The winners of Project Raincheck, World of Difference organizes a Walk Against Hate, and sports highlights of the week! @FHSPantherbook @FHSSports @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews
Panther News: Friday, May 27, 2022 youtu.be/xwXU9urSZp0 via @YouTube
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 *
The winners of Project Raincheck, World of Difference organizes a Walk Against Hate, and sports highlights of the week! @FHSPantherbook @FHSSports @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews
Panther News: Friday, May 27, 2022 https://youtu.be/xwXU9urSZp0 via @YouTube
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The overall drought status has worsened and with little precipitation in the outlook, things are not likely to get better soon. We are not yet moved up a level but it seems to be a matter of time.
US Drought Monitor site -> https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx
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US Drought Monitor status for Mass |
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Franklin Public Library Closed for Memorial Day - along with Town of Franklin offices and schools |
The Franklin Public Library will be closed Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day.
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/franklin-public-library-closed-may-29-may-30-memorial-day
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 Massachusetts House of Representatives today (05/26/22) passed legislation addressing teen sexting and image-based sexual assault, commonly referred to as “revenge porn.”
“I’m proud the House today passed a bill consistent with our intent
during criminal justice reform to provide intervention through diversion
instead of incarceration for minors,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano
(D-Quincy). “Additionally, the bill criminalizes image-based sexual assault by
adults and affords victims of this crime protections, including the opportunity
to get a harassment prevention order against their perpetrator.”
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L-R: Speaker Marino, Lt Reilly, St Rep Roy |
“Under current law, when faced with an incident of sexting among
teenagers, the police are forced with either charging them with a felony or
doing nothing,” said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). “The bill passed today
provides law enforcement officers with a middle ground that will allow them to
educate kids about the consequences of their actions without ruining their
lives. It will have a tremendous impact on people who have become entangled in
the web and transmittal of images that can cause traumatic and lifetime harm
through a diversion program that will educate them about the legal and personal
consequences of “sexting.”
Currently, minors who possess or share explicit photos of themselves or
other minors are charged with violating Massachusetts child pornography laws
and are required to register with the Sex Offender Registry. “An Act
relative to transmitting indecent visual depictions by teens and the unlawful
distribution of explicit images” (H.4498) allows minors to be diverted
to an educational program established in the bill prior to delinquency
proceedings.
The educational diversion program, to be created by the Attorney General
and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), would provide
teenagers with information about the legal and nonlegal consequences of
sexting, which would be made available to school districts. DESE should also
encourage districts to implement media literacy programs in their schools as a
prevention measure.
A district attorney, however, is allowed to petition the court to bring
criminal charges in extreme cases. The bill creates a new misdemeanor offense
specifically for minors who possess or disseminate explicit images.
In addition to teen sexting, the bill addresses the nonconsensual
distribution of explicit images by adults by establishing a penalty in the
existing criminal harassment statute, including prison time and/or a monetary
fine for first and subsequent offenses. Under this bill, a victim may also
petition the court for a harassment prevention order against a person who has
violated this statute.
“An Act relative to transmitting indecent visual depictions by teens and
the unlawful distribution of explicit images” (H.4498) passed the House of
Representatives 154-0. It now goes to the Senate for their consideration.
FM #803 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 803 in the series.
This session of the radio show is the audio recording of the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting conducted on Tuesday, Sep 24, 2022. All seven members of the committee were present. After the set of retiree recognitions, the meeting took a break and then resumed.
The recording runs about 2 hours and 27 minutes, so let’s listen in.
Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-803-school-committee-mtg-05-24-22
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Agenda document -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_5-24-22.pdf
Meeting packet folder with documents released for this meeting -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/may-24-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet
Franklin TV YouTube video -> https://youtu.be/gP5hyu8WZ3I
My notes via Twitter -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pO0ZkELeiMwFcz4sZg_NGLfujYDkmuo-/view?usp=sharing
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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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Thursday:
Next up: The Pedroli Finals, Saturday, May 28th @ Mahan Field vs Hopkinton at 7pm. https://twitter.com/FHSCoachZBrown/status/1530015901671628806
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FHS Panthers |
FM #802 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 802 in the series.
