Friday, April 5, 2024

Audio Recording of the Comprehensive Schools Facilities Planning meeting of April 3, 2024 available (audio)

FM #1166 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1166 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the Comprehensive Schools Facilities Planning on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room and recorded by Franklin Matters.

The meeting runs about 58 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1166-comprehensive-school-facility-planning-mtg-04-03-24

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Meeting agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/1._arts_culture_20240130_170221_0000.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 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"

Audio Recording of the Comprehensive Schools Facilities Planning meeting of April 3, 2024 available (audio)

ECDC Registration is open for three-year-olds in the 4-day afternoon sessions

2024-2025 Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) Registration is now open.

There are still openings for three-year-olds in the 4-day afternoon sessions (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday PM from 12:45 pm to 3:15 pm).

Please visit https://www.franklinps.net/ecdc/pages/enrollment-information for more information.

ECDC Registration is open for three-year-olds in the 4-day afternoon sessions

Panther News: April 5, 2024 (video)

Panther News: April 5, 2024

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd_VlBFjxEc

Removal and Hauling of Green Waste from Town's Recycling Center - Invitation to bid due 4/24/24

Removal and Hauling of Green Waste from Town's Recycling Center

In accordance with MGL c. 30B, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain the services of a contractor to provide the removal and hauling of green waste (compost) from the Town's Recycling Center, located at 455 Beaver Street, Franklin, MA.

Additional Information: Removal and Hauling of Green Waste from Recycling Center

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/removal-and-hauling-green-waste-towns-recycling-center

Removal and Hauling of Green Waste from Town's Recycling Center - Invitation to bid due 4/24/24

Franklin Health Dept: Climate change is the most pressing threat to human health

It's National Public Health Week!

Today's theme is Climate Change. Climate change is the most pressing threat to human health. If we don't make changes, in 5 years our carbon budget would be depleted and the likelihood of devastating global climate impacts would be very high. By buying less, supporting green spaces, and transitioning to renewable energy, we can lessen the health impacts of climate change.

Visit for more ways you can make a difference: https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions

Franklin Health Dept: Climate change is the most pressing threat to human health

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Friday, Apr 5, 2024

wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

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

8:30 am Frank Presents Corey Shea

10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Jacob Juncker

11:00 am Senior Connection: Spaghetti Bolognese

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

12:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta

1:00 pm Physician Focus: Oral Health

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2

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

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

5:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Rob Lawson

6:30 pm Grocery Stores

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Ellis Paul

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

7:00 am Lifelong Music: Band

8:30 am Mental Health: Kallie Montagano & Sonja Wagner

10:00 am Franklin Rec Basketball" 5th & 6th Grade Boys Championship

12:30 pm FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

1:30 pm ATBand_031224

3:00 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

6:30 pm FHS Track and Field: v North Attleboro 05-09-23

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 03-28-24

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 03-28-24

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

Thursday, April 4, 2024

What’s Your Story? An Evening of Storytelling - April 6

First Universalist Society in Franklin hosts

What’s Your Story? An Evening of Storytelling

April 6, 2024 = 7:00 pm to 8:30 PM

Inspired by The Moth Radio Hour, the theme of the night is “Surprises.” Join us for an evening of fun as amateur storytellers dare to share their personal stories about surprises they have experienced. Snacks and beverages will be provided during intermission but feel to bring your own.

What’s Your Story? is a family-friendly event hosted by the First Universalist Society in Franklin in our beautiful meetinghouse. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12-18. Tickets can be purchased in advance at FUSF.org/upcoming events. Cash or checks are also accepted.

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (fusf.org) is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA. For more information about the Society please contact Interim Minister Beverly Waring at 508-528-5348 or minister@fusf.org.

What’s Your Story? An Evening of Storytelling - April 6

Children’s Museum of Franklin 2 mobile museum time slots for Apr 21

Children’s Museum of Franklin

Tickets are required for all adults and children over 12 months old.

Where: Annie Sullivan Middle School Gym, 500 Lincoln Street, Franklin MA

Children’s Museum of Franklin is a non-profit organization. Admission, which includes processing fees, covers only a portion of the costs to bring The Museum to the community. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support as we work to grow.

Children under 12 months old are free.

Children’s Museum of Franklin is committed to being an accessible organization for all families. Please contact Meg at meg@childrensmuseumfranklin.org for more information.

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WUD2i3jVY17GiB19/

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

FM #1164 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1164 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. The list of articles we drew from:

Nature article - Are we all doomed? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00790-6
Office of Energy Transformation https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-establishes-nations-first-office-of-the-energy-transformation
False info from activists on whale impact for wind power https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/25/science/activists-use-whales-to-fight-wind/
MBTA to improve battery/electric efforts https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/24/metro/battery-powered-improved-service-could-be-coming-to-ts-commuter-rail-in-2027/

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 37 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1164-making-sense-of-climate-41-03-26-24

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** 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

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

In this Making Sense of Climate episode we go from doom & climate grief to transformative talk & action (audio)

Audio recording of the Franklin, MA Board of Health Meeting conducted April 3, 2024 (audio)

FM #1165 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1165 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) Board of Health Meeting conducted on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The meeting was held at the Municipal Bldg and conducted in a hybrid manner. Chair Bridgit Sweet was remote. Members Jeff Harris and Kim Mu-Chow were in the room with the Health Department personnel.

