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Monday, September 26, 2022
LiveARTS Musical Magic Concert - Oct 2
Hockomock Area YMCA Family Fun Day featuring the Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K - Oct 1
On Saturday, October 1, the Hockomock Area YMCA will hold the Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K and Family Fun Day at the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place. Located at 1 Bass Pro Drive behind Bass Pro Shops in Foxborough, this event includes a 5K, a free Kids Fun Run, a two-mile race for kids ages 12 and under, and free, family-friendly activities provided by dozens of YMCA community partners. All proceeds from the day’s event will benefit the Hockomock Y’s Food Access Programs.
Greg Spier, longtime YMCA board member, community leader and Foxborough resident, expressed, “My wife Kathy and I are so excited to sponsor this great event again this year, bringing families together for healthy activities while raising awareness of our Y’s ongoing food security programs.”
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| Race participants enjoy each other’s company |
“The Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K & Family Day is an important event on our YMCA calendar. The day celebrates and reinforces our focus on healthy living and our commitment to raise funds for our Food Access initiative so that no one goes to bed hungry,” said Jim Downs, CEO of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “Once again we are so grateful for the tremendous support of Greg and Kathy Spier as our presenting sponsors and the collaboration with our friends and our hosts at Patriot Place.”
The 5K will begin at 8 a.m., and individuals, families and teams are welcome to run or walk. Both the 2-mile Youth Run and 0.7-mile Fun Run will begin at 9 a.m. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., all are welcome to participate in the Spier Family Fun Day – a free family event where children can take part in activities, crafts, and more.
“Patriot Place is proud to once again partner with the Spier Family and the Hockomock Area YMCA to host the Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K and Family Fun Day this Saturday, Oct. 1,” said Brian Earley, Vice President and General Manager of Patriot Place. “We look forward to this family-friendly event each year as it not only brings our community together for a fun-filled day, but also benefits the important Food Access initiative, supporting members of our community in need.”
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| The starting line of the 2-mile Youth Run at the Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K & Family Day |
The first 200 registrants for the 5K and two- mile race will receive a commemorative Kindness for Kids 5K shirt.
October 1 activities timeline:
7:00 a.m. Race registration opens at the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place (available now at www.hockymca.org/5k-family-day)
8:00 a.m. Family Day begins, runs until 11:00 a.m.
8:00 a.m. 5K race begins
9:00 a.m. Two-mile Youth Run and Fun Run begin
About The Hockomock Area YMCA
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information, visit hockymca.org.
ABOUT PATRIOT PLACE
Patriot Place is a shopping, dining and entertainment destination located adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Patriot Place features large and boutique retailers, 23 casual to high-end restaurants and other nightlife venues. Among the highlights of Patriot Place are New England’s first Bass Pro Shops, a state-of-the-art, 14-screen Showcase Cinema De Lux, the award-winning Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon, the retro-style bowling alley, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, the modern gastro sports pub, CBS Sporting Club, the four-star Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Foxborough/Patriot Place and Helix eSports, the region’s largest egaming center and social hub. Patriot Place is also the home of Brigham Health and Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Centers. For more information, visit www.patriot-place.com, follow Patriot Place on Twitter (twitter.com/patriotplace) or like Patriot Place on Facebook (facebook.com/patriotplace).
Franklin, MA: Finance Committee agenda for meeting scheduled Sep 28, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Finance Committee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 - 6:00 PM
Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers, 355 East Central Street
Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Election of Officers: Finance Committee Chair, Vice-Chair & Clerk
3. Public Comment
4. Town Administrator Fiscal Forecast
5. Discussion: CPA Project Approvals
a. CPA Master Planhttps://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022_cpa_plan_v.2_4.pdf
i. Discussion on Red Brick Schoolhouse additional funds request of $50,000
ii. Project Updates
6. Stabilization Fund Balances - 3 Year Comparison (see page 5 of agenda doc)
7. Future Agenda Items
8. Adjourn
Agenda doc (includes remote connection info)
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| Franklin, MA: Finance Committee agenda for meeting scheduled Sep 28, 2022 at 6:00 PM |
FHS Cross Country Results from the MSTCA Frank Kelley XC Invitational - Sep 24
FHS Cross Country Results from the MSTCA Frank Kelley XC Invitational
Wrentham Developmental Center Saturday, September 24, 2022
Race #10 = Large School Girls 9-10 3k
8 MORRISON , Fiona 916 Franklin - 12:07.3
18 BAKER , Abigail 902 Franklin - 12:40.0
24 WALBERT , Carli 928 Franklin - 12:50.6
35 PRUITT, Emma 918 Franklin - 13:16.7
152 CHANDARANA, Ishita 908 Franklin - 16:16.9
186 SHERIDAN , Judith 921 Franklin - 18:02.6
Race #11 - Large School Boys 9-10 3k
20 PINK, Jonathan 890 Franklin - 10:46.0
51 SCOTLAND, Andrew 896 Franklin - 11:20.0
59 TENG, Rory 898 Franklin - 11:23.1
73 HALTER, Jack 876 Franklin - 11:33.7
82 ROMERO, Manuel 892 Franklin - 11:42.8
108 ANDERSON, Tyler 863 Franklin - 11:59.3
133 EATTIMO, Edison 872 Franklin - 12:17.8
143 RONTIRIS, Andrew 893 Franklin - 12:21.7
152 FIORVANTI, Alexander 873 Franklin - 12:25.8
201 NASH, Charles 886 Franklin - 12:54.9
235 LUCIER, Quinn 881 Franklin - 13:42.3
251 DIEHL, Sam 870 Franklin - 13:57.6
252 BOURNAZIAN, Jacob 866 Franklin - 13:57.9
254 BARNES, Ethan 864 Franklin - 14:07.1
262 PENG, Adam 889 Franklin - 14:16.6
297 PORTESI , Thomas 891 Franklin - 15:47.0
Race #12 - Large School Girls 11-12 3k
2 BATLA , Alexander 904 Franklin - 12:06.5
4 TIGHE, Ashley 925 Franklin - 12:34.4
10 MATTESON , Emily 914 Franklin - 12:56.5
15 SAPAROFF, Artemisia 920 Franklin - 13:07.5
16 SWEENEY , Katie 924 Franklin - 13:08.7
21 LOUKOTA , Vivienne 912 Franklin - 13:17.7
28 MANN , Mackenzie 913 Franklin - 13:34.3
46 MCLAUGHLIN, Ella 915 Franklin - 14:09.6
51 BRADY , Kasey 907 Franklin - 14:20.0
82 TUCCERI , Grace 926 Franklin - 15:07.3
96 PELLEGRI, Georgia 917 Franklin - 15:33.0
102 BOND , Julie 905 Franklin - 15:41.9
111 TWARDOWSKI , Madd 927 Franklin - 16:06.3
117 ROBILLARD , Mikaela 919 Franklin - 16:13.7
128 ALLEN, Sidney 901 Franklin - 16:34.5
132 FERNANDEZ-MARTIN 909 Franklin - 16:56.5
136 BOWER, Tess 906 Franklin - 17:19.0
144 STAMP , Maddie 922 Franklin - 17:55.5
Race #13 - Large School Boys 11-12 3k
31 NISBETT, Aidan 887 Franklin - 10:59.0
33 SACKLEY, Anton 894 Franklin - 10:59.9
43 HUFF, Jason 879 Franklin - 11:12.9
52 FITZGERALD, Matthe 874 Franklin - 11:21.5
63 SPRAGUE, Zachary 897 Franklin - 11:38.0
68 ORR, Aiden 888 Franklin - 11:42.6
117 SCHMIDT, Jaret 895 Franklin - 12:32.0
123 BRENNAN, Jack 867 Franklin - 12:40.7
127 HARDT, Quinten 877 Franklin - 12:48.7
128 BHAT, Arya 865 Franklin - 12:50.4
173 TWARDOWSKI, Nichol 899 Franklin - 15:05.6
PDF file of all large schools ->
PDF file of complete large & small school results
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| FHS Panthers |
Reminder: Show Your Pet Some Love - Special Pet Blessings on October 1
Love your pet? Come to St. John’s Church for a special Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 1st during the 5 PM worship service on the front lawn of the church.
The Rev. Kathy McAdams will lead the service that includes a special blessing for all pets in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is associated with the patronage of animals and the natural environment.
Bring your dog, cat, bird, goat or whomever is your beloved pet (on a leash or in carriers, please). Favorite stuffed animals and photos of pets are welcome too!
Everyone is invited.
For more information contact St. John’s Episcopal Church at 508-528-2387.
Call 508-528-2387
Like us Facebook: St John’s Episcopal Church
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| St John's Episcopal Church |
Senator Rausch State House Briefing: Part 2, Chapter 19 (September 22, 2022)
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| Senator Rausch State House Briefing: Part 2, Chapter 19 (September 22, 2022) |
Whether you’re getting in the swing of putting your kids on the school bus, gearing up to enjoy your local harvest festival, or enjoying the gorgeous weather (minus today's rainstorms), I hope your Fall is off to a wonderful start.
