pm Franklin Art Association: Joyce McJilton Dwyer

7:00 pm SAFE Coalition: The Hamlins

8:00 pm Senior Connection: Sleep

8:30 pm ArtWeek: Airmen of Note

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Public School Concert: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 01-29-19

8:30 am It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club

9:30 am FHS Varsity Wrestling: v King Philip 12-22-21

11:30 am FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v King Philip 02-18-22

1:30 pm Public School Event: FHS Winter Jazz Night '22

3:30 pm Public School Concert: Sullivan Winter Music 2019

5:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v St. John's Prep 02-16-22

8:30 pm Public School Concert: FHS Concert Night 2019

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 01-27-22

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 01-27-22

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf     

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Town of Franklin: DPW Recorded Message with the storm notices for Feb 25, 2022

The audio recorded message from Town of Franklin DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi with the notices on the trash delay, recycling center closure, and parking ban - all in advance of the storm forecasted for Friday, Feb 25, 2022. 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/town-of-franklin-storm-notices-02-24-2022 

Town of Franklin: DPW Recorded Message with the storm notices for Feb 25, 2022

Franklin Police joint investigation results in arrests of 3; seizure of weapons, and controlled substances

After a joint investigation with the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Massachusetts State Police, Franklin Police Detectives executed multiple search warrants on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 258 Washington Street, Apartment #2, Franklin.   

During the course of the investigation a package was intercepted through the mail which was addressed to an occupant at 258 Washington Street Apt. 2.  Probable cause was developed that illegal narcotics were contained in the package.   

On Wednesday, February 23, 2022 with the assistance of the Metro-LEC Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), the package was delivered and the search warrant was executed.  Two illegal firearms were located in a bedroom of the apartment.  One was a fully loaded AK-47 rifle and a loaded Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun.  Several types of controlled substances were also found in the apartment.

Due to this investigation in conjunction with the evidence seized as a result of the three search warrants, three individuals were charged in this case.  Harry Alberini (04/13/1980), Sonya Peterson (09/18/1977), and Joseph Martin-Morse (09/16/1980) will be charged with several firearms and drug related charges and will be arraigned on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Wrentham District Court.

Franklin Police investigation results in arrests of 3; seizure of weapons and controlled substance (Franklin Police photo)

Curbside Trash and Recycling Will Be Picked Up on Saturday (2/26) Instead of Friday (2/25); Parking Ban 1 AM to 8 PM during storm

1 - Curbside Trash and Recycling Will Be Picked Up on Saturday (2/26) Instead of Friday (2/25)

2 - Parking ban in effect 2/25/22 from 1:00 AM to 8 PM 

Curbside Trash and Recycling Will Be Picked Up on Saturday (2/26) Instead of Friday (2/25); Parking Ban 1 AM to 8 PM during storm

Shared from https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/news/curbside-trash-and-recycling-will-be-picked-saturday-226-instead-friday

Second Sunday Speaker Series - March 13 – Chris Woolf

Bumbling Through the Hindu Kush – A Memoir of Fear and Kindness in Afghanistan

What happens when a regular person accidentally finds themselves lost in the middle of a war? In 1991, BBC journalist Chris Woolf travelled to Afghanistan. The government in Kabul was fighting for survival, after the withdrawal of its superpower patron; in this case, the Soviet Union. The parallels to today are extraordinary.

Woolf was visiting a colleague, Chris Bowers, to see what the life of a foreign correspondent was like. They hitched a ride with an aid convoy and bumbled straight into the war. They survived minefields, artillery, armed robbery. They were trapped in no-man’s land during a battle, and even escaped from detention by the secret police. They kept going, despite the horror and terror. There was no choice.

Amid the darkness, Woolf discovered the generosity and hospitality of ordinary Afghans, eager to share what little they had with strangers in peril. Along the way, they became the first journalists to pass through the battle lines from Kabul to meet with legendary warlord Ahmed Shah Massoud, and carried home a vital message for the peace process. They met with Soviet POW/MIAs and recorded messages for loved ones.

Woolf shares an intimate portrait of first encounters with death and real fear. He explores the lingering effects of trauma, and explains how he put his experience to good use. He introduces just enough of Afghanistan’s history, geography, culture and politics for audiences to understand what was going on around him. He also makes a few comparisons and contrasts between the situation in Afghanistan then and now. Chris’ book by the same title was published in October 2021 and is available in paperback; Kindle e-book; audiobook (narrated by the author).

Doors open at 1:00 PM, the presentation starts at 1:15 PM. 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. When visiting the museum, please bring a non-perishable food item for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Admission is always free.

The Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, Franklin, MA.

Chris Woolf - then and now