The meeting runs about 23 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1165-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-04-03-24

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Board of Health page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_4.3.24_-_google_docs.pdf

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

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

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Audio recording of the Franklin, MA Board of Health Meeting conducted April 3, 2024 (audio)

Franklin Police: Moonlight Smoke Shop Break In - 04/03/24

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at approximately 7:38 AM, the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC) received a call for a possible break in at the Moonlight Smoke Shop located at 447 East Central Street.

Moonlight Smoke Shop Break In

Upon officers’ arrival they observed the glass on the front door had been smashed and entry made. A witness reported a blue vehicle fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the vehicle or any suspects.

Officers and Detectives remain on scene and are investigating. It is unknown at this time what, if anything, was taken from the shop. No further information will be released at this time as this in an ongoing investigation.

There were two previous break-ins at this shop recently, once on Sunday, February 4, 2024 and again on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Three juveniles were charged in relation to the February 4th incident. The March 10th incident remains under investigation.

For info about the Franklin Police Dept, visit them on the Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department

Massachusetts Department of Transportation: Beyond Mobility Update - Out for comments

Thank you for your interest in Beyond Mobility, MassDOT's next Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan. This email provides an update on the plan progress and new information available on the Plan website.

Announcement of Public Comment Period

We are excited to announce that the full Beyond Mobility plan and the executive summary are now out for public comment and are available for review on the plan website . The 30-day public comment period will end on May 5^th, 2024.

How to Provide Feedback

Comments on any part of the document will be accepted during the comment period through the online comment form. You may also email any comments to BeyondMobility@dot.state.ma.us.

Plan Structure

Beyond Mobility is structured by six Priority Areas: Safety, Reliability, Supporting Clean Transportation, Destination Connectivity, Resiliency, and Travel Experience. These Priority Areas, informed directly by over 5,000 pieces of unique public feedback received as part of the development of the plan, serve as the backbone of Beyond Mobility.

Over 100 action items across these priorities have been identified within the plan for MassDOT and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to take to achieve a safer and more equitable, reliable, and resilient network.

The final Beyond Mobility plan contains the following seven chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Strategy & Approach
Chapter 3: What We Heard (a summary of all public engagement findings)
Chapter 4: Priority Areas (compilation of vision statements, values statements, problem statements, and key facts that serve as the basis for the plan's action items)
Chapter 5: Action Items (a description of over 100 actions that are directly responsive to the plan's problem statements)
Chapter 6: Performance-Based Planning (a description of outcomes-based performance measures recommended to be established in line with the plan)
Chapter 7: Funding the Transportation System (a summary of funding resources available between now and 2050)

The following appendices are also included and contain additional detail:

Appendix A—Public Engagement Results
Appendix B—Previous Plan Review
Appendix C—Needs Assessment
Appendix D—System Performance Report

For more information on Beyond Mobility please visit the Plan website.

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Fire Dept, Finance, DPW, & Facilities (updated 4/03/24)

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works

Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Department

Chief Financial Officer - Finance Department

Budget and Fiscal Analyst - Finance Department

Mechanic/Motor Equipment Repair Person - Department of Public Works

Summer Employment - Department of Public Works

Junior Building Custodian - Facilities Department

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department

Updated 04/03/2024

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Fire Dept, Finance, DPW, & Facilities

#1NickStong18 schedules First Annual Golf Tournament - June 17

via 1NickStong18:

First Annual Golf Tournament

Registration is now open!

If you don't want to golf but want to join us for lunch, that option is available on the site.

Sponsorship opportunities are available as well! 🩵

Registration & donation info -> https://t.co/a0CDRSPXpL

"Our goal through this year’s tournament is to support a research facility that is testing a robust liquid biopsy platform for diagnosing brain tumors, especially for Germ Cell Tumors.

The cost for each sample is around $1800. They have around 50 cases/samples they need to test in the coming months. Nick Strong Foundation is excited about this new partnership with more information to come in the next few months."

Website -> https://nickstrongfoundation.com/golf-tournament-2024/

Shared from -> https://t.co/JABqDq89rU

The FBRTC 5k - Seeking Volunteers

View this email in your browser

FBRTC 5k - Seeking Volunteers

Hello!

The FBRTC is looking for volunteers to help the morning of May 18, 2024 for our annual 5k fundraiser. Our partners at Tri-Valley Front Runners will be leading the event, but need assistance in the following areas:

Parking
Greeting/Direction
Raffle Tent
Registration / Bib Pick Up / Check In
Road Crew
Water Stop / Turn Around Spot
Timing / Start / Finish / Results / Awards

We need volunteers at different times of the morning, from setting up the event starting around 8:00 AM, to supporting the race at 9:00 AM, to breaking down the event starting at 10:00 AM.

If you can help out at all, please sign up using this link.

Warm regards,

Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee