Rausch Report: Summer Fun & Session Successes (July 2023)

View this email in your browser Rausch Report: Summer Fun & Session Successes (July 2023) I am just now back from the Senate floor having voted YES alongside my colleagues to enact the Fiscal Year 2024 budget! I am so very pleased to send this budget to the Governor for her signature, providing essential funding to our towns, community organizations, and constituents, and proud indeed that all of my amendments and contributions to the Senate budget survived the conference process. (Budget highlights below!)  This month's Rausch Report also includes other legislative updates, a roundup of district events, opportunities to join my team, details on upcoming office hours, and more.   For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.    Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    This month, my colleagues and I passed several bills providing critical funding for our Commonwealth, as well as policy bills related to identification cards in the Commonwealth.  Fiscal Year 2024 Budget  Earlier today, both chambers enacted a compromise FY24 budget, providing $56.2 billion in support to our Commonwealth's families, communities, and economies. In addition to increases in general aid to municipalities, K-12 and early education funding, and environmental protection and preservation, I am proud indeed to share that the full $500,000 in funding I secured for our district survived the conference process, as did all our successful statewide priorities:  $1,800,000 for mental health and suicide prevention services provided by Samaritans, Inc., including $1,000,000 for Hey Sam, a youth mental health support text line  $150,000 for a Green the Garbage composting grant program  $150,000 for Hope & Comfort to address hygiene insecurity in the Commonwealth   $300,000 for the Women's Suffrage Celebration Coalition of Massachusetts  $350,000 for the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee  $2,500,000 total allocation to the Civics Project Trust Fund  The compromise budget also includes permanent universal school meals, $4 million for nonprofit security grants, free community college tuition for nursing students and students ages 25 and up, a free fare pilot program for regional transit, special education funding, and more. The budget now heads to Governor Healey for her signature, which would finalize the budget into law.  Supplemental Fiscal Year 2023 Budget  The Senate passed a $513 million supplemental budget for FY23, which funds relief for hospitals, special education costs, and flexible assistance for farms throughout the Commonwealth impacted by recent severe weather events. As of this writing, the FY23 supplemental budget remains in conference between the Senate and the House.  Transportation Funding  Last week, the Legislature passed a $375 million transportation finance bill, including $200 million for the state's Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with a reliable funding source for transportation-related improvements such as road and bridge repairs. The bill now sits with the Governor for her review and signature.  Identification Cards for People Experiencing Homelessness   I voted alongside my Senate colleagues to pass An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness, which establishes a process for people experiencing homelessness to apply for a free Massachusetts identification card. Identification cards are essential to access basic services in the Commonwealth, including applying for a job, enrolling in school, interacting with law enforcement, accessing government buildings, and opening bank accounts. The bill now sits with the House of Representatives for its consideration.  Gender X   The Senate also unanimously passed An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification, which would allow an individual to be identified with a non-binary "X" sex designation on their birth certificate and enshrine into law the current practice of allowing an individual to select a non-binary "X" gender designation on their driver's license. This bill also now sits with the House of Representatives.  _________  In addition to the many pieces of legislation we moved as a body, several of my bills were heard by legislative committees this month:  S.346, An Act ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools (Education)  S.1111, An Act relative to civil asset forfeiture transparency and data reporting (Judiciary)   S.2178, An Act relative to better buildings (Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy)   S.1460, An Act relative to determinations of need (Public Health)  S.1458, An Act promoting community immunity (Public Health)  S.2060, An Act regarding information governance (State Administration)  S.2063, An Act updating the open meeting law to support remote participation (State Administration)  S.2064, An Act extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature (State Administration)  S.2065, An Act promoting governmental efficiency (State Administration)  Written testimony on these bills may still be submitted via email to the Committee Co-Chairs.

Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133 This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please visit -> https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-17067353

Town of Franklin, MA: Registration is open for a FREE Hands Only CPR class Aug 16 - 4 PM

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted on Mon, Jul 31, 2023:

The Franklin Health Department & @FranklinMAFire are teaming up to offer a FREE Hands Only CPR class on 8/16/2023 at 4pm.  

Spots are limited! This class is for educational purposes only & participants will not receive a CPR certification.