This session of the radio show is an editorial statement. Something I don’t do often, in fact rarely do but given the circumstances of this week, I feel compelled to share this.
The recording runs about 7 minutes, so let’s listen.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-802-for-crying-out-loud-05-25-22
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The text
“For crying out loud”
For, crying out loud
We’ll begin with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present
The headlines yesterday were all over DESE going after Boston Public Schools for insufficient progress on a “myriad of problems”. In their 120+ page assessment, the litany of errors, shortfalls, discrepancies out outlined in detail with a particular focal point, rather myopic in that, DESE is the same organization that throughout the pandemic struggled to generate timely and accurate guidance. Those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones!
For crying out loud
The headlines were all about Boston and DESE until word came on yet another shooting, another elementary school, lives young and old cut short by someone misguided at best, armed unnecessarily, who likely had cried for help and the yet system did not respond. You can say it starts at home. He did. He shot his grandmother first.
For crying out loud
Perhaps lost among the other news headlines, was one that 12 students at FHS received the Commonwealth seal of biliteracy, achieving proficiency in two languages. It had been 11 when I created the headline Tuesday. It was raised by one more to 12 as another confirmation of a student award was received. Not unlike the initial reports or 14, then 18, 19… where will it end
I recall a poem by Robert Bly
“Let's count the bodies over again.
If we could only make the bodies smaller
The size of skulls
We could make a whole plain white with skulls in the moonlight!
If we could only make the bodies smaller
Maybe we could get
A whole year's kill in front of us on a desk!
If we could only make the bodies smaller
We could fit
A body into a finger-ring for a keepsake forever.”
Written during the Vietnam war, and the repetition of body counts the news broadcast daily.
For crying out loud
We’ll come back to FHS. There are more than 20 languages heard within the halls of FHS and these 12 students have mastered a couple. Maybe, there is hope. Maybe, among the halls of students, mastering language, they can lead us to a better place. Maybe they can bring a cracking (some would say breaking) system to its senses.
I hope so, I am tired of crying out loud
We’ll end with a moment of reflection, take a deep breath, centering where we are in the present. If we don’t use the past lessons to foster change, what will our future be?
For crying out loud
I’ll close with my own poem written in the pandemic
I wake fearful
take a breath
realize
it is a
new day, we
can do this!
For more about Robert Bly -> https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-bly
--------------
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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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Editorial Statement: For Crying Out Loud (audio) |
Join us for coffee and conversation!
If you know of other veterans who'd like to join us, feel free to bring them too!
Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/june-2022-coffee-social-all-vets-are-welcome
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Veterans Coffee Social - All Vets are Welcome! - Jun 1 - 10:00 AM |
The FHS Senior Awards Night was broadcast via multiple channels Thursday evening and is available via YouTube for replay. Link -> https://youtu.be/soSP9PeOPKM
What do SHOWCASE CARS and CANNABIS have in common? See for yourself Memorial Day Saturday! NETA will host a charity car show ‘Fuel’d Up Franklin’ on Saturday, May 28th in the NETA Franklin store parking lot at 162 Grove St.
The event will be held from 10 AM - 5 PM. Admission is free.
Everyone must be 21 years or older. You must show a legal ID to enter.
NETA is collaborating with “Pull’d Up” a national car show company – the event will benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The pantry will have a donation station where you can support their work in the community.
You will see showcase cars including ‘Muscles’ and ‘Exotics’ while you can enjoy the other festivities of the day with:
Parking is available and police will be on hand to help guide traffic.
We look forward to seeing you there!
NETA always promotes responsible and safe use of cannabis.
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Showcase Cars Coming to NETA Franklin on Memorial Day Saturday - A Great Photo Opportunity! |