St Mary's has their re-opening weekend targeted for Mar 1-2

via St Mary's Parish Facebook update 

St Mary's has their reopening weekend targeted for Mar 1-2

"We have GOOD NEWS!

The weekend of March 1 and March 2 has been established as the TARGET date for our returning up the stairs to our primary worship space.

Please keep praying for our parish and our restoration project.

We will keep you updated as we get closer.

#StMaryStrong

#stmarys02038"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/12DA9KAR9j6/ 

Good Deeds: State Of The Registry

By William P. O’Donnell, Norfolk County Register of Deeds

This past year saw some enhancements to the resources available to the public at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds as well as some significant Registry milestones. In the spring and summer of 2024, we were pleased to bring the Registry of Deeds office hours and talks as part of our Community Outreach Program to nearly every Norfolk County community. Also, in June 2024 The Registry opened its new Genealogy Research and Resource Center. This center is open and available to the public at the Registry of Deeds Building located at 649 High Street in Dedham. There are research tools including Ancestry.com available for those interested in genealogical research.

Good Deeds: State Of The Registry

The Registry office hours were held in various town halls in communities throughout Norfolk County, bringing the Registry of Deeds directly to the residents. My outreach team and I assisted residents in locating their property records and provided them with certified copies of land documents, such as deeds and mortgage discharges. We were also able to take documents that needed to be recorded back to the Registry of Deeds in Dedham, saving many individuals a trip to our main office. Our most common comment from residents was how convenient it is for them to get Registry of Deeds services without needing to travel outside of town. One of our missions is to bring the Registry records and services to the communities of Norfolk County.

Under the Registry of Deeds’ “History Comes Alive” program, the Genealogy Research and Resource Center was created, a new resource offering a dedicated bank of computers available for free genealogical use to the public. The genealogical workstations at the Registry contain the popular databases Ancestry.com and American Ancestors. These databases are accessible to help residents discover their roots by gaining access to records across the world, wherever their families may originate. The information available includes census records, marriage records, draft cards, and prison records.

The Registry of Deeds is the principal office for real property records in Norfolk County. The Registry receives and records hundreds of thousands of documents annually. It houses more than 13.1 million land documents dating back to 1793. These land documents and the integrated Registry indexes to these land documents, are available to the public for on-line research at www.norfolkdeeds.org. The Registry is a primary and indispensable resource for title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipal officials, homeowners, title examiners, real estate attorneys, genealogists, and others with a need for land record information.

The Registry operates under my supervision and management as the elected Register. I have held the position since 2002. In continuous operation dating back to President George Washington’s administration, the Registry’s mission has remained the same: to maintain and provide for accurate, reliable, and accessible land records to all residents and businesses of Norfolk County. The modernization initiatives implemented during my administration have created a sound business operation oriented toward quality customer service at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.

The Registry of Deeds Customer Service and Copy Center continues to provide residents and businesses with quality service. These requests included the filing of Homesteads, accessing deeds, verifying recorded property documents, and assisting those in need of obtaining a mortgage discharge notice. Customers can contact the Customer Service and Copy Center at 781-461-6101, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30AM to 4:30PM. Folks in need of services from our Customer Service Center can also come by the Registry of Deeds Building located at 649 High Street in downtown Dedham across from the gold domed Norfolk Superior Court.

In calendar year 2024, the Registry collected approximately $ 54.3 million in revenue. Out of that money, more than $ 48.5 million was apportioned to the Commonwealth, and more than $5.7 million was disbursed to Norfolk County in the form of deeds excise taxes, recording fees, and surcharges. There was $4,934,850 collected pursuant to the Community Preservation Act (CPA). In 2024 there were 103,165 documents recorded at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, a 1% increase from 2023.

The Norfolk Registry of Deeds was the first registry in Massachusetts to electronically record registered land documents in the Land Court section of the Registry of Deeds in 2017. Electronic recording was crucial to remaining operational during the coronavirus pandemic. This year saw a record number of electronic recording filers, approximately 2,906. Nearly eighty percent of document volume is recorded electronically by these users.

