Franklin TV: It’s Kitschmas

Yep. ‘Tis the Season…

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/10/2023

Kitsch (/kɪtʃ/ KITCH; German) is a descriptive term applied to art and design that is perceived as naïve imitation, overly eccentric, gratuitous or of banal taste.

Or in the case of Christmas – perhaps all the above. Few holidays can bring out our twisted penchant for high kitsch quite like Christmas. We celebrate by decorating our ho-ho-homes, work places and even ourselves, each in our own way.

Franklin TV: It’s Kitschmas

Yes, Kitschmastime is here. Chock-a-block with kitschy décor and over-the-top ugly sweaters we love to loathe throughout the rest of the year.

Franklin TV: Our Community Access

Not gonna lie. I participate. Guilty as charged. About twenty years ago I chanced by a garden store with a small artificial tree in the window. The tree was sprouting – bursting with fiberglass lit by pulsing colors from its base. 

It was vaguely radioactive. Hypnotic. Glorious. I was compelled. My neighbors said, “That’s – just – umm, WRONG! The desired effect. And, Merry Kitschmas to all.

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   

Master Plan Update Cmte and Subcommittee meetings for Week of Dec 11 to Dec 16

The schedule of Master Plan Update meetings for this week:

Monday, December 11, 2023 - 7:00pm

• Land Use Subcommittee - Cancelled

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 - 7:00pm

• OSRP & NCHR Subcommittee ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/osrp_and_nchr_subcommittee_agenda_-_december_12th_2023.pdf

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 5:00pm to 6:30pm

• CSFC Subcommittee -> agenda not yet posted

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 6:30pm

• Master Plan Committee ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/master_plan_agenda_-december_13_2023.pdf

Saturday, December 16, 2023 - 10:00am to 2:00pm

• Sustainability Subcommittee - at Winter Farmers Market ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/sustainability_-agenda_2023-12-16_0.pdf

And have you responded to the survey yet?

Survey link -> https://forms.gle/NCfcPF6mAr2yLw8n9

Master Plan Update Cmte and Subcommittee meetings for Week of Dec 11 to Dec 13

Attention Seniors in Franklin: Please complete this Technology Survey!

The Franklin Senior Center was awarded a grant for $34,800 to enhance digital literacy for older adults. This grant will help replace outdated equipment, purchase additional equipment, and develop and offer a full technology curriculum specific to seniors. 

Can you help complete the technology survey? This will help the Senior Center create the curriculum based on the input from you! The seniors who use or could use the Center.  

There are also paper surveys available at the Senior Center and available at the library. 

Respond to the Online Survey:  https://forms.gle/LwHSHK2GymoeatTf8

Download a copy of the flyer as a reminder or to share ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p0fVksx6deYv_H1vA3vHDpCpO7J5vA3o/view?usp=drive_link

Attention Seniors in Franklin: Please complete this Technology Survey

Add Your Signature to “Message in a Bottle” and Help Us Get to 2 Million!

NASA's "Message in a Bottle" campaign, featuring a poem by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, has reached 1.6 million signatures. 

Help us get to 2 million signatures by the end of the year.

Add your name here -> https://europa.nasa.gov/message-in-a-bottle/sign-on/

Ada Limon's poem -> https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poet-laureate-projects/a-poem-for-europa/

Snoopy’s Europa Clipper “Boarding Pass.” Credit: NASA.

Harriet DiMartino receives Franklin's Boston Post Cane as it's oldest resident

Town Clerk Nancy Danello presented the cane to Harriet DiMartino on Thursday, December 7. 2023. State Rep Jeff Roy also presented a Citation from the MA House of Representatives. Harriet was in the company of several members of her family.

Harriet's story as contained in the Proclamation from the Town of Franklin to mark the occasion: 

Harriet was born on April 18, 1922, in Lancaster NH to Cora Congdon (Nurse) and Frederick Congdon (Clerk of Probate Coos County).  She attended Lancaster schools and graduated from Lancaster High School where she was an excellent student and a basketball star. 

Harriet attended the University of New Hampshire where she met the love of her life, Dominic DiMartino. They both loved ballroom dancing.  After their first dance together, there was only one name that filled Harriet’s dance cards. 

Dom, a civil engineering graduate of UNH, was drafted into the Army and was assigned to the China Burma India Theater assisting with the building of airport runways with the Army Corps of Engineers. She received a degree in accounting from UNH.  During the war, Harriet taught school in Berlin NH and The Catskills NY.   

Dom & Harriet were married on June 1, 1946, shortly after Dom returned home from India.  They moved to Franklin in 1950 where they built their home on Lincoln Street.  Along with being a mother to five children, Harriet was co-owner, Vice President and bookkeeper for the D DiMartino Construction Company which was established in 1962. 

Harriet was a devout Episcopalian and converted to Catholicism to attend church with her husband and family.   She was an active member of the Franklin Catholic Women Club for many years. 

