Thursday, January 9, 2025

Board of Health gets update on successful coat drive & more in regular meeting (audio)

FM #1349 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1349 the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025. The meeting agenda listed it being conducted via Google meet and with no location shown, it was assumed to be virtual. However, the 2 members of the Board (Harris, Mu-Chow) (1 absent - Sweet) and Health Dept members apparently were present together. 


Quick Recap:

  • Discussion on new oversight board and appointment of Director Liberty as representative. Motion made and approved 2-0

  • Coat drive update: successful, collected over 600 new/used costs, distribution of 325 or so to families, some of the left over coats went to a church in Milford. Total among the distribution and collections, approx. 1,000 coats, etc. delivered to families who wanted them.

  • 427 Oakland Park update, coordinated with Attny General; owners did start work with a contractor on the roof, letter/ notification of process is underway

  • 147 Pleasant St septic exemption requested, relatively minor recommended, so moved, passes 2-0

  • Health agent report, training done. Discussion on suspected food poisoning, investigation of incident from a confirmed case, hard to confirm exact cause/location. FDA had notifications recently on cucumbers for example. COVID tests still available via Health nurse at Senior Center, call to arrange pickup. Flu season; 33 current cases (folks actually getting tested)

  • Monitoring continues on other cases that arise. Surge in cases due to home and holiday gatherings; Noro virus reports up Training for the school nurses conducted on communicable diseases, hands only CPR last month, participating in the Student Wellness committee, participated in Winter Wonderland at Senior Center

  • No citizen comments


Motion to adjourn, second, passes 2-0-1 (1 absent)


The meeting runs about 22 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting Jan 8, 2025. Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1349-tof-board-of-health-mtg-01-08-25/



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The Board of Health agenda can be found ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/1-8-25_boh_agenda.pdf 


My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TLS4pouWCegoJ-PmqjCPItM3p_WbYgLF/view?usp=drive_link 


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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 

  • And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do


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"


Board of Health gets update on successful coat drive amongst other items (audio)
Board of Health gets update on successful coat drive amongst other items (audio)

The Rotary Club of Franklin MA is planning their 6th Annual Valentine’s Brunch, slated for February 8, 2025

The Rotary Club of Franklin MA is proud to announce that their 6th Annual Valentine’s Brunch is slated for February 8, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon, at the Franklin Housing Authority Hall, located at 1000 Central Park Terrace, Franklin, MA 02038.

The Rotary Club of Franklin MA is planning their 6th Annual Valentine’s Brunch, slated for February 8, 2025
6th Annual Valentine’s Brunch
All Franklin Senior’s and residents of Franklin Housing Authority are welcome to join the Rotary Club as their special guests, where all will be treated to a delicious, homemade Valentine’s brunch. Feel free to show your love and wear your red!

Seniors are urged to enter their names on a sign-up so that no one is left out. Sign-up sheets may found at the following locations: 

Central Park Terrace, 1000 Central Park Terrace, Franklin, MA
Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, MA

The Rotary Club International is a non-profit organization made up of a diverse group of men and women “who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world.” https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary

If you would like more information about our organization or interested in attending a meeting, please contact Diane Padula at rotartycluboffranklinma@gmail.com and she will make arrangements for you to be a guest at one of Rotary’s upcoming meetings.

Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop scheduled for Jan 18

All are welcome to:

A Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop which is FREE and open to the public. 

Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the First Universalist Society in Franklin meetinghouse (262 Chestnut Street).

Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop scheduled for Jan 18
Native Plant Seed Starting Workshop
Growing native plants in your yard is essential for supporting pollinators and birds. Join us for a presentation on the importance of native plants and how to grow them in your yard.  

Together we will do some "winter sowing.” We will be planting seeds in gallon jug greenhouses so that you can plant the plants in your yard this spring. We will provide native plant seeds and soil. You provide the gallon jugs for planting in (the kind milk and water come in).

This workshop will be led by Stirling Cousins, a member of the FUSF Sustainable Native Landscape Team. Stirling is a lay member of FUSF and has a background in biology, environmental science and teaching. She is a certified Field Naturalist in both New York and Massachusetts.  She has created native plant gardens in six home and business settings. 