In 2024, we shelved Registry of Deeds Book 42162. At the end of 2024, we were processing the documents for Book 42189. For the sake of security and redundancy, we store our documents in three different ways: hard copy, electronically, and on microfiche. There is a state law mandating that recorded documents be microfilmed.

The internet library of images, accessible to the public through the Registry of Deeds’ online research system at norfolkdeeds.org, continues to expand. Today, all documents dating back to the first ones recorded in 1793 are available for viewing. This digital collection also consists of more than 450,000 handwritten documents recorded between 1793 and 1900 that were transcribed and are available to the public for viewing and research.

Our website includes a genealogy page and a section highlighting land records of notable people, including United States Presidents, military heroes, noted authors, and leaders in their fields of education, environment, and law. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds also has a Genealogy Research and Resource Center where patrons can come in to use our free databases such as Ancestry.com, and American Ancestors.

The Registry’s website, www.norfolkdeeds.org, routinely updates the public on such news as real estate statistics, answers to frequently asked questions, along with detailing of our consumer programs. Additionally, a monthly column for various Norfolk County newspapers and their online websites is written. We also distribute a weekly information release to alert residents of the latest happenings as well as to remind them of our consumer services. If you are interested in receiving a Registry newsletter please sign up on the Registry’s website.

The Registry’s free Consumer Anti Property Fraud Notification Service allows any county resident to opt in to this free notification service and be alerted when any land document – fraudulent or otherwise – is recorded against their name. Over 2,100 Norfolk County residents have signed up for this free service. For more information, please see our website at: www.norfolkdeeds.org.

In 2024 we continued our partnerships with, among others, Interfaith Social Services of Quincy, Father Bill’s & MainSpring of Quincy, the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System Voluntary Service Program, Needham Community Council, Circle of Hope in Needham, United Parish’s Thrifty Threads, St. Vincent de Paul in Plainville, St. Francis House in Boston, Suits and Smiles in Jamaica Plain, InnerCity Weightlifting, New Life Furniture Bank of Massachusetts in Walpole, The Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity of Boston, and Mass Hire South West. The mission of “Suits for Success” is to collect donations of suitable clothing to be distributed to individuals and nonprofit organizations who are in need of appropriate attire and clothing.

          

Our Annual Holiday Food Drive continues to support food pantries in Norfolk County. On our website, there is a list of Norfolk County food pantries, as our local food pantries have a need for donations throughout the year. It was a privilege to partner up with the United States Marine Corps on our 17th Annual Christmas Toys for Tots campaign at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. Thank you to all of the residents and staff who helped make these programs a success.

It is a privilege for me and my fine Staff to serve each and every one of you. Be well and healthy in this new year.

Reminder: Order your CharCUTErie Box before Feb 9 to help The Pantry

Order your CharCUTErie Box before Feb 9

Order your Franklin Food Pantry CharCUTErie Box from K Cooks LLC Each box includes three cheeses, three meats, fruits, veggies, and sweets.  

Cost is $30 per box, and 50% of your sale will be donated to The Pantry!  

Pickup is at The SHED craft bar & kitchen, on February 13 between 4 and 5 PM  

Stay for dinner on February 13 and The Shed will donate 10% of your check to The Pantry! Order online through February 9th or while supplies last: https://bit.ly/3BYbIaq

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1AukR1WkYm/

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

FHS Girls Basketball Boosters asking for help to support their fund raising efforts

consider donating to the fundraiser

FHS Girls Basketball Boosters (@fhsgbbboosters) posted on Sun, Jan 26, 2025:

Please consider donating to the @fhsgvbasketball fundraiser. We rely heavily on the community to support our program. 

Use the link below or the QR code. 

https://t.co/y5l4fbEcOE

Thank you so much for taking the time to view our fundraiser

Thank you in advance for your support! https://t.co/5IRlItJioV

Senior Center event highlights for week of Jan 27 - Jan 31, 2025

Senior Center event highlights

 

"Here’s what’s happening at the #franklinseniorcenter this week. Come join us for some fun! 

*** NO CHAIR YOGA THIS WEEK ***"

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFSruCNRlQR/

For details on these highlight events, or on the regular daily schedule, please visit the Senior Center online at ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&Keywords=&startDate=&enddate=&

"rents in metro Denver declined year-over-year… The region added nearly 20,000 new apartments last year"

rents in metro Denver declined year-over-year

Jonathan Berk (@berkie1) posted Sat, Jan 25, 2025:

"For only the third time in records going back to 1990, rents in metro Denver declined year-over-year… 

The region added nearly 20,000 new apartments last year, about double the typical pace seen in recent years." https://t.co/TOe4kXmYMw

Shared from ->   https://x.com/berkie1/status/1883291581199098115?

Link to Denver Post article ->   https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/metro-denver-apartment-rents-plunge-in-fourth-quarter-as-a-blizzard-of-new-units-descend-on-market/ar-AA1xNsWh

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Monday, Jan 27, 2025

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

9 AM 12 PM and 6 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM - Frank’s Music – with Frank Falvey

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

7:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Jacob Juncker

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports

9:00 am Martin Luther King, Jr Convocation

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm CookwLinda_Chicken_111224F

1:04 pm Comfort Food: Comfort Food

1:33 pm Pizzapalooza: Game Day Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

4:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Freedom Trail

5:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

7:00 pm Frank Presents: KP Sompally

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Seth Glier

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

8:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Basketball v Sharon 01-24-25

10:30 am Lifelong Music: Band & Elementary Glee

12:00 pm Lifelong Music: Strings School

1:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

3:30 pm Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 3 01-15-19

7:30 pm SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports

8:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey v Taunton 01-11-25

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

8:00 am Planning Board 01-13-25

2:00 pm Planning Board 01-13-25

6:00 pm  Master Plan Committee  TRAINING Fl3  872 0086 6938

7:00 pm Planning Board  CHAMBERS  948 7766 3615

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

Budget, budget, budget - oh, and the 'Master Plan' are key topics for the week beginning January 27

Looking ahead to the week beginning January 27, 2025

Yes, the FY 2026 budget and "Master Plan" takes center stage this week. 

Monday begins with a couple of key sessions: 

• School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan amd Vice Chair David McNeill hold a "State of the Schools" session at the Franklin TV studio at 7 PM. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/reminder-state-of-franklin-schools-jan.html
• The Master Plan Update committee mets at 6:00 PM to finalize their doc and presentation of the "Master Plan" to the Planning Board meeting at 7 PM the same night.  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272025-1476

The School District brings the "Superintendent Recommended Budget" forward at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 28.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-for_01254023424.html

The Town Council Capital Budget subcommittee gets their view on the capital budget approved last week by the Finance Committee  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-capital-budget-subcommittee.html

The first of six Listening Sessions begins Thursday, January 30 at the Elks Lodge. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/all-of-us-are-worthy-of-welcome-video.html

Note: only the March 8 session at the Council Chambers is scheduled to enable remote participation. All six sessions will be broadcast to Comcast, Verizon, & YouTube. 

ONLY, the March 8 session will include Zoom to enable a question or comment. If you want to ask a question, make a comment, or suggestion, you need to be there for the other 5 sessions.

https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Looking back at the week that was 

(January 20 - 26, 2025)

The Town of Franklin updated its webpage (breaking all prior links). If you set up an account, you can enable more notifications for specific topics (i.e meeting agendas, etc.) than previously. I did so and they are working well.

The School Committe and the Town Council both met at the same time on Wednesday, Jan 22. While Chris broadcast and recorded the Council meeting, I was upstairs in the training room recording the audio for the School's budget workshop. 