Every summer, the day after school ended, she loaded up the children and family dog in the beach wagon and headed to West Falmouth where the family spent most summers at the cottage built by Dom in 1954. 

She was a fabulous baker of pies and cookies, until aging affected her ability to mix the dough.  Her cookie jars were always filled with homemade treats for those who visit and there was usually an apple or rhubarb pie on the kitchen counter.

Upon retiring she and Dom spent 6 months of the year in their condo in Hollywood, Florida, where Harriet served as the association treasurer of the condo association.  Summers were spent at their “new” home in West Falmouth, built in 1986 adjacent to the cottage.  Annually, there were two brief returns to 2 Meetinghouse Lane in Franklin for the transition from Florida Snowbird to Cape Codder and back.  They were married for 64 years until Dom’s passing in 2011.  Harriet continued the annual north to south migration until 2018. 

Harriet continues to be a die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fan.  She and Dom were 25-year Patriots season tickets holders (before the Pat’s became a historic team.)    Admittedly, Harriet was the bigger sports fan than Dom. 

Since 2018, Harriet has resided in her home in Franklin full time.  She enjoys crossword puzzles on the TV via an app, watching the Red Sox, MASH DVDs, and weekly Sunday Mass broadcast from Notre Dame University.  She is a devoted and loving mother to five children, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of eight great- grandchildren. 

State Rep Jeff Roy, Harriet DiMartino, Town Clerk Nancy Danello

State Rep Jeff Roy, Harriet DiMartino, Town Clerk Nancy Danello, accompanied by Harriet's children

 

Other photos from the brief ceremony at the DiMartino residence

https://photos.app.goo.gl/c2BXBPWo3CTCrWxg7

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda for Meeting Dec 12, 2023

Franklin School Committee

December 12, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Call to Order       Mr. Callaghan

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan

C. Payroll Mr. McNeill

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations

A. FHS Cheerleaders – State Champions!

B. Food Services Highlights

C. Lifelong Learning Presentation

D. Snow Presentation

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. none

IV. Discussion Only Items

A. none

V. Information Matters

A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your November 28, 2023 School

Committee meeting as detailed.

B. Oak St. Gift

I recommend acceptance of a check for $4,300.00 from the Oak St. PCC for field

trips as detailed.

C. 40% Club - Student Activity Account

I recommend creating a student Activity Account for the 40% Club at FHS.

D. Recurring Vet’s Auditorium Field Trip - Parmenter/JFK

I recommend approval of the request of Mary MacMurray to take music students

to the Veteran’s Auditorium, Providence, RI, on May 23 (Parmenter) and May 24

(JFK), 2024 to see a concert and perform with the musicians as detailed.

VII. Good of the Order

VIII. Citizen’s Comments

IX. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

X. Adjournment

Agenda doc (also contains remote participation info)

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_12-12-23.pdf

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-12-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda for Meeting Dec 12, 2023

Franklin Public Schools: Community Relations Subcommittee - Dec 11 at 6 PM

Franklin Public Schools - Franklin School Committee

Community Relations Sub Committee

December 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM

Municipal Building - 3rd floor Training Room

A G E N D A

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● Define Purpose of Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy Subcommittee

● Review Committee Goals & Establish FY24 Goals

● JPGR Overview & Partnership

● Known FY24 Community Events

Remote participation info included in agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/_community_relations_sub_comm_agenda_12_11_23.pdf

Franklin Public Schools: Community Relations Subcommittee - Dec 11 at 6 PM

CommonWealth Beacon: "Yes, building more housing does lower rents, study says"

"IT’S A QUESTION that looms large over the effort to promote more development in housing-starved Massachusetts: Does increasing the supply of housing, even if it’s mainly higher-cost, market-priced units, temper the runup in costs that has so many residents straining to make ends meet? 

The idea follows the basic economic principle of supply and demand – when more of something is made available, its price falls. But there are plenty of “supply skeptics” who aren’t convinced that simply opening the housing production spigot will lower costs, and argue instead that it often just drives up prices by promoting gentrification. 

In a recent report, only 30 to 40 percent of those polled in a national survey of urban and suburban residents believed a 10 percent increase in housing production would result in lower home prices and rents. Against that backdrop, however, a research team at New York University issued a report last month arguing that there is clear evidence that boosting supply is the key to lowering or moderating housing costs. 

“All the evidence shows that it does reduce housing costs,” said Vicki Been, director of the NYU Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. The report by Been and two NYU colleagues attempts to look at all the evidence available from studies of the question. 

“In sum,” they write, “significant new evidence shows that new construction in a variety of settings decreases, or slows increases in, rents, not only for the city as a whole, but generally also for apartments located close to the new construction.”

