- Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/the-shop-local-for-holidays-series.html
- Pretty Is Pink -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/shop-local-at-pretty-is-pink-boutique.html
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 *
Thursday, November 24, 2022
Instead of Black Friday, let's focus on Small Business Saturday & #GivingTuesday
DRINKING WATER NOTICE - November 23, 2022
Attention Water Customers - Please see the public notice below:
This is NOT a boil water notice. During routine sampling, the sample from our Well 2 Raw (UNTREATED) water contained E.coli. The treated (disinfected) water from Well 2 and all other samples collected through the distribution system did not have E. Coli. The well has been offline since November 18, 2022 for maintenance and will remain offline.
This is not an emergency, you do NOT need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time, but we are required to notify you. Please see the notice below for more information.
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DRINKING WATER NOTICE To all users of the Franklin Water Department Located in Franklin, Massachusetts. This is an important notice – please translate it for anyone who does not understand English.We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants to ensure the safety of the water supply. On November 21, 2022 our water system was notified that a water sample collected on November 15, 2022 from Well #2 tested positive for E.coli, which is a fecal indicator. Fecal indicators are used to detect ground water sources that may be susceptible to fecal contamination which may contain harmful viruses or bacteria. This well was taken off-line for maintenance on November 18, 2022.
The water delivered to your taps through the distribution system is disinfected with chlorine to kill viruses and bacteria, including E.coli. It is important to note that samples collected on November 15, 2022 in the distribution system did NOT detect any fecal contaminants.
This source is one of thirteen active wells that supplies drinking water to our system. In accordance with the federal Ground Water Rule (GWR) requirements, we are notifying you of the situation and conducting additional sampling to evaluate the extent of potential fecal contamination and will take further actions as necessary.
What should you do? What does this mean?
This is NOT an emergency, you do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions at this time.- The USEPA requires us to provide you with this notice and the following information on fecal indicators: "Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems." These symptoms can also be caused by issues unrelated to drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, or, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to discuss such concerns with your doctor. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/safe-drinking-water-hotline
- Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and Businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
The well will remain offline for further evaluation. Our system is undergoing repeat testing and evaluation to determine if the current level of treatment is adequate or if additional corrective actions are necessary to reduce the risk of potential fecal contamination in our drinking water supply. We are in contact with MassDEP during this process who will evaluate the effectiveness of the steps taken and determine if any further action is required. If necessary, you will be notified again if you need to take any corrective actions. This notice does not affect persons using private drinking water wells.
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where all the wells are located in Franklin |
639 finishes helped the Franklin Food Pantry at the Franklin Turkey Trot 5K Thanksgiving morning, Nov 24, 2022
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Franklin Turkey Trot 5K |
Join up with Santa for a story walk at DelCarte Friday at 10:30 AM
The Franklin Recreation Department and the Franklin Public Library are teaming up again for a cozy winter walk with our favorite Man in Red!
Bundle up and meet us at DelCarte Park for a special story walk, followed by cookies and cocoa!
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Join up with Santa for a story walk at DelCarte Friday at 10:30 AM |
Nutcracker Storytime at Escape Into Fiction - Saturday, Nov 26 at 10:30 AM
The Nutcracker Storytime with cast of @franklin.performing.arts.co and @escape_into_fiction reading #thenutcracker by @janbrett1 a Massachusetts author!
Saturday Nov 26th at 10:30
Come celebrate a holiday tradition with 2 local businesses and show your support on #smallbusinesssaturday
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Nutcracker Storytime at Escape Into Fiction - Saturday, Nov 26 at 10:30 AM |
"Best by", "Sell by", "Use by" – Oh my!
"On average, the U.S. wastes an estimated 125 to 160 billion pounds of food each year . And where does it all end up? In a landfill, where it’s buried under mounds of toxic trash and eventually breaks down and emits methane . We bury so much organic waste that landfills are now the third-largest source of climate-damaging methane emissions in the U.S.But the environmental impacts of food waste don’t end there. By wasting food, we deplete precious resources, like water. In fact, agriculture in the U.S. accounts for about 80% to 90% of the nation’s water consumption . On top of that, when bad market conditions lead farmers to toss edible food aside or when sold foods go uneaten, all the resources that went into producing those crops are squandered. There’s also a massive economic downside to throwing away uneaten food, adding up to approximately $218 billion a year in the U.S.So, how did we start throwing out so much food? Well, several factors play into our increasing wastefulness. Here, we break down the components leading us to toss our food and offer solutions that can help solve our food waste problem."
