Franklin Downtown Partnership - GENERAL MEETING - APRIL 7, 2022

 

Franklin Downtown Partnership  GENERAL MEETING APRIL 7, 2022 AT 8:30 AM

Please join us via Zoom for the next general meeting of the FDP this Thursday. For additional details and remote connection info, please visit the Downtown Partnership page -> https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2022/04/april-general-meeting.html Franklin Downtown Partnership - GENERAL MEETING - APRIL 7, 2022

Get over the counter COVID-19 tests at no cost

Good news! Starting this week, you can get up to 8 over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. You'll be able to pick up tests from eligible pharmacies and other participating healthcare providers. Contact your local pharmacy to see if they are participating and to make sure they have tests available. Learn More Remember to bring your red, white, and blue Medicare card with you when you get your COVID-19 tests. Over-the-counter at-home tests give rapid results and you can take them anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms. Visit CDC.gov to learn when to test yourself, how to use an over-the-counter test, and what your test results mean. Sincerely, The Medicare Team This message is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was created and distributed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You're receiving this message because you signed up for email updates from the Medicare Team.

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Tuesday, Apr 5, 2022

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM  Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era

11:00 AM 2 PM and 8:00 PM SAFE Radio– Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen
Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder

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

7:00 am Sons & Daughters of Italy: Paolo DiGregorio

9:00 am It Takes A Village: Dementia

10:00 am Frank's Musings: Fraud

11:30 am Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 3

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Sandhya: Eclairs

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 1

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 6

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Arts Advocacy: Impact

4:00 pm Battleship Cove: Inside The History Pt. 8

4:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Alice Wallace

5:30 pm Physician Focus: Alzheimer's

8:30 pm Critical Conversations: Social Media

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

7:00 am Public School Event: FHS Summer Music 2021

9:00 am Public School Concert: Strings School 05-16-16

10:30 am FHS Varsity Baseball: v Durfee 06-21-21

2:00 pm It Takes A Village: Dementia

3:00 pm FHS Varsity Softball: v Attleboro 06-10-21

5:00 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

6:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse: v Hingham 06-25-21

8:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse: v Lincoln-Sudbury 06-23-21

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

8:00 am School Committee: 03-22-22

11:30 am MPAC: Franklin For All 03-07-22

2:00 pm School Committee: 03-22-22

5:30 pm Economic Development: 03-02-22

7:00 pm Community Preservation Committee, LIVE, Chambers, 814 1876 8121

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)

Franklin Historical Museum hosts photos with Easter Bunny (4/9) and next speaker for Second Sunday Series (4/10)

Saturday April 9 – Bring the kids to have a fun photo taken with the Easter Bunny from 10:00AM to 12Noon. We’re thrilled to have this special visitor join us to delight the kids.

Sunday April 10 – The next installment of our Second Sunday Speaker Series features the return of Karen Antonowicz from Spirits of Fashion who will speak on the delightful era of the Swingin’ Sixties. Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Mary Quant, Biba, and the list goes on!  Discover the fashions of the Swingin’ Sixties, beginning with the Mod styles of London, traveling through the hippy era, and culminating in the bohemian styles and hot pants of the early ‘70s.  Join us to explore what drove these changing styles and how they affected people of all ages during this turbulent time!

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The museum is located at 80 West Central Street, is wheelchair accessible and entry is always free.

You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at
http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/   

or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - April 6, 2022

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda 

April 6, 2022 - 5:30 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

Agenda:

1. Update: MAPC “Franklin For All” zoning reform project for Franklin Center, including the Downtown Commercial District and surrounding neighborhoods

Agenda doc and remote connection info
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-04-06_edc_agenda_2.pdf

 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - April 6, 2022

Franklin, MA: Board of Health meeting agenda - April 6, 2022

FRANKLIN BOARD OF HEALTH

DULY SCHEDULED MEETING

WEDNESDAY, April 6, 2022, 5:00 PM

AGENDA
1) Reading and Acceptance of March 2, 2022 meeting minutes

2) PUBLIC HEARING (none listed)