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. Our Interim Minister is Reverend Beverly Waring. 

For more information about FUSF please visit our website at Fusf.org
or contact us at info@fusf.org; call 508-528-5348


Taking the guesswork out of gigs



Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Gema de las Heras

Say you're looking for ways to make extra cash and see an ad for a gig doing lawn or handy work, house cleaning, or assembling furniture. 

What they promise you'll make per hour sounds good. 

When you complete the work, you expect to make what you saw advertised, right? 

But the FTC says that's not what happened for most people who signed up for gigs on the Handy Technologies platform.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/taking-guesswork-out-gigs?




Taking the guesswork out of gigs
Taking the guesswork out of gigs


Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Jan 9, 2025

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

9:00am, 12:00pm, 6:00pm - Turntable – "Enjoy a fun experience with co-hosts The Vibe and Pauly G sharing personal discussions about a featured rock n roll vinyl record (1st hour) and the best, all music Vibe Playlist (2nd hour)"  
  •  This week's Turntable album hour features Led Zeppelin's "Untitled Album" known as "Led Zeppelin IV".   Led Zeppelin IV was the band's 4th album released on November 8, 1971.  One of the world's most monumental rock bands and records ever featuring the top selling hits "Stairway to Heaven", "Black Dog", and "Rock and Roll".   
  • The Playlist hour features The Vibe's favorite hits including live releases from the 1 night 2007 Celebration Day reunion concert in O2 Arena in London.  This is a Turntable rock n roll celebration! Drop the needle and turn it up! Playlist ->     https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BN5ko8gHT4hxKbhpUWDSGrz_rG6GDMUH/view?usp=drive_link
11:00am, 2:00pm, 8:00pm  - Frank Presents – Notable Local Conversations
 
  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = Thursday

7:00 am Fallen Heroes Pt 9
7:30 am Veterans' Call: SHINE
10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini
11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Centerpieces
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones
12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Salmon
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 7
3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: James McLaughlin
4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1
5:00 pm Franklin Art Association: Vincent Crotty
6:30 pm Mrs. Claus Storytime
7:00 pm Frank Presents: Jim Derick
9:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Twisted Sisters

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18
8:30 am Cultural Council: BT ALC Big Band
10:00 am FHS Varsity Swimming v Milford 01-03-25
1:30 pm Universe of Adolescent Sleep
2:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1
4:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey v Newburyport 12-31-24
6:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella
9:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Stoughton 12-18-24

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 12-12-24

12:00 pm Community Preservation 12-18-24

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 12-12-24

7:00 pm Conservation Commission  CHAMBERS  931 6530 1638


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
Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 ???

Wednesday, January 8
  • Tree pick up this week on your normal trash day
  • Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Writer's Group (Franklin Senior Center)
5:30pm Teen Vision Boards (Franklin Public Library)
6:30pm Franklin Art Association (Franklin Senior Center)


**   Town Meetings today   **


Board of Health Meeting (virtual meeting)
Event Date:  Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 5:00pm


Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting  (Council Chambers & broadcast)
Event Date:  Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 5:45pm


Franklin Historical Commission Meeting (Historical Museum)
Event Date:  Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 6:00pm


Town Council Meeting (Council Chambers & broadcast)
Event Date:  Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 7:00pm

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Why are there multiple calendars?
What's happening today in Franklin?
What's happening today in Franklin? 
Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

Survey says: more than half don’t watch Franklin TV

Survey says: more than half don’t watch Franklin TV.


That factoid helps to explain why it seems some social media postings seem to come from folks who appeared to be surprised about a 'new' topic when it has usually been talked about in some circles, for some time.  Clearly, not a circle the poster had participated in.


We are best served when we can assess objective facts and issues with our own eyes and ears, and think for ourselves.  You can become part of the informed circle with one web portal and subscribe to one daily email.


Franklin TV, Franklin Public Radio, and Franklin Matters are working together to advance the greater good, bringing us together as a community so that our focus is not on what divides us, but what brings us together.


* Watch: the standard public, education & government (PEG) channels or our three PEG YouTube Channels.

* Listen: Stream Franklin Public Radio anywhere, anytime online at wfpr.fm,

or tune in to our local Franklin public radio station wfpr.fm on 102.9 FM.