2 MA House of Representative races appear headed for recounts; difference only 10 votes in each race
"CANDIDATES IN TWO Massachusetts House races, each apparently decided by only 10 votes, want elections officials to take another look at the thousands of ballots cast.Kristin Kassner of Hamilton, who challenged a sitting North Shore incumbent, and Andrew Shepherd of Townsend, who bid for an open Nashoba Valley seat, submitted petitions asking for district-wide recounts in their contests, according to a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin.The recounts — and, as a result, a final decision in both districts — might not wrap up for several weeks. Galvin spokesperson Deb O’Malley said the secretary cannot order the recounts until after the Governor’s Council, which is scheduled to meet next on Nov. 30, certifies election results.In both cases, the candidate seeking a recount appears to have fallen less than a dozen votes short. With nearly 20,000 votes counted in the First Middlesex District and more than 23,000 in the Second Essex District, the microscopic margins would both be well below the threshold — one half of one percentage point of all votes — required for a recount."
Congressman Jake Auchincloss: An Update for Oct 31 to Nov 18
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Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, Nov 24, 2022
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Thursday
11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = Thursday
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = Thursday
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = Thursday
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Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Franklin Cultural District: music, outdoor exercise, spiced with magic & art, and then Santa arrives
8:00pm - The Zajac Brothers Band (live music) (THE BLACK BOX)
Thursday, November 24 - Thanksgiving Day
8:00am - Turkey Trot - 5K walk/run (Church of Latter Day Saints - Jordan Road)
Friday, November 25
10:30am -Santa Storywalk - (DelCarte Recreation)
6:00pm - Laura May Duo (live music) (La Cantina Winery)
7:00pm - FSPA Homecoming (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)
Saturday, November 26
10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
10:30am - Nutcracker Storytime (cast of FPAC’s performance) (Escape Into Fiction)
1:00pm - Magic with Scott Martell (Franklin Public Library)
1:00pm - Open House (free) (Creative Corner Art Studio - 15 Main Unit 6a)
4:00pm - Dom DeBaggis (live music) (La Cantina Winery)
5:30pm - John & Tyler (live music) (67 Degrees Brewing)
Sunday, November 27
1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
4:00pm - Santa arrives - Concerts on the Common (Franklin Town Common)
Tuesday, November 29
6:00pm - Book Club (bring your own book) (Escape Into Fiction)
The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)
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
Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here! |
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion workshop focuses on the sense of “belonging” (audio)
FM #884 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 884 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Franklin Public Schools Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) “Deep Dive” Workshop held at the Franklin Public Library on Saturday, November 19, 2022.
Superintendent Lucas Gigiure and DEI Director Heidi Harris co-lead the session. Approx. 30 folks were in the room to participate.
Much of the workshop was a review of the efforts to date, sharing definitions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the findings of the equity audit, and understanding the drive to develop a sense of “belonging.”
The equity audit was referred to multiple times as “one slice of the pie” in gathering info to develop the “Equity Action Plan to meet the needs of all learners.” Other sessions like this one will be scheduled to provide opportunity for the community to explore DEI and work toward the plan development.
Given this was a working session, the whole group sections of the meeting audio is what is shared here. There are breaks in the audio when
The participants found a person they did not know to introduce themselves
The participants found another person they did not know to discuss an instance of belonging and then of feeling left out
The table discussion to review the sticky notes written by the members providing feedback
The breaks are indicated by a few seconds of music then the group discussion resumes
The edit meeting audio recording runs about 70 minutes. Let’s listen to DEI “Deep Dive” Workshop.
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Franklin Public Schools Diversity Equity & Inclusion department page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
DEI page -> https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/fps-diversity-equity-inclusion/home?authuser=0
Equity audit (1 slice of the pie) ->
DEI Plan for 2022-2023 -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_dei_plan_2022-23_for_sc_0.pdf
DEI Presentation to School Committee Oct 25, 2022 -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fps_dei_presentation_10_25_2022_0.pdf
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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!
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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"