3) OLD BUSINESS 

4) NEW BUSINESS

 12 Edmunds Ave Title 5 discussion

 834 W Central St property discussion

 194 Wachusett St discussion

 71 A & B North Park St update

 Metacomet Shared Service grant regional inspector report

 Metacomet Shared Service grant Public health nurse report

 Metacomet Shared Service grant Epidemiologist hiring report

Chairman opens the floor for any other new business

(5) CITIZENS COMMENTARY

(6) ADJOURNMENT 

Agenda doc and remote connection info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/events/boh_agenda_04062022_0.pdf

Franklin, MA: Board of Health meeting agenda - April 6, 2022

FHS Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Theater Group all bring back top awards this past weekend

"Congratulations to the FHS Concert Band on their Silver Medal of Excellence and the FHS Wind Ensemble on their Superior Gold Medal at the 2022 MICCA Music Festival yesterday!! " https://twitter.com/MrsRudsitMusic/status/1510628784445210625

"Say hello to your 2022 METG Regional Winners! FHSTC was named a Top 2 winner at Drama Fest. From the original 90 schools who participated from the start-this company now ranks the Top 14 in the state for their performance of Cave Dream. @TOFranklinMA  @FranklinHS " https://twitter.com/FranklinHSDrama/status/1510614911361200131

FHSTC was named a Top 2 winner at Drama Fest

 

Register O'Donnell Encourages Use of the Registry’s Social Media

Moving forward into what appears to be another busy year at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds, Register William P. O’Donnell today restated the importance he places on the Registry’s use of social media platforms to communicate directly with the citizens of Norfolk County.

“Communication with our users,” noted O’Donnell, “is a priority at this Registry of Deeds. Our doors may close at the end of the business day but that doesn’t mean the Registry stops working. Our website www.norfolkdeeds.org  allows users to look up and view scanned images of over 8 million land documents dating back to the Registry’s beginnings in 1793. Users can also access our website to learn about our latest consumer protection programs and news relating to registry business. Our information is accessible not only from workstations and laptops, but also from smartphones and tablets.”

Register O’Donnell further remarked that a declaration form of the popular Homestead Act can be downloaded, filled-in and printed. A Homestead declaration provides a homeowner with limited protection against the forced sale of their primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000 or $1,000,000 for two owners if both owners are over the age of 62.

The Registry also provides a free Consumer Notification Service. This program alerts a person anytime a land document has been recorded against their name in Norfolk County.

Additionally, there is valuable county real estate information that can be accessed, researched and tracked. Anyone interested in the number of residential and commercial properties sold or the average prices of property sold can find that information.  

Besides the Registry website, the other forms of social media utilized by the Registry of Deeds include Facebook - facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds and Twitter - twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds. “The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds,” noted the Register, “has utilized Facebook and Twitter to provide information to the general public. By utilizing these platforms, Norfolk County residents can learn more about home ownership and other important consumer initiatives like protecting themselves against Deed Scam rip-offs.”

The Registry has also filmed multiple public service announcements (PSA’s) which are available on the Registry’s website and YouTube. These PSA’s have touched on a variety of relevant issues such as assistance for residents who have received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage from a lender.

Register O’Donnell concluded, “At the Registry of Deeds, we recognize the value of using social media platforms to forward important information to Norfolk County residents. If you have questions related to real property, I recommend you take a look at our social media offerings. As important as these social media offerings are, the Registry of Deeds has a Customer Service Center at 1-781-461-6101 where members of the public can seek assistance and speak directly with a member of our staff during business hours from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.”

