Franklin Cultural District: school concerts, dance performances, comedy, Train Town, cookie walk, & more as #artshappenshere

Wednesday, December 6

10:00am Veterans Coffee Social (Franklin Senior Center)

1:00pm Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)

6:00pm Horace Mann Middle Sch Concert (Horace Mann Middle School)

6:30pm Franklin Art Association (Franklin Senior Center)

Thursday, December 7

Faculty Dance Works

6:00pm Open Mic (67 Degrees Brewery)

6:30pm Franklin LGBTQ Alliance - monthly meeting (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm Faculty Dance Works (ticketed event) (Dean College)

7:00pm FHS Chorus & Orchestra Concert (Franklin High School)

Friday, December 8

1:00pm Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm Matt Zajac (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:00pm Faculty Dance Works (ticketed event) (Dean College)

Saturday, December 9

Holiday Cookie Walk

9:00am Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am FUSF Holiday Cookie Walk (262 Chestnut St)

10:00am Train Town Franklin; Part 2 (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am RISE Up - social gathering (Franklin TV Studio)

1:00pm Library "Books by the Bag Sale" (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm Yatra Band (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

7:00pm SMILE FRANKLIN, MA - A Stand-Up Comedy Residency (Box Seats)

8:00pm The Rescignos: Franklincense (THE BLACK BOX)

Sunday, December 10

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free) (Franklin Historical Museum)

Train Town Franklin; Part 2

1:00pm Train Town Franklin; Part 2 (Franklin Historical Museum)

1:15pm Second Sunday Speaker (Franklin Historical Museum)

Tuesday, December 12

7:00pm FBRTC Meeting (67 Degrees Brewery)

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

Find the full Community event 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 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!

You're going to Winter Wonderland 2023 aren't you? Dec 14, from 4:30 to 7 PM

The Friends Of Franklin Elders and the Franklin Senior Center presents Winter Wonderland 2023.

Come out for an evening of holiday cheer to see a display of beautifully decorated Holiday Trees and decor while enjoying 

Live Entertainment, 

Hot Cocoa & Cookies,

a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus!

Fun for the whole family!

Thursday, December 14, 2023 from 4:30 to 7 PM at the Franklin Senior Center

Download a copy of the flyer as a reminder or to share ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ip5Mj6txpTWrgH2WSjriHYS2-VavFbEQ/view?usp=drive_link

You're going to Winter Wonderland 2023 aren't you? 

Faculty Dance Works scheduled for December 7 - 8, 2023

"Join us for two energetic and exciting evenings of dance, featuring outstanding works conceived by the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance faculty and renowned guest artists.  

Dean College Dance students will perform in a diverse variety of dance styles, from modern dance to ballet to tap and more."

Tickets available via the Box Office ->   https://ci.ovationtix.com/36211/production/1174829 

Faculty Dance Works scheduled for December 7 - 8, 2023

FHS' Wernig, Crandall, Carney, Cuneo & Dennett recognized as 2023 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars

Below are the official 2023 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP

Mary Collins, Foxboro

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS

Haley Wernig, Franklin

Raena Crandall, Franklin

Emily Carney, Franklin

Sophia Cuneo, Franklin

Honorable Mentions

Lindsay Dennett, Franklin

For the complete listing for the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/2023-hockomock-league-field-hockey-all-stars/

FHS' Wernig, Crandall, Carney, Cuneo & Dennett recognized as 2023 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars

FHS' Batla, Morrison, Pink, and Huff get recognition for 2023 Hockomock League Cross Country

Below are the official 2023 Hockomock League Girls Cross Country All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP
Katie Sobieraj, Oliver Ames

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS
Alex Batla, Franklin

Honorable Mentions
Fiona Morrison, Franklin

For the complete listing for Girls for the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/2023-hockomock-league-girls-cross-country-all-stars/

Below are the official 2023 Hockomock League Boys Cross Country All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP
Brendan Thomas, Oliver Ames

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS
Jonathan Pink, Franklin

Honorable Mentions
Jason Huff, Franklin

For the complete listing for Boys for the Hockomock League (subscription required)
https://hockomocksports.com/2023-hockomock-league-boys-cross-country-all-stars/

FHS' Batla, Morrison, Pink,, and Huff get recognition for 2023 Hockomock League Cross Country

Rise Up this Saturday! Dec 9 at Franklin TV Studio

Hey friends!

I get soooo excited to see you at our Rise Up social hour!!

We are meeting this Saturday, 10-11 AM, at the Franklin TV Community Room (23 Hutchinson St, Franklin). 