Sign up here: https://t.co/06KR0inYZc

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1686084196287086592

Town of Franklin, MA: Registration open for a FREE Hands Only CPR class Aug 16 - 4 PM

Don’t miss next week’s webinar on AI and fact-checking!

Have you been fooled by AI? We can help.

Maybe you got a chuckle from a recent artificial intelligence-generated hoax — an image of Bigfoot towering over a man that was created using descriptive text. But what's less funny is that AI can develop sophisticated content in the blink of an eye that can deceive and do harm. AI has further muddied the waters of the misinformation landscape, making it harder than ever to tell what's real from what's fake. And bad actors are delighted to oblige. That's why we want to be sure you don't miss our free webinar How to fact-check in the AI age on Tuesday, Aug. 8. We will discuss the fundamentals of fact-checking and show you how to debunk false images and videos, both AI-generated and human-made. Please join us at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Aug. 8. The webinar will be led by the News Literacy Project's Dan Evon and DeMario Phipps-Smith. Dan writes for RumorGuard™, which uses examples of viral misinformation to help people learn to separate fact from fiction. He previously was a reporter for Snopes, the internet's oldest fact-checking site. DeMario leads news literacy training for adults around the country and has a background in digital media at various publications, including his hometown paper, the Chicago Sun-Times. Don't miss out – register now! For a future founded on facts, The News Literacy Project

Support news literacy by donating today.

Visit us at newslit.org, checkology.org, newslitnation.org and rumorguard.org. The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. The News Literacy Project 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015

8 things the world must do to avoid the worst of #ClimateCrisis

Prof. Peter Strachan (@ProfStrachan) tweeted on Tue, Aug 01, 2023:

Eight things the world must do to avoid the worst of #ClimateCrisis
1. Stop methane emissions
2. Stop deforestation
3. Restore degraded land
4. Change what we eat
5. Go #RenewableEnergy
6. Use energy more efficiently
7. Stop burning #FossilFuels
8. #ActNow 

Read more about the steps and actions required ->   https://t.co/8wNURqsLfL

The IPCC updated report referenced ->  https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/ProfStrachan/status/1686449318507462675

Wind turbines on a snowfield in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia. Photograph: VCG/Getty Images

MacKid Franklin's Central MA Playground Guide is ready

Macaroni KID Franklin MA tweeted  on Mon, Jul 31, 2023:

MacKid Franklin's Central MA Playground Guide has all the best deets re: local ways to play! 

From #grafton to #blackstone and in between, we rate and review the local parks and playgrounds so you can 'know before you go'!

Check it out here: https://t.co/P7juShHQ0P

Shared from -> https://t.co/kO1PVMYZFO

Note: It doesn't actually include a Franklin playground

https://twitter.com/MacKidFranklin/status/1686173982628745216

MacKid Franklin's Central MA Playground Guide is ready

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Aug 2, 2023

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)

• This slot features the 2nd of a 3 part series All About the Town of Franklin Sewer Services  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_02109748944.html

10:00 AM 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone    All about wine, its culture, lore and finer point.

• In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi  interview interview  Sheila Donohue Founder and CEO of Vero Wines. Did you know that less than 1% of wines make it to US retailers' shelves? ->     https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode-235.html   

11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)

• This slot features the recent "Making Sense of Climate" episode with Fire Chief James McLaughlin as we talk about emergency management  ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/making-sense-of-climate-ted-i-talk.html

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

7:30 am     It Takes A Village: Danny Lagarce

8:30 am     The Black Box: Electric Youth 2023

10:00 am ArtWeek: Ed Iannuccilli

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Lobstah

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

12:30 pm Drink Responsibly: Flat Breads

1:00 pm     Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Safety on the Roads

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

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

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 12

4:00 pm Veterans' Call: John Milot

5:00 pm Concerts on the Common: Heather Deary & Carolyn Rae

7:30 pm     4th of July 2023: Padula Trio + One

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

7:00 am     Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

8:30 am     Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-13-19

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: New Facility

11:00 am Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 2

12:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse: v Bishop Guertin 05-23-23

2:30 pm     FHS Varsity Softball: v Oliver Ames 04-04-23

5:30 pm     FHS Varsity Baseball: v Foxboro 04-10-23

9:00 pm Metrowest Symposium: Sharing Identity on Social Media

10:00 pm FHS Graduation 2023

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

8:00 am Town Council: 07-19-23

12:00 pm Master Plan Committee: 07-26-23

2:00 pm Town Council: 07-19-23

7:00 pm     Joint Budget Subcommittee:  LIVE, Chambers  836 4368 1839

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Making Sense of Climate: Ted & I talk emergency preparedness with Chief McLaughlin (audio)

FM #1030 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1030 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, July 27, 2023.  