Continue reading the article at CommonWealth Beacon

https://commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/study-says-boosting-housing-production-tempers-rents/

From the paper referenced in the article the Abstract summarizes:

"Although “supply skeptics” claim that new housing supply does not slow growth in rents, we show that rigorous recent studies demonstrate that: 1) Increases in housing supply slow the growth in rents in the region; 2) In some circumstances, new construction also reduces rents or rent growth in the surrounding area; 3) The chains of moves sparked by new construction free up apartments that are then rented (or retained) by households across the income spectrum; 4) While new supply is associated with gentrification, it has not been shown to cause significant displacement of lower income households; and 5) Easing land use restrictions, at least on a broad scale and in ways that change binding constraints on development, generally leads to more new housing over time, but only a fraction of the new capacity created because many other factors constrain the pace of new development."

Link to research paper paper -> https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4629628

The Taj Estates apartments on East Central street

Franklin Agway: December Sale, Gifts for everyone on your list

Great Gifts on sale Gifts for Everyone on your list! $5 off Birdsnack 20 lb. 10% off All small (5 lbs. or less) birdseed 10% off Indoor growing kits 15% off Squirrel-X bird feeders 15% off All Bee's Wrap 15% off Wheelbarrows and spreaders 20% off All bird, duck and bat houses 20% off Swedish dish cloths 25% off Hummingbird feeders 25% off Flashlights till 12/23 We will be closed 12/24-12/26 and 12/31-1/1/2024 Winter store hours Mondays closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9-5 Thursdays and Fridays 9-6 Saturdays 9-4 Sundays 9-2 Sales are in store only, 12/2-12/31/23 while supplies last See you soon, The Agway Crew PS. Come in and check out our new zero waste items. Together we can make a difference. Copyright © 2023 Franklin Urban Farm Store dba Franklin Agway, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Franklin Urban Farm Store dba Franklin Agway 157 Cottage St Franklin, MA 02038-2403

The Guardian view on Cop28: a phase-out of fossil fuels is the only decision that makes sense | Editorial | The Guardian

"It was never really in doubt. But the first week of Cop28, which ended with a rest day on Thursday, made one crucial fact impossible to ignore: the fossil fuel industry is not planning to go quietly. Far more of its lobbyists are in the UAE than have attended UN climate talks before. One analysis counted 2,456 of them – nearly four times the number registered last year in Egypt.

The battle is hotting up over what next week’s report on progress towards the Paris goals, known as the global stocktake, will say. Fossil fuel interests – both corporate and national – are pushing hard to avoid references to the phase-out that would signal the end of their business model and vast profits. They don’t want an energy transition that leads to their demise.

Last week, the Guardian revealed that Sultan Al Jaber, who holds the Cop presidency and leads the UAE’s state oil company, recently asserted that “no science” indicates that “a phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C”. Forced on to the defensive, he later said that “the phase-down and phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable”. But it is the nations at Cop28 that will decide, and there is no guarantee that any such pledge will appear in the final text.

One of the key battlegrounds at Cop28 is that of language: whether fossil fuels will be phased “down” or “out”. The choice is either reducing carbon energy sources or getting rid of them entirely. The latter would be preferable, but there are many other battles to be won. There will be haggling over whether a transition to a cleaner future should see fossil fuels “unabated”, with greenhouse gas emissions released directly into the atmosphere, or “abated”, where carbon capture technology and carbon offsets reduce the harm caused. The latter have so far failed to deliver promised benefits, appearing more of a risk than a solution, in enabling the necessity of replacing fossil fuels to be ducked."

Continue reading The Guardian article online -> (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/08/the-guardian-view-on-cop28-a-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels-is-the-only-decision-that-makes-sense

Credit: Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change

Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam

Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam By Andrew Rayo Planning to travel this holiday season? No matter where you're going (over the river and through the woods), how you're getting there (planes, trains, and automobiles), or where you're staying (home for the holidays), here are the scams to avoid along the way. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/11/stay-scam-free-no-matter-how-far-away-you-roam

Stay scam free, no matter how far away you roam

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 8, 2023 to December 13, 2023

There will be opportunities to volunteer for the #LoveFranklin Humanitarian Aid for the Emergency Shelter on Monday through Friday. The donations need to be moved to another location inside the Franklin United Methodist Church (82 W. Central Street, Franklin)--from the basement to the balcony. This new location is slightly larger and will be much more convenient, especially as work begins on the church's sanctuary ceiling. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/.

Friday, December 8

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

4:00pm Jack Frost Jubilee (SAFE Coalition fund raiser) (Proctor Mansion)

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

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

Saturday, December 9

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)

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

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

Monday, December 11

7:00pm All that Glitters is Gold: Gustav Klimt (hybrid event) (Franklin Public Library)

Tuesday, December 12

7:00pm FBRTC Meeting (67 Degrees Brewery)

Wednesday, December 13

1:00pm Senior Scribblers (writing group) - (no meeting this week)

7:00pm Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club (Yankee Swap) (Escape Into Fiction)

7:00pm St Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group (St Mary's)

Thursday, December 14

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

-----------------

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

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's Event Outlook: Dec 8, 2023 to December 13, 2023