If you have any questions, feel free to reply. Otherwise, hope to see you there :)

Ali Rheaume

This one-hour social meet-up is intended to be a safe space for:

• individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
• community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
• support persons to meet other support persons

For additional information about this event, please visit ->  https://alirheaume.com/rise-up

Rise Up this Saturday! Dec 9 at Franklin TV Studio

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance Monthly Meeting - Dec 7 at Library

Join us Thursday at 6 for our monthly meeting!

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance In this newsletter we include an invitation to our next meeting and community events, including our next book club discussion, and include more opportunities to get involved. You're Invited to our Upcoming Meeting    When: Thursday, December 7th at 6pm!   Where: Franklin Public Library    Join us for a holiday art project! If you are not on our email list, sign up to receive future emails with this form.  90 Hayward Street Franklin, MA 02038 The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content visit this link ->   https://clt1481579.benchurl.com/c/v?e=1749B34&c=169B6B&t=0&l=8D3B5715&email=EzLHeeT1tDJtr809keNR6jEpo6Rh3jZAc8ZIo9ZXAK0%3D

Congressman Auchincloss: An Update for the last 2 weeks as of 12/05/23

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. On the Hill Bringing Hostages Home: I joined Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz's special order hour on the House Floor last week to speak about Ofer Kalderon, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Ofer is a father of four who loves to travel, take family camping trips, and help cook Shabbat dinner for his family. When asked about Ofer, his family – some of whom are based in the Massachusetts Fourth – describe his easygoing energy and huge smile. We cannot lose sight of the fact that there is a family and a story like this one behind each one of the hostages. Calls for a ceasefire should be directed at Hamas – the internationally recognized terrorist organization – not Israel, which is using military force to achieve the primary goal we all have: bringing the hostages home. Hamas could cease all civilian suffering tomorrow by merely agreeing to abide by the law of armed conflict and engage as a lawful combatant, which would require it to release hostages and cease using civilians as human shields. If Israel had acceded to a ceasefire, the recent hostage deal would not have been agreed to. To get all hostages home and to dismantle Hamas, Israel will need the continued support of Congress and the president in rejecting premature calls for a ceasefire that only one side would respect. Affordable Housing: I recently spoke about the need for affordable housing to members of the House Financial Services Committee. The lack of affordable housing is the biggest problem that Bay Staters face. It's slowing economic growth, creating barriers for young families, and causing panic for seniors. To help address this, I am cosponsoring the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would have an immediate impact in producing more affordable housing. I urged the committee to take up this legislation to lower housing costs. Make your voice heard → I want to hear from you. Should Congress prioritize policies that build more affordable housing? Around the Fourth Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Brookline: I joined Governor Healey to announce energy efficiency grants for Brookline housing. It's a triple win – to decarbonize buildings, boost the clean energy economy, and lower utility bills for families. It's exactly the kind of programming that congressional Democrats envisioned when we passed climate and clean energy legislation last summer to boost innovation and improve efficiency. As I said to Brookline's local officials, these energy retrofits are the second recent housing and climate win for the town. By zoning for more mixed-use and multi-family development in accord with the MBTA Communities Act, Brookline's Town Meeting struck a bold win for more walkable, less carbon-intensive neighborhoods. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a dreaded diagnosis for parents and their children. I recently met with Michelle Rengarajan, a two-time Duchenne's parent, physician-scientist, and constituent, to discuss the state of the science and whether the FDA's regulatory approach is too risk-averse for a disease with no cure. With the advent of gene therapies, scientists and regulators must be racing together to accelerate bench-to-bedside progress. Apponequet High Visit: At Apponequet High School in Lakeville, I encouraged students to take big risks to pursue their ambitions after high school; to engage with the world in a spirit of curiosity; and to honor the Marine Corps maxim that 'officers eat last.' I also took a range of probing questions, from SCOTUS term limits (yes), to whom I idolized growing up (I had posters of the Founding Fathers, not athletes or musicians), to whether criticism on Twitter bothered me (I've never been criticized on Twitter, so it's not an issue). Gann Academy Visit: Gann Academy invited me to a Q&A with students about Israel, my career, and more. We discussed the necessity of dismantling Hamas, President Biden's leadership in negotiating hostage release, and the ultimate prospects of a two-state solution. In response to a question about early formative experiences, I shared with them the first episode in a lifelong attachment to First Amendment principles, when I wrote a negative review of a school musical as a journalist for my middle-school newspaper and refused to pull it under pressure. Even as a strong advocate for free and open expression, I have deep reservations about TikTok's malign influence on public discourse and adolescents' development. I benefited from hearing students' candid assessments of the toll that social media takes on them, as well as the enjoyment and exposure to new interests it can unlock. Congress must act in separating the principles of speech and reach. Free speech – the ability to post without fear of government reprisal – does not equate to a 'right to reach' – the algorithmic amplification of hateful, defamatory, exploitative, or otherwise corrosive content. While this applies to all social media platforms, TikTok is especially concerning because of its popularity, poor track record, and ownership by a company under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Hanukkah: Ahead of the start of Hanukkah, I want to wish you a wonderful holiday and I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful light of the season. Onwards, Jake WASHINGTON 15 Independence Avenue SE 1524 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5931 NEWTON 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 Newton, MA 02458 Phone: (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO 8 North Main Steet Suite 200 Attleboro, MA 02703 Phone: (508) 431-1110 Contact