In this episode we welcome Town of Franklin (ToF) Fire Chief James McLaughlin. The Chief is also the ToF Emergency Management Director. Given the headlines and climate weather related emergencies around us, it was a good time to talk about Franklin’s planning efforts.  Links to the articles we talk of are located in a section below.  

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 42 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted McIntyre and Chief McLaughlin as we help ‘make sense of climate.’

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1030-making-sense-of-climate-29-07-27-23

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Links to articles referenced:

Resources available on Town page https://www.franklinma.gov/fire-department/pages/emergency-preparedness 

Hazard mitigation plan https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/franklin_ma_hazard_mitigation_plan_2020_update_-_adopted_01-06-21.pdf 

Home emergency guide https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/home_emergency_guide_2018.pdf 

The Mass Emergency Mgt Agency (MEMA) posted a reminder on important docs to have ready in an emergency (good timing!)

Mass Emergency Mgt Agency (MEMA) posted a reminder on important docs to have ready in an emergency (good timing!)

Not to be left out, the Federal Emergency Mgt Agency (FEMA - they must have been listening to us) just released a planning guide for working on climate change emergencies -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/19CHPJsmBN40DMKlBea9RKbqiE6lf_--G/view?usp=drive_link

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Making Sense of Climate: Ted & I talk emergency preparedness with Chief McLaughlin (audio)

Franklin residents: Why is it worth spending some time with the Joint Budget Subcommittee?

Hello fellow Franklin residents:

I'm reaching out because as some of you have heard and others should hear, Franklin Public Schools is (once again) approaching a fiscal cliff.  In other words, Franklin already doesn't have sufficient resources to competitively support our children's education and it's going to get worse unless we do something about it.

 A group of concerned Franklin residents have officially registered a ballot question committee called "One Franklin 2023" aka One Franklin.  We are piggy backing off of efforts originally started in 2019 after many saw 100+ Franklin teachers standing with pink slips on Route 140.  

I believe that federal funds received during the pandemic helped delay even deeper cuts to school resources in the interim.  Those funds are going away.  We have amazing services in town that are stretched thin, and we need to band together as a community to resolve this issue. 

I took notice earlier this year when my rising 8^th grader came home in tears when she was told that a beloved teacher could not be retained.  I attended a school finance committee meeting to try to understand where the funds were going. 

To my surprise, what I saw was a committee stuck making difficult choices to cut school resources most of us would consider essential because of insufficient funding.  My concern is that I see a funding shortfall that is quickly going to get worse despite the fact that we already trail the vast majority of school districts in Massachusetts.

**Note: 80% of districts in Massachusetts spend more on education, per pupil, than Franklin (as of 2021 - latest available data)

The One Franklin committee is a group of engaged citizens who are working with elected leaders to pass a tax override in Franklin to raise revenues to strengthen Franklin Public Services including the school system while broader funding reforms are investigated and implemented.

A Joint Budget Subcommittee (JBSC) Meeting is scheduled for August 2. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen will present a 5-year forecast of our town's budget for all departments. This is an important starting point that will allow committee members of the JBSC to begin working with town departments to identify specific line items they would request in an override.

Thank you for your time and for caring about Franklin,

Ken Ojukwu

Treasurer, One Franklin

 

What can you do?

1. Save the date:  Your attendance is requested at the Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting on Wednesday August 2, 2023 @ 7 pm Municipal Building 2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street.  I cannot stress enough that engagement at this meeting is essential to gain momentum for any effort to solve our town's financial issues. Please recruit everyone you know to attend, whether they are pro-override or not. All citizens need to be informed and this is a first step.  There will be opportunity for public comment toward the end of the committee's agenda discussions.
1. All citizens are welcome to attend public board and committee meetings in person. Meetings are also live-streamed (and archived) by Franklin TV on the Franklin Town Hall TV YouTube channel. ->   https://www.youtube.com/@franklintownhalltv8887/streams
2. Zoom Link contained in the agenda document 

2. Spread the word!  Please feel free to forward this email and start/continue conversations with other Franklin residents (parents or not) to help us continue to find ways to improve our schools and keep Franklin a preferred place to live and raise a family.

