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Sunday, January 14, 2024
Choices: "You have power in your choices"
Human ‘behavioural crisis’ at root of climate breakdown, say scientists | Climate crisis | The Guardian
“We’ve socially engineered ourselves the way we geoengineered the planet,” says Joseph Merz, lead author of a new paper which proposes that climate breakdown is a symptom of ecological overshoot, which in turn is caused by the deliberate exploitation of human behaviour.“We need to become mindful of the way we’re being manipulated,” says Merz, who is co-founder of the Merz Institute, an organisation that researches the systemic causes of the climate crisis and how to tackle them.Merz and colleagues believe that most climate “solutions” proposed so far only tackle symptoms rather than the root cause of the crisis. This, they say, leads to increasing levels of the three “levers” of overshoot: consumption, waste and population.They claim that unless demand for resources is reduced, many other innovations are just a sticking plaster. “We can deal with climate change and worsen overshoot,” says Merz. “The material footprint of renewable energy is dangerously underdiscussed. These energy farms have to be rebuilt every few decades – they’re not going to solve the bigger problem unless we tackle demand.”
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| A globe at a CES technology consumer show in Las Vegas this week. Climate experts claim ‘creativity and innovation are driving overconsumption’. Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images |
Saturday, January 13, 2024
In Franklin, MA, It’s All About the Benjamin!
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| In Franklin, MA, It’s All About the Benjamin! |
Finance Committee reviews and approves of Capital Budget for FY 2024 (video & audio)
FM #1135 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1135 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
8 Finance Committee members participated;
6 in Chambers (Chair Conley, Riley, Corbosiero, Nagel, Batchelor, Grace ),
2 participated remotely (Keophannga & Hamilton)
1 absent (Sansoucy)
Quick recap:
Discussion on the scope and intent of the deep dive series. Feb 7 next meeting, Mar 6 joint budget subcmte, then really into budget season for FY 2025 with hearings in May, June for Council.
This is the first capital budget without a holding of the 'free cash' for snow and ice removal. 4.5M is total free cash.
Consideration for a 'land acquisition fund' possibly to be established
Technology at the high school is now 10 years old, can't replace them all at once, chipping away at it to stagger the replacements over time.
Survey to address on quality of life issues, scientific generated survey randomly generated, whole variety of metrics. Often folks are happy but need to divide where there are some opportunities.
Chief Lynch providing insights on the Police requests, (forgot to add battalion chiefs for Fire had previewed the requests for Fire) Did get all their requests
DPW, Director Cantoreggi, Water/Sewer superintendent Martin Providing updates on the details of this year's request, equipment has improved over past years, folks like to use good tools, efficiency & safety
Funds for sewer, water, etc come from the enterprise funds
Facility did not get all asked for, the reasonable requests were met. We don't have any money for new sidewalks, maintenance yes but not new. $2M for a single mile of sidewalk.
Motion for approval for the capital improvements plan second, passes via roll call 8-0-1 (absent)
Motion for transfers per policy as part of the capital plan, second, via roll call 8-0-1 (absent)
The meeting recording runs about an hour & 20 minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting Jan 10, 20234 Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1135-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-01-10-24
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Watch the Franklin TV video available for replay
https://www.youtube.com/live/dGC2rKWkWB8
My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting and found in 1 PDF ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qqA7h0dGjT1Bw7f2muY7KTBc7N6OklZq/view?usp=drive_link
Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee
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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"
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| Finance Committee reviews and approves of Capital Budget for FY 2024 (video & audio) |
Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - Jan 17 at 11 AM
What is going on with .... ?What happened to ....?How come .... ?
Join Steve Sherlock, Franklin Matters & wfpr.fm Community Information Director (volunteer), for an informal and informative Q&A session.
What is the session about?
• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have
Steve will also be interested to find out what you think should be on the "watch list" for 2024?
When: Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Where: Franklin Senior Center (2nd floor conf room) and via Zoom
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| Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - Jan 17 at 11 AM |
FHS boys hockey team tops Mansfield, girls swim team tops Attleboro
Game #11 Results: #18 Franklin (7) Mansfield (5) (Shots — Franklin 35 Mansfield 22)
1st period Recap: Shots - Franklin (12) Mansfield (6)With 5:02 Marchand goes D to D to Arienti who chips it up to Langevin breaking up the wing and takes it into the zone finds greenwood who gets tied up on the wall with 2 Mansfield DMan, Langevin picks the puck and picks top corner to put Franklin on the board 1-0. The very next shift a turnover leads to a Mansfield goal by Vokey game tied at 1-1. With 2.44 to go in the first Wernig draws a tripping penalty putting Franklin on the PP. And with 2:31 Marchand starts it behind the net & moves it to Paterson who's streaking down the right side into the zone hits McEvoy in the slot who snaps off a quick shot leaving the puck on the doorstep when Paterson follows the shot and hammers it home. The period would end 2-1boys look sluggish in the 1st period. O'Connor gets the nod in between the pipes and sees 6 shots.
2nd Period Recap: Shots - Franklin (IO) Mansfield (5)At 13:01 Harrington & Toli combine to break up the Mansfield rush, Harrington recovers the puck on the wall & hits Daley who slides it to Balducci coming into the left side if the zone & hits Daley in the slot who drops it to Wernig for the snip - beautiful passing sequence. At 11:44 Marchand unloads one from the blueline knocking the goalie back, Hager clears 2 guys out in front of the net where Langevin pokes it homes for making it 4-1 Franklin. At 10:36 franklin takes a hooking call, .23 seconds later Franklin takes a boarding call making it a 5v3 & .11 seconds into the PK Mansfield's #18 Gormley finds #11 Tourigney making it 4-2.Franklin kills the rest of the penalty. At the 6:05 mark McEvoy gathers the puck behind the net & hits Toli on the point & snaps a quick shot off leaving a juicy rebound for Paterson to punch home! Period would end 5 —2 Franklin. O'Connor serves up the donut on a quiet 5 shots period.