Via CommonWealth Beacon: State budget for FY 2023 completed (finally); Revenues down for November and YTD

"Mass. tax revenues take dive in November" 

"MASSACHUSETTS TAX REVENUES took a dive during November and are running 4.3 percent below forecasted levels through the first five months of the fiscal year, reinforcing concerns that state government needs to slow its pace of spending.

The Department of Revenue reported on Tuesday that tax collections in November totaled $2.25 billion, nearly 11 percent below the state forecast and 5.5 percent less than last year. Through the first five months of the fiscal year, revenues are running $627 million below the forecast used to draft this year’s budget and 1 percent more than the same period last year.

Adding to concerns, the state’s tax revenues in November were not affected by the passage of a major tax cut in October. That tax cut should start having an impact on state tax revenues starting in December or January, officials said."

Continue reading the article -> https://commonwealthbeacon.org/government/state-government/mass-tax-revenues-take-dive-in-november/ 

"Dems return to Beacon Hill in force, pass stalled spending bill"

"Instead of using parliamentary rules to block or delay action on the bill, as Republicans in the House did, the Senate Republicans struck a deal with Democratic leaders. In return for the Republicans agreeing not to delay action on the bill, the Senate Democrats supported a Republican motion to suspend the Legislature’s joint rules so the bill could be taken up in a formal session and be debated. The motion wasn’t embraced by the House, so it didn’t go anywhere, but it was a moral victory for the Senate Republicans and it allowed the bill to move quickly to enactment, which is what the Democrats wanted. 

Senate President Karen Spilka called it a “win-win for everybody.” 

The end result was the long overdue spending bill was sent to Gov. Maura Healey, who signed it immediately. All the parliamentary maneuvering didn’t change anything, but it captivated Beacon Hill for nearly a week in the middle of a holiday recess. The drawn-out process was mostly about optics and placing blame for delays that held up raises for public sector unions, disaster relief, and funding for the stretched-thin emergency shelter program."

Continue reading the article online ->   https://commonwealthbeacon.org/government/state-government/dems-return-to-beacon-hill-in-force-pass-stalled-spending-bill/

The H4204 legislative details can be found online ->   https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4204

The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

New Blog from NOAA Climate.gov on the #PolarVortex

NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) posted  on Tue, Dec 05, 2023:

"We are excited to announce the new #PolarVortex Blog where we plan to explore various facets of the winds, #climate, and chemistry within this fascinating region of the atmosphere. 

Our first post is HOT off the press:
https://t.co/gZOmT9A3ss"

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/NOAAClimate/status/1732155988671664570

stratospheric polar vortex

Polar Vortex on Dec 4, 2023

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Wednesday, Dec 6, 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 combination of the Library December highlights with Mitzi Gousie https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/diary-of-dreamer-kicks-off-exciting.html  combined with the Train Town #2 episode with Scott Mason  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/12/scott-mason-talks-about-train-town.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 Mandy Naglich
   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode-251.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 "Talk Franklin" episode with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/12/this-talk-franklin-covers-fy-2025.html

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:30 am Mental Health: Raeleen Gallivan

8:30 am Celebrate with Pride: Sioo

10:00 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Wrentham 350

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Fish

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:30 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Vaping Education

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

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

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 8

3:30 pm Veterans' Call: VA Pension

5:00 pm Concerts on the Common: Matt Zajac

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

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

8:30 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Woody Geissman

11:00 am Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

12:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v King Philip 10-13-23

2:30 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Beverly 11-03-23

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball: v Haverhill 11-09-23

6:30 pm Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2022

8:00 pm High School Football at Fenway Park: Franklin v King Philip

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council: 11-21-23

12:00 pm Master Plan Committee 11-29-23

2:00 pm Town Council: 11-21-23

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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