Closing out with Sara Ahern - 06/21/22 (audio)

FM #824 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 824 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Sara Ahern. We had our conversation in person, in her office at the Municipal building, among boxes being packed as she readied to leave this role for her next chapter.  She is scheduled to take some time off before starting as Superintendent in Barnstable on July 1

We talk about 

• Her accomplishments over her time here

• Portrait of a Graduate probably the key item

• Multiple central office and district positions filled, leaving in good stead

• Inflection points

• Space needs & redistricting discussion started

• Budget always a challenge, perhaps more so with the ARPA funds expiring in 2024

The recording runs about 34 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Sara

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-824-closing-out-with-fps-supt-sara-ahern-06-21-22

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Barnstable Public Schools - Superintendent’s page (to be updated with Sara’s information in July, 2022)  https://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/domain/42 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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!

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

Closing out with Sara Ahern - 06/21/22 (audio)

The Consumer Confidence Report tells Franklin residents all about our water supply

Important Information About Drinking Water

All sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water), including rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells, contain some naturally occurring contaminants or substances.

Because water is the universal solvent, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal and human activity.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Removing all contaminants would be extremely expensive and in nearly all cases would not provide greater protection of health.

To ensure that your water is safe to drink, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the EPA regulate the allowable amount of certain contaminants in the water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. This report provides you with information about the contaminants found naturally in your drinking water, the levels at which they are found, and the likely source of each contaminant.

Contaminants that can be present include:

 Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

 Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources, such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

 Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

 Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

 Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities

Download a copy to read the full report

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/pages/franklin_ma_ccr_2022_web_final_052722_0.pdf

Photos of the Grove St water treatment facility can be found in one album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/voCZWzWBNMBTvoX69

Listen to Doug and Jake talk with me in a series of episodes where we get into all about water.

https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/news/franklin-matters-conversations-doug-martin-jake-standley

Additional information on the Water/Sewer Department can be found on the Town of Franklin page

https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division

equipment at the Grove St water treatment plant

Franklin Health Department: COVID-19 Testing Kits Available

Franklin Health Department: COVID-19 Testing Kits Available

The Franklin Health Department received more home COVID-19 self test kits from the state. Franklin residents can call the Public Health Office at (508) 613-1341 to check for availability and coordinate curbside pick up outside of the Senior Center. Pick up hours are as follows...

- Mon, Tues, Thurs: 8AM-4PM

- Wednesday: 8AM-6PM

- Friday 8AM-1PM

There is a limited supply! One test per household member, first come first serve. Please direct all questions to the public health office at (508) 613-1341.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/franklin-health-department-covid-19-testing-kits-available

Franklin Health Department: COVID-19 Testing Kits Available

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Tuesday, July 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 ArtWeek: FHS Jazz & Kenny Hadley Band

9:00 am It Takes A Village: Ethan Dimarino

10:00 am Frank Presents: Kathy McAdams

11:30 am Senior Connection: Dementia

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa

12:30 pm Sandhya: Macaroons

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

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 5

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 11

3:30 pm Strawberry Stroll 2022

4:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 6 - Swinging Steaks

5:30 pm Physician Focus: Telemedicine

6:00 pm Change the MA Flag

7:30 pm Metrowest Arts & Culture Symposium

9:30 pm 4th of July 2021: Neal & The Vipers

11:00 pm 4th of July 2021: Michael Revelis

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 2 9:00 am All-Town Showcase: Band 11:00 am Let's Talk Sports: Brett Feldman 12:30 pm Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22 2:00 pm It Takes A Village: Ethan Dimarino 3:00 pm FHS PCC: Vaping Panel 6:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse: v Bishop Feehan 05-20-22 8:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse: v Moses Brown 05-24-22 10:00 pm FHS Varsity Softball: v Mansfield 04-22-22

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

8:00 am School Committee: 06-14-22 11:30 am School Committee: 06-27-22 2:00 pm School Committee: 06-14-22 5:30 pm School Committee: 06-27-22

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)

Notice from the Treasurer/ Collector: FY 23 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Notice from the Office of the Treasurer/ Collector:

Treasurer Collector Kerri A. Bertone has mailed the fiscal year 2023 real estate and personal property bills.  Payment is due by August 1, 2022.  Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.

Shared from Town of Franklin page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/notice-treasurer-collector-fy-23-real-estate-and-personal-property-tax-bills

Notice from the Treasurer/ Collector: FY 23 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

4th of July Celebration - schedule for Monday, July 4, 2022

Monday, July 4 = Independence Day

12:00pm - 4th July: Rides and food booths open (WRIST BANDS 12-5 - save $ buy the wristband/card online -> https://www.franklin4th.com/)

12:00pm - 4th July: Jamie Barrett (solo acoustic)

1:30pm - 4th July: Granite Brass

4:00pm - 4th July: Jesse Liam Band (Their deep catalog of cover songs spans popular music)

4th of July Coalition home page   https://www.franklin4th.com/

• Schedule -> https://www.franklin4th.com/carnival-hours

• Music line up -> https://www.franklin4th.com/schedule-of-events

• Food -> https://www.franklin4th.com/food 

• Donation info -> https://dashboard.atpay.com/giving_portal/org_hSjdZIXVngDI7KDJ_AeUeQ 

• Mail to    

Franklin July 4th Coalition

c/o Dean Bank

P.O. Box 307

Franklin, MA 02038

Download a copy of the recent Franklin 4th July mailer with the complete schedule of events  ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sALIW_iu5PT84eQ_p3kUCncZaUnJB0NM/view?usp=sharing

an annual favorite returns

Food -> https://www.franklin4th.com/food 

DPW Notice - Mill and Overlay Project To Begin Week of July 5, 2022

Notice from the Department of Public Works

The Town's contractor, Massachusetts Broken Stone Company, will be starting up on the 2022 Mill and Overlay project the week of July 5. 

