Franklin Matters

Friday, July 24, 2015

Davis Thayer modular units to be removed

The Davis Thayer modular units are supposed to be removed this summer. Walking by on Wednesday I saw equipment was being positioned to start the work. As this is posted, they may already be gone.

equipment positioned to remove the modular units

I went to the recent archive of photos from walking around to capture the 'old' look. Once they are removed and the ground re-seeded, I'll share some photos so we can see the before and after comparison,

Davis Thayer modular units - 1

Davis Thayer modular units - 2

Davis Thayer modular units - 3

Davis Thayer modular units - 4

There were 2 classrooms within the modular units as I recall from a tour of the school in 2012. I'll go further into the archive to find and share photos of the inside.

Get your copy of the 1st Annual Franklin Cultural Festival brochure!

The 1st Annual Franklin Cultural Festival starts on Wednesday, July 29 and runs through Sunday, August 2.

Arts Happen Here! - Franklin Cultural Festival

This one page (two sided print) tri-fold brochure gives you a handy copy of all the info of what, when, and where the events of the Festival will take place.

If you have a mobile device, you can check out the webpage or Facebook. If you would like the hard copy, the Festival team put one together for you.

You can download and print on your own!

You can make your copy from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczcGNsUnpKMzhRTTQ/view?usp=sharing

or from here

Check the webpage for any updates (especially in case of weather)

http://www.franklinsculturalfestival.org/

"protect yourself from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous competitive suppliers or brokers by understanding your choices and knowing your rights as a consumer"

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation has a good post on how to understand the electricity marketplace and make good decisions.

They provide a list of questions to ask to help set up a proper comparison of the rates and services so you can make a good choice.

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

"Comparing Plans

Although promotional offers may be appealing, there are a number of factors that may affect the amount you will actually end up paying for your electricity. It is important to review your options and compare them to the local utility company’s basic service before switching. Asking the following questions can help you make an informed decision.

Are the energy prices (rates) fixed, or will they change throughout the term? If your energy consumption is consistent, fixed rate plans will offer less variation in your monthly bill. Variable rate plans, however, fluctuate more often because the rates can change by the hour, day or month, etc., according to the terms and conditions in the competitive supplier’s disclosure statement.
What is the length of the contract? Consider how long you will be locked- in to the contract and what that means in conjunction with the rates.
Is there an initiation/transfer charge? If there is an initiation fee, you could be paying more.
Does the contract contain an introductory price? If your contract contains an introductory price, then your supply cost may increase substantially after the introductory pricing period ends.
Are there minimum bill amounts? If so, consider whether you consistently use the minimum amount of power.
Are there cancellation fees? Consider whether you will have to pay a cancellation fee or other fees at cancellation whether or not you terminate the contract before its expiration date. It is common to pay early termination fees if you cancel the contract before it expires.
How does renewal work? Consider that if you do not make a decision to renew or cancel a contract within the permitted period the competitive supplier may renew your contract and change its terms.
What is the price per kWh? Calculating your usual monthly kWh consumption times the price per kWh will help you compare supply cost.
What is included in the price per kWh? If you can find out how the company sets its rates, you can make a more informed decision."

You can read the full article here
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/competitive-energy-sellers/

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Franklin Library: Sciencetellers Super Heroes

"In this original collection of slightly twisted tales, all the teachers at school are suspected to have superpowers! Join us on a hilarious new adventure where, just like in science, things aren't always quite what they seem. We will launch things through the air, send them plummeting toward the ground, and even make matter transform and disappear right before your eyes!

Throw on your labcoat and buckle in — you are about to experience forces and reactions through several exciting, hands-on experiments that will have you laughing, learning and having fun. Savor each endearing adventure and find yourself transported to a special place where 'super' heroes truly do exist!"

"Super Heroes" --- Length: 45 minutes. Grades: K–5.

Franklin Library: Sciencetellers Super Heroes

Note: the sign is wrong in that Davey the Clown is Friday, the 31st

This was shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/07/sciencetellers-super-heroes.html

"Let’s stop measuring fish by how well they climb trees"

Joshua Katz is a high school math teacher in Orange County, FL. Of all the TED talks I have seen, this is one of the best.

Joshua's Talk:

In the mid 1800's, Horace Mann captured the potential impact of education on society. We have yet to realize the potential he saw, and in fact, we are missing the mark by a wider and wider margin. We have created a "Toxic Culture of Education" in our country that is damaging students, impacting our economy, and threatening our future. Since the passage of No Child Left Behind, we have embraced a culture of high stakes testing and are perpetuating a false sense of failure in our schools. We have ignored research and data on effective policy making practices in order to serve the interest of private industries that have monetized our students. The impact is being felt in communities, on college campuses, and in our economy. The solution lies in a common sense approach to student development, curriculum choice, career exploration, and relevant data analysis. This talk will present a vision of an education system that allows us to embrace our full potential if we only had the courage to ask "Why Not"?