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham.  The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information.  All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org.  Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

www.norfolkdeeds.org

FHS Outdoor Track & Field results for Hockomock Frosh/Sophomore meet on Saturday

Results from the Hockomock Frosh/Sophomore Meet on Saturday via FHS Track&Field Boosters https://twitter.com/FranklinXCTrack

• Congrats to all athletes that competed in the Hock Frosh/Soph Meet Saturday. Event winners include Lily DeForge (Jav, Disc), Sarah Dumas (SP, 400H), Abby Griffith (HJ), Sophia Cuneo (100M), Alex Batla (Mile) and 4x4 (Olivia Costa, Kyra McSweeney, Alli Powderly, Lainey Costa) https://twitter.com/FranklinXCTrack/status/1510742478051291136
• And the event winners on the boy's side: Connor Klawson (200M) and Jacob Bowser (SP). Well done! https://twitter.com/FranklinXCTrack/status/1510742789440655361

And via the FHS Throwers  https://twitter.com/fhs_throwers/

• Congrats to the following FHS girl javelin throwers for their success at today's Hock Fresh/Soph meet. @lilydeforge11 wins the event, @SarahDu74914978 takes 6th! @FHSSports  https://twitter.com/fhs_throwers/status/1510386806121979908
• Congrats to the following FHS girl shot putters for their success at today's Hock Fresh/Soph meet. @SarahDu74914978 wins the event, @AbbyBak67943165 takes 3rd and @ChandariaElla  takes 6th place! First time competing in the shot put for all three of these girls! Great job!!! https://twitter.com/fhs_throwers/status/1510384048962682884
• Congrats to the following FHS girl discus throwers for their success at today's Hock Fresh/Soph meet. @lilydeforge11   wins the event, @darbynicholson_  takes 3rd, and first time discus thrower @ChandariaElla  takes 5th! Great job! @FHSSports   https://twitter.com/fhs_throwers/status/1510384826934771715
• Congrats to the following FHS boy throwers finishing in the top 6 at the Hock Fresh/Soph Meet. @JacobBowser7 wins the shot put and takes 2nd in the discus. In the discus- @WPritoni  takes 3rd, Mason Yered takes 4th and Shane Hess takes 6th. Great Job! @FHSSports https://twitter.com/fhs_throwers/status/1510382636828696577

Full meet results (trials and finals)   http://results.tfmeetpro.com/Kick_To_The_Finish_LLC/202242_Hockomock_Freshman_Sophomore_Meet/index.html

FHS Panthers

Julia White, one of the Ten Softball Players to Watch for 2022 Hockomock League

HockomockSports.com has posted their listing of the Ten Players to Watch for 2022 for Softball. We shared the info on Julia White of FHS and provide the link to the full listing.

JULIA WHITE, SENIOR – FRANKLIN

Franklin showed flashes last season of being able to make a postseason run, splitting games with both Attleboro and Mansfield, and fighting back in a remarkable 16-14 win over Oliver Ames, but the Panthers will be looking for a little more consistency this year. Having White fully healthy will be a big step forward. The senior second baseman battled a hand injury all last year but she is ready from the start this spring and gives Franklin a solid defensive player in the middle infield and also a run creator at the top of the order. 

A solid hitter to all fields, White is also a threat on the base paths, taking extra bases and getting into scoring position for the middle of the lineup. White getting on base more this season and causing havoc will be a big boost for the Franklin offense. The league is, as usual, loaded and as deep as ever, so for the Panthers to get back into the state tournament mix they’ll need White’s leadership both in the field and at the plate.

Find the Softball: Ten Players to Watch for 2022

https://hockomocksports.com/softball-ten-players-to-watch-for-2022/

FHS Panthers

HockomockSports.com: FHS girls lacrosse preview for Spring 2022 season

HockomockSports.com has published their preview of the girls lacrosse teams for the Hockomock League. The Franklin portion of the article is shared here along with the link to read the full article covering the remainder of the league. 

FRANKLIN
2021 Record: 18-1
2021 Finish: Reached D1 State Championship
Coach: Kristin Igoe Guarino

There is no hiding that the goal for Franklin this season is to return to the state championship game and bring home the program’s first title. Even just a quick look at the roster shows why. The Panthers return the vast majority of last year’s team that was seconds away from overtime in last year’s final and added a few new faces that could be impact players. Franklin has experience and depth at every position. With a league win streak that has extended beyond 80 games, Franklin’s next goal is to be the best in the state.