Streets for this project are to include:

• King Street (from Union Street to East Central Street) 
• East Central (from Ruggles to Lewis)
• Union (from Beaver to School St)
• Beaver St (from the RR tracks to I-495 overpass)

The contractor will be starting on King Street. The project will continue through the summer. 

Shared from Town of Franklin DPW page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dpw-notice-mill-and-overlay-project-begin-week-july-5th-2022

DPW Notice - Mill and Overlay Project To Begin Week of July 5, 2022

Senate President Karen Spilka to Host Autumn Senior Health and Wellness Fair

Return to in-person fair will include fun and informative activities for older adults 

   

State Senate President Karen E. Spilka announced plans for her annual Senior Health and Wellness Fair to be held in-person in Framingham on October 22, 2022. The free event will include fun and informative activities for older adults, as well as food, workshops, live music, vendors, and raffles.  

 

"Each year, my Senior Health and Wellness Fair has been a great chance for me to get to know so many residents of our community and to connect them with resources, fun activities, and, most importantly, each other," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Last year, this event was held remotely to keep everyone safe. Isolation has made connecting with one other even more important for residents of any age, but particularly for seniors. That's why I am so excited to be able to hold this event in-person again this year." 

 

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event hosted hundreds of seniors and older adults annually from across the MetroWest area and beyond. 

 

Senate President Karen Spilka's Senior Health and Wellness Fair is scheduled to be held in-person at Keefe Technical High School, at 750 Winter Street in Framingham, on October 22, 2022. Residents are encouraged to call the office of Senate President Spilka at (617) 722-1500 with questions.  

Senate President Karen Spilka to Host Autumn Senior Health and Wellness Fair

Census Bureau Profile America Facts for Features: The Fourth of July - 2022

The Fourth of July: 2022 JUNE 29, 2022 On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As we celebrate this Independence Day, we reflect on how our Founding Fathers enshrined in our Constitution the importance of statistics as a vital tool for measuring America. Most of the following facts are possible thanks to responses to U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys. We appreciate the public's cooperation as we continuously measure our people, places and economy.  Did You Know? 2.5 million The estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation in July 1776. Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: 1789-1945 331,449,281 The nation's population on April 1, 2020. Source: 2020 Census 56 The number of signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is also worth noting that: John Hancock, a merchant by trade, was the first signer. In 2020, more than 1 million business establishments nationally with paid employees were in the retail trade industry like Hancock. Source: 2020 County Business Patterns, Table CB2000CBP Benjamin Franklin, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence at age 70. Pennsylvania had a resident population of 13,002,700 on April 1, 2020. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina was the youngest signer at age 26. South Carolina had a resident population of 5,118,425 on April 1, 2020. Source: 2020 Census                                       Patriotic Places  Places with the word "liberty" in their names. Source: Vintage 2021 Population Estimates Places with the word "union" in their names. Source: Vintage 2021 Population Estimates                                        Related News Products  Previous Facts for Features FFF: The Fourth of July: 2021 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2020 The Fourth of July: 2019 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2018 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2017 FFF: The Fourth of July: 2016 Stats for Stories Bill of Rights Day Ancestor Appreciation Day Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance Washington, D.C. 150th Government Anniversary (1871) National Election Day (Presidential) Inauguration Day Previous Graphics Happy 245th Birthday America! (2021) Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2020) Fun Facts: Fourth of July (2019) The Fourth of July (2018) Declaring Independence (2017) Greetings From Liberty USA (2016) ### Editor's note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. We typically release Facts for Features at least a month before an observance to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments? Contact the Census Bureau's Public Information Office at 301-763-3030 or pio@census.gov. Learn More Help us spread the word about Census Bureau data! Share this on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This About the Census Bureau We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. As the world's premier statistical agency, we are dedicated to making our nation a better place. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our data to make informed decisions. Resources for Media For media interviews, please contact the Public Information Office Toll Free at 877-861-2010, 301-763-3030, or pio@census.gov.

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Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, July 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

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur

9:00 am FHS Graduation 2022

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa

12:30 pm Sandhya: Macaroons

1:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

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

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 5

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 11

4:00 pm Metrowest Symposium: Ruby Payne

5:30 pm Senior Connection: Dementia

6:00 pm Veterans' Call: Veterans' Treatment

7:00 pm Let's Talk Sports: Brett Feldman

7:30 pm Frank Presents: Kathy McAdams

8:30 pm The Drummer's Studio 12th Anniversary

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

7:00 am All-Town Showcase: Band

8:30 am FHS Varsity Softball: v Mansfield 04-22-22

10:30 am Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22

12:30 pm Public School Concert: Horace Mann Spring Music '22

2:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball: v King Philip 05-07-22

6:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse: v Moses Brown 05-24-22

8:30 pm FHS PCC: Vaping Panel

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

8:00 am Planning Board: 06-27-22 2:00 pm Planning Board: 06-27-22

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)