The full transcript for Joshua's talk can be found here
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/05/24/lets-stop-measuring-fish-by-how-well-they-climb-trees/

Downtown Project Update #7

July 21, 2015

Work will continue on Main Street replacing the sidewalks near the Town Common as well as finishing Emmons Street and Summer Street sidewalks.

They plan to start working on West Central between Emmons and Union Street after that. Work will continue on light poles and traffic light bases.

If anyone has a questions please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer, Michael Maglio at 508-553-5500 or Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator at 508-520-4949.

new sidewalk in front of Dean College

new period light base

new sidewalk in front of the Ginley Funeral Home

sidewalk work in progress on corner of Main and School Sts

one of the problem light poles on West Central St.

This was shared from the Franklin webpage here

http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0217F6B7-000F8513

Senator Spilka: It's Time for Action on Women's Health, Equality and Opportunity

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Dear Friend,

Massachusetts is a beacon of equality and justice. It's time that we live up to those values by taking action on equal pay, women in leadership and women's health.

Yesterday, I testified before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development in strong support of my Women on Boards Resolution and the Equal Pay Bill, bills to encourage equitable and diverse gender representation on boards of directors in Massachusetts and to help bridge the gender wage gap.

I also testified before the Joint Committee on Financial Services on my bill to protect access to confidential health care, the PATCH Act.

Women on Boards

The Women on Boards Resolution is a non-binding resolution to encourage companies to increase the number of women on their boards of directors and in their senior management ranks. California and Illinois have passed similar resolutions to improve gender diversity on boards in those states.

We need to help create a pipeline for female leaders and open doors for more women. We need to empower all women to make their voices heard. This is not a women's issue. This is a business issue and an economic development issue. The future of the Massachusetts economy depends on bringing the best talent to the table.

The positive effects of greater diversity on boards are well-documented, yet the representation of women in leadership remains low. Women hold 14.9% of board seats and 11.8% of executive officer positions in the 100 largest public companies in Massachusetts. 24 of these companies have no women on their boards, 46 have no women executive officers and 19 have no women on their boards of directors or in their executive suites.

Thank you to 2020 Women on Boards, the Alliance for Business Leadership and other advocates for your work on this important issue. Thank you especially to local business leaders who joined me at the hearing to share firsthand how their companies have embraced diversity on their boards: Bennie Wiley, President of The Wiley Group; Bob Rivers, President and Chief Operating Officer at Eastern Bank; Javier Barrientos, Senior Director, Global Diversity and Inclusion at Biogen; and Kevin Maggiacomo, President and CEO of Sperry Van Ness.

Immediately following the hearing, the Committee reported favorably on the Women on Boards Resolution, moving the bill along in the legislative process.

Equal Pay

Equal pay for equal work should be a no brainer. Women working hard to support their families deserve fair pay. It is time for action to bridge the gender wage gap and ensure equal pay. It is time for equality and opportunity for all women.

In Massachusetts, women who work full time earn approximately 80.8% of men's earnings. A report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research projects that the gender wage gap will not close on its own until 2058.

In the mid-1980s, one of my first jobs was in the state's Office of Employee Relations working on the issues of comparable worth and pay equity. It's very disappointing that almost thirty years later, we still have work to do on these issues. If we do nothing, a girl born today would be 43 years old when the pay gap finally closes. That is nearly 70 years of inequality and injustice.

The Equal Pay Bill seeks to bridge the wage gap in three main ways: ensure equal pay for comparable work, establish pay transparency and require fairness in hiring practices.

In advance of the hearing, I joined Attorney General Maura Healey, State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, legislators, the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and the Equal Pay Coalition at a rally to highlight the importance of the Equal Pay Bill.

Click here to watch a video from the rally. My remarks are at the 14:45 mark.

PATCH Act

The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on a variety of bills related to women's health, including my PATCH Act, which aims to protect patient confidentiality by requiring personal health information on Explanation of Benefits forms to be sent directly to patients, safeguarding the privacy of people who are dependents on another person's health plan.

Patient confidentiality is a foundational element of the patient-provider relationship. Unfortunately, victims of abuse or minors are often reluctant to seek certain types of treatment, fearing that their abuser or parent will learn these details. This bill would ensure that all patients have confidential access to the health care they need.

Click here to listen to my testimony at the hearing.

Thank you to my colleagues in the legislature and all advocates and constituents for making your voices heard on these important issues for women, families and the Commonwealth.

It's time for equality, justice and opportunity for all women!

As always, if you would like additional information or have any concerns or comments, please call my office at (617) 722-1640 or email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov.

Warm Regards,