While those are lofty expectations, Franklin has a lineup filled with college commits. In the midfield and attack, seniors Stella Regan, Jackie O’Neil, Kate O’Rourke, Maura Cogavin, and Kenzie Baker are entering their third seasons as starters and all can be playmakers. Katie Peterson and fellow junior Kaitlyn Carney are both coming off impressive sophomore seasons and junior Lindsay Atkinson and Jamie Tanner can be threats anywhere near the cage.

Defensively, Franklin will be aggressive and athletic. Senior Anna Grasso will be the leader at the back in front of classmate Brigid Earley, who was the star of the final with a series of great saves. Juniors Riley Cross and Payten Crandall make a group that works well together. Freshman goalie Ella Mahoney is a new face that will get some time this year and gives Franklin depth at that position as well.

“I am really excited for this season, as this is one of the most talented and cohesive Franklin teams I have ever coached,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “Everyone is all in and it is our goal to win a state championship!” 

Find the rest of the Girls Lacrosse preview posted by HockomockSports.com
https://hockomocksports.com/2022-hockomock-league-girls-lacrosse-preview/

Franklin returns a loaded roster after reaching the state title game. Read full team previews for the new season below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

"We need a CDC that prioritizes the health of the people, not the health of big business"

"A new omicron variant, referred to as BA 2, is taking hold in the US. Anthony Fauci and others have said they don’t expect a new surge in the US, but BA.2 is causing devastating surges elsewhere, and the policies and behaviors we might use to prevent a surge in the US have been widely abandoned, in part thanks to the CDC’s new system for measuring and conveying COVID risk.

In late February, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveiled a new COVID-19 monitoring system based on what they call “Community Levels.” By downplaying the importance of Sars-CoV-2 transmission, the new system instantly turned what was a pandemic map still red from Omicron transmission to green – creating the false impression that the pandemic is over.

Released four days before the State of the Union, the new CDC measures and the narrative they created let President Biden claim victory over the virus via sleight of hand: a switch from standard reporting of community transmissions to measures of risk based largely on contentious hospital-based metrics. The previous guidelines called anything over 50 cases per 100,000 people “substantial or high.” Now, they say 200 cases per 100,000 is “low” as long as hospitalizations are also low.

The resulting shift from a red map to a green one reflected no real reduction in transmission risk. It was a resort to rhetoric: an effort to craft a success story that would explain away hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths and the continued threat the virus poses. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/03/peoples-cdc-covid-guidelines 

"The People’s CDC is a collective of public health practitioners, scientists, healthcare workers, educators, advocates and people from all walks of life who care about reducing the harmful impacts of COVID-19. The People’s CDC is volunteer-run and independent of partisan political and corporate interests. 

A copy of the People’s CDC report on the change in the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines can be found at peoplescdc.org."

"We need a CDC that prioritizes the health of the people, not the health of big business"

And the Boston Globe reports on a growing COVID case count
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/03/metro/amid-climbing-mass-covid-19-cases-health-experts-urge-booster-shots/

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, Apr 4, 2022

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

9 AM 12 PM and 6 PM Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Todd Monjur
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM A More Perfect Union – with Dr. Michael Walker-Jones,
Representative Jeff Roy and Dr. Natalia Linos

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

7:59 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Task Force

9:00 am Concerts on the Common: Pub Kings & Padula Band

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Sandhya: Eclairs

1:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Red Pepper Soup

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 1

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 6

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Physician Focus: Alzheimer's

4:00 pm Battleship Cove: Inside The History Pt. 8

4:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Alice Wallace

5:30 pm Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 3

6:00 pm Veterans' Call: Robert Pierson

7:30 pm Frank's Musings: Fraud

8:30 pm ArtWeek: FHS Jazz & Kenny Hadley Band

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: Strings School 05-16-16

8:30 am FHS Varsity Softball: v Attleboro 06-10-21

10:30 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

12:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse: v Lincoln-Sudbury 06-23-21

1:30 pm ArtWeek: Games

2:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Task Force

6:30 pm Critical Conversations: Social Media

8:30 pm Track and Field: v King Philip 05-07-21

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

8:00 am Planning Board: 03-28-22

11:00 am MPAC: Franklin For All 03-07-22

2:00 pm Planning Board: 03-28-22

5:00 pm Economic Development: 03-02-22

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)