School Committee budget workshop recap & audio (exclusive) ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/school-committee-gets-preview-in.html

Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the meeting ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/tom-mercer-condenses-jan-22-2025-town.html

Town Council video & audio links ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/town-council-meeting-of-jan-22-2025.html

Budget, budget, budget - oh, and the 'Master Plan' are key topics for the week beginning January 27

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

For all the meetings and cultural eventss, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
• Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> 

https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, January 26, 2025 ???

Sunday, January 26

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library) 
• Last days to buy Music Booster calendar raffle for February

9:00am Fallen Heroes: William 0. Martello (Veterans Walkway, Town Common)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free) 

1:30pm Vera Meyer performs on Ben Franklin’s glass armonica (Dean college, Marvin Chapel)

2:00pm Family Concert Series: Discover the World of Classical Music (THE BLACK BOX)

2:30pm Chess Group (Franklin Public Library)

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

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

Why are there multiple calendars?

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/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Fallen Hero Recognition: William O. Martello - Jan 26, 2025 - 9 AM

Memorial event today (1/26/25) at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor William O. Martello.   

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history  may be available for that veteran.  This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

--------

Fallen Hero: Ensign William O. Martello, U.S. Navy

Ensign William Olindo Martello, U.S. Navy, was born on April 14, 1920, son of Theresa and Olindo Martelli. Willam was raised by Theresa and her second husband, Nicholas Martello, at 17 Howard Street with his four sisters and one brother. “Willie” attended the Franklin Schools and graduated from Franklin High School in 1937. William went on to Boston University where he graduated with honors with an A.B. degree and was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa.  

William Martello was a student, artist and musician as well as a fighting man. “Willie” was an accomplished concert pianist and was rated as one of the most promising young pianists in New England. Prior to his naval service “Lindy” traveled on the Grace cruise line to South American as an onboard pianist.  

William O. Martello enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves on April 17, 1942 and later began his active naval service on April 8, 1943. William O. Martello attended Columbia’s naval officers training program and was commissioned an ensign upon completion of the program on July 28, 1943. He served as second in command aboard an invasion craft off the coast of the Anzio beachhead below Rome. Survivors of Ensign Martello’s landing craft, which had struck a mine in the waters off Anzio, reported that Ensign Martello had refused to heed the order to abandon ship, had fitted out a life raft with provisions, and when last seen, just as the ship turned over and went down, was hurling life belts into the sea for his crewmen swimming in the water.  

A month before his death Ensign William O. Martello wrote to his mother the following lines in a letter to her: 

“As for the war, we had to adjust ourselves to the personal problems it brought, and if a guy can’t take it, then his life is a failure. That is why I am not even afraid of death. If I did one thing that indicated cowardness, the rest of my life would be miserable.” 

Ensign William O. Martello, U.S. Navy, was lost at sea off Anzio on January 26, 1944 at the age of 23.

Fallen Hero: Ensign Martello

For the full published series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

Photo album of the Fallen Hero pillars along the Veterans Walkway

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oRGdmq9krLNEBnjJ7

You can find all the videos for 2024 in one playlist -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo3eJGInVXU&list=PLbAODFjFPJ0zOqXRuHZ5-_LPf6UwmBNSA

Franklin, MA: Capital Budget Subcommittee - Agenda for Meeting Jan 29, at 7 PM

Capital Budget Subcommittee 

Meeting Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 7:00 PM

1. FY25 Capital Plan & Subcommittee recommendations 

a. Town Administrator Memo  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4098/2025-01-29-CBSC-Agenda---1a-FY25-Capital

b. FY25 Department Summary Requests & Capital Plans  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4117/1b---Capital---Dept-Requests-and-5-Year-Plans

c. Quotes  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4116/1c-Quotes

2. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-1526

The capital budget proposal on the agenda for the Capital Budget Subcommittee Wednesday

The Finance Committee reviewed this capital budget among the items on its agenda at their Jan 15 meeting. The recap, audio and video links are available here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/finance-committee-approves-recommended_0799398139.html