The Legislature is now meeting in informal sessions, and my team and I are hard at work gearing up for next term. In this newsletter, you’ll find a roundup of our legislative victories from the 2021-2022 session, an update on income tax refunds headed your way, information on the November general election, and some local event highlights.
For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter and Facebook. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me and my team via phone (617-722-1555) or email (becca.rausch@masenate.gov). We are here to help.
Onward and upward!
Yours in service,
Senator Becca Rausch
Continue reading the legislative update online -> https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-16548842?e=[UNIQID]
what is your voting plan?
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, Sep 26, 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
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews
11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM A More Perfect Union – Discussing American Politics and Current Events - Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Dr. Natalia Linos, State Rep Jeff Roy, Chris Woolf, and Nick Remissong host a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = MONDAY
8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness
9:00 am 4th of July 2022: Matt Zajac
12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese
12:30 pm Sandhya: Macaroons
1:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Sweet Corn Risotto
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Black Bean, Roasted Pepper & Garlic Pizzetta
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Show 3
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 5
3:30 pm Physician Focus: Concussions and Brain Injury
4:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Wolfgang Bauer
7:30 pm Frank Presents: Dashe Videira
8:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Ken DoRosario
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = MONDAY
7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1
8:30 am FHS PCC: Vaping Forum
10:00 am All-Town Showcase: Chorus & Orchestra
12:00 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 1 03-14-18
2:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness
3:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball: v North Attleboro 09-22-22
6:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v North Attleboro 09-23-22
8:00 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Sharon 09-20-22v
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = MONDAY
8:00 am Planning Board: 09-12-22
11:30 am Economic Development: 09-21-22
2:00 pm Planning Board: 09-12-22
Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
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| Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Franklin, MA: Town Council Agenda for Meeting scheduled Sep 28, 2022
Franklin Town Council
Agenda & Meeting Packet
September 28, 2022 - 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 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
4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Agricultural Commission - Daniel Morseb. Conservation Commission - Meghann Hagenc. Council on Aging - Kimberly Mu-Chowd. Finance Committee - Michael Hamilton
6. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm - None Scheduled.
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled.
8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION - None Scheduled.
9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Resolution 22-61: Direction for Issuance of Request for Proposals for Town Property Containing "South Franklin Congregational Meeting House" Located at 762 Washington Street (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-61 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9a._old_south_church_rfp.pdf
10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
a. Bylaw Amendment 22-880: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic, Article IV, Stopping, Standing and Parking, §170-15 Parking Prohibitions and Limitations, D. Parking Prohibited, Downtown Parking Map
11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Budget Subcommitteec. Economic Development Subcommittee
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Considering the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Public Body
i. Schmidt’s Farm, Prospect Street
15. ADJOURN
Agenda doc (includes remote connection info) -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_28_town_council_mtg_agenda.pdf
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| Old South Meeting House, Washington St |
What is happening at the Franklin Historical Museum in October?
We are glad you asked:
1 - Be sure to stop by the Franklin Historical Museum during your visit to the annual Harvest Festival, Saturday October 1st.
- On our front lawn children will love the creative Balloon Art from Bobo the Clown while enjoying a bag of freshly popped popcorn
- Inside discover the many Vintage Images of Franklin at our special postcard exhibit
- The postcards, from our archives, tell the story of a Franklin of yesteryear with familiar locations and some long gone. Discover how Franklin streets looked over 100 years ago
2 - October 9th is our next Second Sunday Speaker Series with Chronicle's Ted Reinstein discussing his latest book, Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier.
The museum opens at 1:00PM on Sunday with the presentation beginning at 1:15. The Second Sunday Speaker Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. Admission is always free.
When visiting the museum, shop many unique items in our Museum Gift Shop including this year's edition of the Holiday Ornament featuring adorable ladybugs. A nod to Franklin's participation in securing the ladybug as our state insect. Come in and find your history!
You can also visit the museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com/
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| Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier |
Franklin.TV: Frankness - Still Seeking Wisdom
Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 9/24/2022
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| State Representative Jeff Roy & Frank Falvey |
frank·ness n. fraNGk-nÉ™s
The quality of being open, honest, and direct in speech or writing.
Frank Falvey’s central tenet has always been, ‘Seek Wisdom’. Frankness is where that patient life-long journey toward achieving some degree of wisdom begins.
True frankness (among us wisdom seekers) goes beyond simply speaking openly. It also requires listening just as openly. Frank, honest sharing of ideas is the bedrock of great conversation – the kind of free-wheeling discussion that can foster a more insightful perspective on the nuanced complexities of our time.
If you have ever enjoyed such a discussion with Frank, then you likely came away with your own newly minted slice of wisdom.
Look for ‘Frank Presents’ in our program guide. It’s the wise move.