Community Preservation Committee Meeting April 5, 2022

Community Preservation Committee 
Meeting April 5, 2022

Agenda:
1. Approval of Minutes

a. January 4, 2022

b. January 18, 2022

2. Discussion: Community Preservation Master Plan Sketch Draft v. 1

Please find the agenda and links for the meeting here:     https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-06-05_cpc_meeting_agenda.pdf

pickleball courts at King St Memorial Park

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - April 6, 2022

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 7 PM

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.

c. ISO Class-1 Announcement, Franklin Fire Department

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three 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 - None Scheduled.

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS - None Scheduled.

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. New Employee: Fire Department - James Koch

b. New Employee: Fire Department - Michael Eaton

6. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm

a. Street Acceptances: Brandywine Drive and Portion of Charles Drive

i. Legislation for Action Item: 9b

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. License Modification: Change of Location - NDO Enterprises, LLC d/ b/a Pour Richard’s Wine

and Spirits, Located at 14 Grove Street

b. License Modification: Alteration of Premises - Let’s Eat Franklin, LLC d/b/a 3 Restaurant,

Located at 461 West Central Street

c. New Section 12 Restaurant Common Victualer All Alcohol License and Approval of Veronika

Matunin as the Manager - Windtop Acres d/b/a Birchwood Bakery, Located at 17 East Central

Street

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS

a. Presentation: ARPA Update - Town Administrator Jamie Hellen

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 22-24: Authorization for Town Administrator to Submit American Rescue Plan Act

Applications to Norfolk County (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-24- Majority Vote)

b. Resolution 22-12: Order of Acceptance of Brandywine Drive and Portion of Charles Drive as

Public Ways (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-12- Two Thirds Majority Vote)

c. Bylaw Amendment 22-876: Chapter 153 Stormwater Management - Corrective Legislation

(Motion to Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-876 - Majority Roll Call Vote)

d. Bylaw Amendment 22-877: Chapter 82, Municipal Service Fees, Amended at Section 82-6

Schedule of Service Fees, Subsection A. Administration: Stormwater Utility Fee (Motion to

Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-877 - Majority Roll Call Vote)

e. Bylaw Amendment 22-878: Chapter 82, Municipal Service Fees, Amended at Section 82-6

Schedule of Service Fees, Subsection A. Administration: Passport Photo Fee (Motion to

Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-878 - Majority Roll Call Vote)

f. Resolution 22-25: Gift Acceptance: Conservation Commission ($1,000.00) and Veterans’

Services Dept. ($300) (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-25 - Majority Vote)

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

a. FY23 Budget Update

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Budget Subcommittee

c. Economic Development Subcommittee

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

15. ADJOURN

Note: 

Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes 

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc and connection info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/april_6_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - April 6, 2022

Franklin TV: Out With the Old

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/03/2022

It’s my ten-year anniversary! Yay, me! (I guess I’m not the new kid anymore.) Wow!

Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday that I… (Wavy TV screen effect that takes us back to day one.)

My first Summer was a technical firefight to fix damaged, tired gear, and get our snowy Comcast channels cleaned up. We bought a building in the Fall and began our journey to modernize the facility. Old standard definition TeeVee cameras, videotape and DVD players, (remember VHS?) editing systems, audio gear, channel equipment and all the background stuff that made it all go – year-after-year, all of it was slowly being replaced with state-of-the-art, high-definition gear.

The images above are of the old and new Equipment Rack 15. It’s a small-ish, 2-foot high bundle of gear that connects our main studio to Panther TV’s control room in the high school. Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking.

“ OOoooooh! Wow! OMG! What a huge difference. Srsly!”

Uh, huh! Drink it in and savor the moment – just like I did. Why? The old rack was the very last of the standard TeeVee gear to be retired, and the new rack completes our long journey to an entirely modern facility – streaming online 24/7 in Hi-Def. Retiring the last of the legacy gear was a nice moment to mark a decade of progress.

Now, if only we can get our Comcast and Verizon cable providers to do the same. 

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 
And, thank you for watching.

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