* Read: Franklin Matters to find the daily TV, Radio, and community event schedule along with the news that matters published to the internet, a daily newsletter, and then to key social media channels.  


All this to enable you to engage in the informed circle of the Franklin community - visit or subscribe at www.franklin.news


Survey says: more than half don’t watch Franklin TV
Survey says: more than half don’t watch Franklin TV

Town of Franklin Seeks Input from Residents in Community-Wide Survey

The Town of Franklin will launch The National Community Survey (NCS) on January 8, 2025 to gather resident input for strategic planning initiatives and to align goals around the community’s top priorities.
The Town of Franklin announced they will be launching a community survey to gather resident feedback on a wide array of topics, including economy, mobility, community design, utilities, safety, natural environment, inclusivity, engagement, and other elements of Franklin's overall livability. The survey results will provide the Town with valuable data to incorporate into future policy discussions and strategic planning.

Town of Franklin Seeks Input from Residents in Community-Wide Survey
National Community Survey (NCS)
The National Community Survey (The NCS) was developed by National Research Center at Polco. The results will show Franklin’s strengths, areas in need of improvement, and what matters most to residents. The Town will also be able to see how its performance compares to other communities across the country.

“The National Community Survey provides a fantastic opportunity for residents of Franklin to impact and enhance the quality of life in the Town of Franklin. The feedback received from the survey will give Town staff and officials critical insight into how residents feel about life in Franklin today, and what can be done to make it an even better community in the future. We encourage all residents to complete the survey and help to shape the future of Franklin”, stated Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen.

Five-thousand randomly selected households will receive mailed survey invitations over the next few weeks. Households that receive an invitation are asked to follow the enclosed instructions and complete the survey. Residents who are not included in the random selection will be able to complete the community-wide version of the survey when it is released in early February 2025. To receive notification when this survey is released and to register for a Polco profile, follow this link: polco.us/n/res/signup. The random selection survey and community-wide survey will both close on February 19, 2025.

For more information or questions regarding the survey, contact the Project Manager, Kate Hinckley, Director of GIS at (508) 553-5534 or visit our website at https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/webforms/national-community-survey

About Polco: 
Polco brings people and data together to help build stronger, healthier communities. With award-winning community engagement tools and services, Polco allows leaders to engage residents around their most important topics, align goals, and strengthen public trust. Polco is committed to a strict privacy policy, designed to keep participants’ responses confidential and protect personal data.
Learn more at info.polco.us.

FHS girls & boys (video) basketball teams both top North Attleboro on Tuesday

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 


Boys Basketball = North Attleboro, 30 @ Franklin, 70 – Final
– Franklin had a lockdown defensive effort, limiting visiting North Attleboro to single digits in each of the four quarters to secure a big win. The Panthers set the tone on both ends in the opening eight minutes, building a 22-6 lead after a quarter of action and eventually staked a 35-15 lead at half. Caden Sullivan scored all of his game-high 18 points in the first three quarters, Jake Olmstead added 11 points, and Joseph Conlan finished with 10 points in the win.

Franklin TV video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OxhXhRoM7w



Girls Basketball  =Franklin, 45 @ North Attleboro, 42 – Final 
– The Panthers held on in the fourth quarter and pulled out a fifth win in the last six games. Franklin led 9-8 after the first but then scored 22 points in the second to open up a 13-point advantage. Chloe Fales scored seven in the quarter and Lauryn DiGiorgio continued her hot shooting with three triples and 11 points. Offense dried up for the Panthers in the third, as North won the quarter 7-5. In the fourth, North rallied behind nine points from Maryellen Charette and six points (4-for-4 from the line) from freshman Jordan Egan, making it a one-possession game by the end. Fales went 6-for-6 from the line in the final quarter to help the Panthers survive North’s comeback attempt. She would finish with a game-high 15. DiGiorgio had 13 and Sophia Sacramone added seven for Franklin. Egan had a team-high 13 to pace the Rocketeers, while Charette scored a dozen and freshman Isabella Houghton six points.