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
NFHS Releases 1st High School Sports Participation Survey in 3 Years
Editor's note: The data is an interesting read. The question not answered here is if the sports participation declined 4%, what was the overall school enrollment doing during the same period. There is an overall school population declining trend and it may be more interesting to put these participation numbers in that full context.
"After collection of sports participation data was interrupted the previous two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) was able to compile its High School Athletics Participation Survey for the 2021-22 school year – its first official report since 2018-19.
Although the total of 7,618,054 participants in 2021-22 is down four percent from the 2018-19 figure of 7,937,491, high school sports are on the road back after schools in many states were unable to offer programs in normal fashion during portions of the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.
The 2021-22 total is composed of 4,376,582 boys and 3,241,472 girls, according to figures obtained from the 51 NFHS member state associations, which includes the District of Columbia.
"Given what has occurred in our country the past three years, we believe a decline of only four percent in participation totals from 2018-19 is pretty remarkable,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS. “We know some states that were able to complete surveys in 2020-21 reported participation increases this past year. So, we are very optimistic that trend will continue in the years to come as schools fully recover from the effects of the 2020 shutdown.”
Among the top 10 boys sports in participants from 2018-19, golf was the only sport to register an increase – up just under four percent with 148,585 participants and surpassing tennis as the eighth-most popular sport. Golf was one of the few sports to increase on both sides of the ledger as girls participation was up one percent to 80,829 participants.
Perhaps the biggest storyline in boys participation totals, however, is the sport of football. While boys 11-player football was down three percent (1,006,013 to 973,792) – less than the overall survey average of four percent – participation in 6-, 8- and 9-player football registered a 12 percent increase – from 31,221 to 34,935.
The slight movement from 11-player to other versions was seen in school sponsorship as well. While the number of schools with 11-player football dropped by 514 (14,247 to 13,733), the number of schools offering 6-, 8- or 9-player football increased by 227 (1,563 to 1,790).
And gains by girls playing football were even greater. In all four versions of the game (11, 9, 8, 6), girls participation increased 39 percent from the 2018-19 survey – 2,604 to 3,633. Additionally, the increase in girls flag football was 40 percent – 11,209 to 15,716 participants.
Altogether, boys and girls participation in all versions of football decreased only 2.2 percent – from 1,051,047 to 1,028,976.
“Certainly, the football numbers are encouraging after the previous report from the 2018-19 season,” Niehoff said. “The movement from 11-player to other versions of the game continues to be attractive to schools in some states, and the growth of girls flag football continues to gain ground in more areas of the country.”
Beyond golf, baseball experienced the best showing among top 10 boys sports from the 2018-19 survey with a decrease of only 1,736 – 482,740 to 481,004 – and remained fourth in popularity behind football, outdoor track and field, and basketball.
The other change in the boys top 10 sports was wrestling, which nudged cross country for sixth place – 231,874 to 231,387. Wrestling was down six percent from the previous survey while cross country had the biggest decline at 14 percent.
Other boys sports outside the top 10 that experienced significant gains from 2018-19 were volleyball (up 4.6 percent) and bass fishing (10,626 participants).
Volleyball continued its rise in popularity among girls sports and was the only top 10 sport to register an increase from three years ago. With 454,153 participants, volleyball is only 2,500 participants behind track and field for the No. 1 participatory sport for girls. In addition, the emerging sport of girls sand/beach volleyball increased from 2,237 to 6,489 participants.
Among other girls top 10 sports, soccer moved ahead of basketball to No. 3 behind track and field and volleyball, with softball remaining fifth. Cross country, swimming and diving, and competitive spirit registered the biggest declines the past three years among top 10 sports with 13-percent drops.
In addition to flag football, girls wrestling continued its recent surge in popularity with a 50 percent increase since 2018-19 – 21,124 to 31,654 participants. A total of 32 states now offer separate state wrestling championships for girls.
While most of the traditional sports experienced some level of decrease since 2018-19, the 2021-22 survey showed a dramatic rise in Unified sports participation. With only 5,541 combined participants from 10 states in 2018-19, this year’s survey indicated 47,909 combined participants in almost 20 states.
In addition to Unified sports participants, the survey indicated another 7,689 combined participants in Adapted sports. The 55,598 combined participants in Unified and Adapted sports represents a 163 percent increase from three years ago.
“It is great to see a growing interest in several emerging sports, as well as programs like Unified and Adapted programs,” Niehoff said. “Our goal continues to be to involve as many students as possible in high school sports and other activity programs.”