3d Period Recap: Shots - Franklin (13) Mansfield (11)Franklin immediately goes on the PP with seconds into the period & w/ .19 seconds left on the PP Lampasona pumps a shot just above the dot that leaves a juicy rebound where Daley slides it to McEvoy & punches the ticket making it 6-2 Franklin. With 10:15 to go Toli finds Paterson at the blue line who slides itto McEvoy who splits 2 defenders and beats the goal blocker side for the goal making it 7-2 Franklin. At 8:01 Mansfield gets one back when Vokey finds the net. With 5:09 to go Franklin takes a hooking and then a cross checking penalty put Mansfield on the 2-man advantage. A minute later Mansfield's Gormley putone home from the point & .12 seconds later Mansfield's Gerr gets 2 chances to put it home and deliver on the second making it 7-5 Franklin with 4 minutes to go. The game would end 7-5, boys were sloppy tonight & undisciplined penalties kept Mansfield in it till the end but managed a victory. O'Connor gets the dub.
Final Franklin 7 Mansfield 5
Stats: Paterson 2GIA, McEvoy 2G,1A, Langevin 2G, Wernig IG, Daley 3A, Smith 2A, Lampasona IA, Hager
Franklin (6-5) vs Oliver Ames Thursday 1/18 puck drops @ 6:30 PM @ HOME. https://twitter.com/FHSPantherHocke/status/1746024843382776155
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| FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com |
Boston Globe: Fall 2023 All-Scholastics recognizes FHS' Crandall, Carney, Cinelli, O'Connor, Lacerda
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| Boston Globe: Fall 2023 All-Scholastics recognizes FHS' Crandall, Carney, Cinelli, O'Connor, Lacerda |
Auchincloss Calls for Including Affordable Housing Policy in Forthcoming Tax Package
"The lack of affordable housing is the single biggest challenge facing my home state of Massachusetts."
Ahead of the reported bicameral, bipartisan tax deal being reached, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D, OR) and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R, MO-08), urging them to include the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act in the final package.
In the letter Auchincloss stated, "The lack of affordable housing is the single biggest challenge facing my home state of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth faces a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of units of housing of all types, including rental units designated for extremely low-income households. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would expand the LIHTC program in a measured and thoughtful manner, allowing projects to carry less debt and making more projects eligible to receive funding. This would help Massachusetts build more affordable housing."
A full copy of the letter can be found attached and below.
January 11, 2024
The Honorable Ron Wyden
Chairman
Senate Committee on Finance
221 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Jason Smith
Chairman
House Committee on Ways and Means
1101 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Wyden and Chairman Smith:
I write to you today to request that you include the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 in the forthcoming tax package. This bipartisan legislation would finance the construction of nearly two million new affordable housing units over ten years by expanding the successful Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to increase the amount of credits allocated to each state. Additionally, this measure would increase the number of affordable housing projects that can be built using private activity bonds, increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households, and codify protections for veterans and victims of domestic and dating violence.
As I testified before the House Financial Services Committee on November 9, 2023, the lack of affordable housing is the single biggest challenge facing my home state of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth faces a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of units of housing of all types, including rental units designated for extremely low-income households. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would expand the LIHTC program in a measured and thoughtful manner, allowing projects to carry less debt and making more projects eligible to receive funding. This would help Massachusetts build more affordable housing.
I appreciate your attention to this important matter and hope to see the inclusion of the Affordable Housing Improvement Credit Act of 2023 in the forthcoming tax package.
Sincerely,
Jake Auchincloss
Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable Mike Crapo, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Finance
The Honorable Richard Neal, Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means
To learn more about Congressman Jake Auchincloss visit https://auchincloss.house.gov or connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pt2h-w5ZsGj9hwr1g7Hk12Ijiip3_HfT/view?usp=drive_link
FHS girls & boys track teams post dual meet wins vs. KP & Taunton on Jan 11, 2024
The FHS Girls Track Team posted two wins at The Track in Boston. FHS beat KP 69-31 and Taunton 81-19. . Event winners were: Sarah Dumas Lily DeForge Maddie Bruno Sophia Cuneo Gwen Holland 4x200 Relay Team 4x400 Relay Team
https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1745784821538787607
Boys T&F pick up a pair of W’s against KP & Taunton. 1st place finishers: Hardt (7.81 - new school record) Pink Brad Morin Tucker Morin Yetman Diehl and Both relays. 4x200 set a new school record (1:31.64) as well
https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1745626538786078766
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| FHS girls & boys track teams post dual meet wins vs. KP & Taunton on Jan 11, 2024 |
"Where's The Toast?!" Memory Cafe DATE CHANGE to - Wed 1/31/24 at 1 PM
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| "Where's The Toast?!" Memory Cafe DATE CHANGE |
Girl Scout Cookies for sale this weekend - Saturday, Jan 13 & Jan 14
- Shaw's - 9 AM - 2 PM
- Stop & Shop - 10 AM - 2 PM
- Shaw's - 9 AM - 2 PM
- Stop & Shop - 10 AM - 2 PM
- Dunkin' @ King St 8 AM - 1 PM
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| Girl Scout Cookies for sale this weekend - Saturday, Jan 13 & Jan 14 |
Hockomock Area YMCA: January's Social Action Service Calendar
Brand new! January's Social Action Service Calendar!
Shared from -> https://Twitter.com/HockomockYMCA/status/1745400384246485373
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| Hockomock Area YMCA: January's Social Action Service Calendar |
Children’s online privacy: Tell the FTC
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| Children’s online privacy: Tell the FTC |