 

3. Consider joining One Franklin. The One Franklin committee is a group of engaged citizens who are working with elected leaders to pass a tax override in Franklin. One of the initiatives of One Franklin is to educate the community as to why we support an override. Please learn about and then consider joining our efforts! The email to get involved is OneFranklinVolunteers@gmail.com.  I've added more information below.  Also, let me know if you are interested in a One Franklin bumper magnet - it's the newest must-have car accessory!

Franklin Matters: What is the One Franklin group doing?

One Franklin Override Info Hub - What is an Override?

Franklin Senior Center: the Connection Newsletter for August 2023

Come and cool off at the Senior Center. Take a look at all the fun programs in August! 

Check out the August Newsletter here ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/august_2023_w_ads.pdf

Senior Center page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

Franklin Senior Center: the Connection Newsletter for August 2023

Franklin Public Library: Newsletter for August 2023 - chock full of activities!

Library Hours

The Library's summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday hours will resume after Labor Day.

Library News – Read popular magazines for free with Libby and Hoopla
Did you know that both Libby and Hoopla have magazine collections? When you register as a Hoopla user with your Minuteman Library card (Franklin residents only), you have access to a hoopla BingePass! A BingePass gives you the opportunity to borrow an entire collection with one checkout! Borrow all the most recent issues of popular magazines for 7 days of unlimited streaming.

With the Libby app and your library card, you have unlimited access to over 4,800 popular magazines, which are always available. No holds, no waiting! From the Minuteman Library Catalog, click on "Digital Cllection", then click on "Magazines".

Featured Database -> ConsumerLab

ConsumerLab.com is the leading provider of independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best quality health and nutrition products. It publishes results of its tests in comprehensive reports at www.consumerlab.com for its members. CL also conducts an annual Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users. Since its founding in 1999, CL has tested more than 7,000 products, representing over 1,000 different brands and nearly every type of popular supplement for adults, children, and pets.  Access ConsumerLab through our alphabetical list of free online databases: https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/pages/free-online-databases

Museum Passes

Summer fun is almost done! L Now is a great time to reserve passes to the area's most popular museums, aquariums, and more! Passes are available to be reserved up to thirty days in advance.

New Materials

Check out the latest additions to the library's collection!

Book Sale

Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, August 18, 1:00-5:00 p.m.  Saturday, August 19, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
All books are just one dollar!

Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, August 19, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!
 

Franklin Library ESL & Adult Literacy Program

Volunteer tutors needed! To volunteer please be at least 18 years old, have a High School diploma, & speak English clearly.  No prior teaching experience needed!  Volunteer tutors and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please fill out the registration form on the library's website.

Massachusetts Center for the Book 2023 Reading Challenge

August: A Book in Translation

Do you have a cozy reading corner you've been wanting to spend more time in? Do you have a group of friends who like to select books together? Maybe a little constraint helps you choose what to read next.

If you are looking for a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2023, Massachusetts Center for the Book has you covered.

Check it out today! https://www.massbook.org/readingchallenge

Check out the full newsletter (shortened for publication here) ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/august-2023-newsletter

Franklin Public Library: Newsletter for August 2023 - chock full of activities!

Dean College scholarship winners announced - Ethan Pflomm & Caleigh Brown

Dean College is pleased to announce that two local high school students have been awarded $38,000 scholarships to attend Dean: Ethan Pflomm received the Franklin High School Scholarship, and Caleigh Brown received the Hockomock YMCA Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded annually by the College to a deserving high school senior and are renewable each year the student attends Dean, provided they maintain a 2.7 GPA or higher.

To apply, a student must submit an essay about what prompted them to apply to Dean and how they hope to contribute to the Dean community. They must also include a letter of recommendation from a school administrator, counselor or teacher. After all materials are reviewed, applicants meet with the scholarship selection committee for an interview.

Continue reading the article on the Dean College page ->

https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/dean-college-awards-38-000-scholarships-to-local-high-school-students/

Dean College scholarship winners announced - Ethan Pflomm & Caleigh Brown