This year’s survey indicated participation by high school students in 69 different sports, as well as 16 Adapted sports and 16 Unified sports. In addition to those previously noted, some of the more popular other sports (combined participation numbers) were bowling (57,219), field hockey (56,091), ice hockey (42,092), water polo (37,379) and weightlifting (25,257).
With an increase of about 20,000 participants, Texas topped the list of state participation with 846,161. Texas was one of 14 states that enjoyed a gain in participation since the 2018-19 survey. California retained the No. 2 position with 762,823 participants despite a drop of more than 60,000 from three years ago.
Other changes in the top 10 involved Ohio moving to No. 3 with 378,354 participants, followed by Pennsylvania (315,097), Illinois (314,839), New York (313,404), Florida (291,504), Michigan (271,423), New Jersey (264,139) and Massachusetts (215,848).
The NFHS High school Athletics Participation Survey was started in 1971 and was compiled in its current form through the 2018-19 school year and now resuming annually with the 2021-22 survey.
Following is a link to a partial report of the full survey. The full survey will be available soon on the NFHS website at www.NFHS.org."
Shared from the NFHS site
https://www.nfhs.org/articles/nfhs-releases-first-high-school-sports-participation-survey-in-three-years/
Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required) -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/23/sports/what-are-most-popular-high-school-sports-here-are-some-takeaways-latest-national-survey/
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| NFHS Releases 1st High School Sports Participation Survey in 3 Years |
State Rep Jeff Roy outlines help available for high energy costs this winter
State Representative Jeffrey Roy writes:
"I am sure you have been hearing and reading about increased energy costs. In summary, due to high natural gas and oil prices stemming from the Russia-Ukrainian war and other factors, heating and electricity utility bills will dramatically increase this winter. To help you manage these steep increases, my office has compiled a list of resources that can help. In addition, the Baker-Polito Administration is consulting with the federal government to create a winter heating plan, which we will share once available.
It is important to keep in mind that our overreliance on natural gas to both heat our homes and serve as a fuel for electricity generation has made Massachusetts vulnerable to price swings. In current and previous sessions, the Legislature has directed the state to contract and prepare the grid for large amounts of offshore wind and other clean energy resources in an effort to reduce this overreliance and mitigate climate change impacts. While the benefits of these future projects will not impact this winter’s heating season, once online, they will help stabilize utility bill prices while also providing economic benefits and transitioning us to the Commonwealth’s clean energy future.
The following resources are available, should you need them.
Utility payment plans
Massachusetts’ investor-owned utilities offer flexible payment plans, regardless of income, and potential balance forgiveness. Enrolling in a payment plan can protect constituents against shutoffs for up to 12 months with most utility companies. Please refer to the list at the bottom of this post for information to contact your utility.*
Income-eligible assistance programs
For customers with a household income not greater than 60 percent of the state median income, Massachusetts utilities offer a discount on a customer’s total utility bill as well as individualized payment plans known as arrearage management plans (AMPs) where a customer can have some or all of their outstanding balance forgiven.* These customers can also apply at any time throughout the winter season for fuel assistance through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Community action agencies can help walk constituents through the process of applying and answer any questions they may have.
Constituents between 60 to 80 percent of the state median income are encouraged to see if they qualify for financial help from the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.
Winter heating shutoff protections
You are protected by Massachusetts law (MGL c.164, § 124F) from having your gas or electric utilities shutoff from November 15, 2022, to March 15, 2023 if those services are used for heating. Constituents will still be responsible for any unpaid bills when the shutoff ends. The Attorney General’s office encourages customers to enroll in a utility payment plan, which also provides shutoff protections, and avoids accumulating debt. As stated above, most utilities offer payment plans for up to 12 months.
Energy efficiency audit
The nation-leading Mass Save energy efficiency programs run by the Massachusetts investor-owned utilities can provide constituents with information about how to reduce their energy use. This should lead to lower bills over time. In addition, income-eligible customers can participate in Mass Save’s low-income offering, known as the Low-Income Energy Affordability Network.*
Municipal aggregation programs
Constituents in communities with active municipal aggregation programs may consider switching from their electric company to the aggregation. The long-term electricity contracts used in these programs, typically set for three years’ time, result in stabilized electricity costs that are not subject to the same short-term price fluctuations (although upon program renewal, prices may increase). We encourage all communities to consider whether municipal aggregation is a good fit for them moving forward.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns and stay safe and warm this winter season! "
For the utility information you can find that at https://jeffreyroy.com/2022/09/24/help-with-high-energy-costs-this-winter/
For the Franklin National Grid customers who are part of Municipal Aggregation, there is no increase. Our contract price is not affect by this rate change.
For more about Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program, visit the town page https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/municipal-aggregation
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| Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program |
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