For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required) 



FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Franklin Food Service video shows how a local grass fed meal is prepared (video)

Franklin Food Service video shows how a local grass fed meal is prepared
how a local grass fed meal is prepared
Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) posted on Tue, Jan 07, 2025:

"Today, Franklin High School featured Local Grass Fed Beef on their menu from Weatherlow Farms in Westport, MA served with a Ginger Lemon Risotto.  
To watch the video on how it was made, visit: https://t.co/AYUR0JdhZi "




State of the Commonwealth scheduled for Jan 16 at 7 PM (video)

State of the Commonwealth scheduled for Jan 16 at 7 PM (video)
Jan 16 at 7 PM (video)
"On January 16, I'll deliver my 2025 State of the Commonwealth Address from the State House. This year, we're going to keep bringing down costs, cutting through the red tape and making Massachusetts the #1 state to live, work and learn.  
Watch at Mass.gov/SOTC"

For reference the 2024 State of the Commonwealth can be found here ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utiXKNHWWSg

The scheduled 2025 State of the Commonwealth can also be found here ->    https://www.mass.gov/state-of-the-commonwealth



Registration Now Open for Tomorrow's Stars Flag Football Camp 2025

Registration Now Open for Tomorrow's Stars Flag Football Camp 2025
Registration Now Open
Registration Now Open for Tomorrow's Stars Flag Football Camp 2025! 🏈

📍 Location: Beaver Pond Turf Field
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

📅 Dates & Pricing:
➡️ Week 1: June 23–26 | $130
➡️ Week 2: June 30–July 2 (Short Week) | $100
➡️ Week 3: July 14–17 | $130

This camp is perfect for young football enthusiasts ready to learn the game at their own pace! Each day includes skill-building drills, scrimmages, and group activities.

Don’t wait—spots fill up fast!

💻 Register now and secure your child’s place for an unforgettable summer!





Meta ending third-party fact-checking partnership with US partners, including PolitiFact

"Meta will get rid of factcheckers, “dramatically reduce the amount of censorship” and recommend more political content on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Threads, founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced.

In a video message, Zuckerberg vowed to prioritise free speech after the return of Donald Trump to the White House and said that, starting in the US, he would “get rid of factcheckers and replace them with community notes similar to X”.

X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, relies on other users to add caveats and context to contentious posts.

Zuckerberg said Meta’s “factcheckers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created”."

And from PolitiFact, a part of the Poynter Institute and a winner of a Pulitzer Prize
"By now you may have seen the news that Meta is ending its partnership with fact-checking organizations like PolitiFact in the United States so, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg put it, Facebook can get “back to our roots around free expression.”

Instead of relying on a group of 10 independent and independently operated journalism organizations, Zuckerberg said that Facebook would be launching a community notes program like the one that currently exists on X.

We hope that program succeeds.

But it didn’t need to be an either or. It could have been both.

Back in 2016, when we were among the first group of journalism organizations to partner with Facebook to add fact-checks to online posts, we did so because we thought adding more speech, more voices and more information to what social media users saw online would help the information ecosystem.

Facebook’s approach at the time was novel. Information from a set of independent journalists would be paired with posts online, and users would be able to see a fuller picture of the stories and news of the day.

More speech.

More information."

Music boosters fund raiser @ Pokemoto scheduled for Jan 17

Music boosters fund raiser @ Pokemoto scheduled for Jan 17
Music boosters fund raiser 

 

Support Franklin Music programs by dining out at Pokemoto Hawaiian Poke on January 17



Valentine’s Day charCUTEerie box to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry - Order by Feb 9

Valentine’s Day charCUTEerie box to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry
Valentine’s Day charCUTEerie boxes

"So so excited for this collaboration! 

Join us for Valentine’s Day charCUTEerie boxes, and a portion will be donated directly back to the Franklin Food Pantry 💜

But wait, it gets BETTER!! 

Join us at The SHED craft bar & kitchen after pick up, for dinner and 10% of your food sales will be donated directly back to the Franklin Food Pantry as well!"


Scan the QR Code in the image, or go to the order form ->    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1i3tbbSz8wzzD-VnS1EYe9QNmgCGoDX_apgytciz1e0c/edit

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/posts/3873031636300167/