Reminder: Christmas on the Common - Nov 25 - 4:00 PM

With Halloween behind us, Christmas rapidly approaching, the tree lights will be turned on at the Town Common on Sunday, November 25 at 4:00 PM.

Santa Claus will be delivered via the Franklin Fire Dept. There will be music and refreshments and "Jingles, the Elf".

To help decorate the Town Common, donations are welcome by sending to

Concerts on the Common
PO Box 92
Franklin, MA  02038

Christmas on the Common - Nov 25

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/christmas-common-community-event

Reminder: Christmas on the Common - Nov 25 - 4:00 PM

Tri-County: The TC Insider

November 21, 2018 To the Tri-County Community, Since my last update, we have completed our NEASC visit. I want the thank the School Committee, parents, students, and faculty for their support. The very next week we sponsored our Career Days on October 25thand 26th, where area middle schools visited us over a two-day period to explore career options and our programs. The two career days were followed immediately on November 1st by our Grade 8 Open House. Over 400 visitors attended the Open House that kicks off our admissions effort for the coming year. In sports, we had five teams that competed in the MIAA, State Vocational, and league tournaments in the past few weeks. Boys' soccer qualified for the MIAA tournament and lost a tough battle in the quarterfinals to Cardinal Spellman. The girls' soccer team won the State Vocational tournament but came up short to Dover-Sherborn in the MIAA quarterfinals. The Golf team won the Mayflower League Championship. The girls' volleyball team won the State Vocational Championships as well as the quarterfinals of the MIAA tournament but lost to Millbury in semi-finals. The football team moved through the MIAA South Sectional quarterfinals but lost to West Bridgewater in the semifinals as well. We have had a very successful and exhausting fall and I want to thank the students, faculty, and parents that have come out to all these playoff games these past few weeks. In football, we still look forward to the Cougar Cup. This year we will face off with Old Colony at Taunton HS for the annual Thanksgiving-eve classic. We postponed our National Honor Society induction ceremony scheduled for Thursday, November 8th as many of the members and inductees were involved in sports competitions the same evening. We have rescheduled the induction for Thursday, November 29th. Lastly, our Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, December 6th from 7 to 9 pm.  At 6:30 pm, please join the Dean of Students in the auditorium for a discussion on Bullying Prevention and other student issues.  On Saturday, November 24th, at 9 am, all Tri-County families will receive both a phone call and an email letting them know the link is up and running for signing up for Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Families will have from November 24th through December 5th to sign up for conferences. More detailed information will be sent via email. If your email is not on file with Tri-County, you will not be able to sign up for conferences. Please call the Guidance office at 508-528-5400 ext. 125 to update your email information. Thanks for your support and have a great Thanksgiving.    Remember – Work Hard, Today Counts, Mr. Procaccini Upcoming Events Thanksgiving Recess November 22-23 National Honor Society Induction Ceremony November 29 Parent Night (All Grades) December 6 Gerry's Place International Buffet December 13 Early Release Day December 10 Early Release Day December 21 Winter Holiday Vacation December 24 - January 1 Early Release January 8 About The TC Insider The TC Insider is a biweekly newsletter for the families of Tri-County students. View Email In Browser Tri-County RVTHS 147 Pond Street Franklin, MA 02038 www.tri-county.us 508-528-5400

This newsletter was shortened for publication here, to review the full content https://mailchi.mp/aa097fabb2db/the-tc-insider-2857357?e=a64020e338

Electric Youth Announces 2019 Debut at THE BLACK BOX - Jan 5

Electric Youth 2019 will debut at THE BLACK BOX on January 5 with two shows at 6:30 and 8:30 PM. The 2019 group of talented young singers and dancers includes Laney Dragsbaek, Hayley Driscoll, Tatiana McAlpine, Kelly McCormick, Emma Nicholson, Hannah Rezendes, Madison Rezendes, and Lindsey Wyner of Franklin, Susauna Wickstrom of Wrentham, Griffin Wilkins and Caroline Wilkins of Walpole, and Cassidy Baratta and Kelsey Breslin of Hopkinton.

Electric Youth delivers high-energy, fully choreographed performances of classic rock, contemporary pop, Broadway, and country hits for audiences of all ages. The American touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers, ages 14-18, is backed by the eight-piece Boston Show Band — world class musicians who’ve worked with music legends Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Van Morrison and more. Electric Youth is trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. 

Electric Youth Announces 2019 Debut at THE BLACK BOX - Jan 5

The group has toured Europe 15 times, performing in such renowned venues as Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Schonbrunn Palace; Sanremo’s Ariston Theatre; England’s Arundel Festival; Disneyland Paris; and professional theatres in Bristol, London and Windsor. EY has also headlined Fourth of July shows for U.S. troops stationed in Italy at Camp Ederle, Camp Darby, and Aviano Air Force Base. 

The ensemble has performed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, on Fox-TV and WBZ Radio, and at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, the Smithsonian Museum Theater, the United Nations and the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. Electric Youth has released six albums, including 2014’s Power Chord, available on iTunes. This summer, they will tour France, Italy, the U.K., and Switzerland.

Collectively, the members of Electric Youth 2019 have performed with Broadway stars, sung the National Anthem for Boston sports teams, been selected to perform at “Broadway Sessions” in NYC, won national gymnastics titles, worked with choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance, performed on televised dance specials, and more. Alumni of Electric Youth have gone on to appear on Broadway, in national and international tours, television, regional theater, feature film, professional dance companies, cruise ships, and more.

Tickets for the January 5 Debut shows are available at www.theblackboxonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370.

In the blink of an eye

Holiday Edition 2018    Thankful for you.    Dear Friends, In the blink of an eye, it will all be over. The harried pace of the next few weeks will roll into a post-holiday calm that will be welcomed by many of us. We, at the Pantry, will take pause and look back at all that we have accomplished, thankful to our generous community of supporters who made it all possible. Many nonprofit organizations appeal to their donors for support during the holiday season and encourage end-of-year giving. We are no different. We offer a variety of ways to engage our supporters to capture the spirit of giving that abounds this time of year. The gifts that are made now will help us get through the leaner months ahead, when giving subsides and food drives are less frequent. There are so many ways you can support the Pantry. However you choose, we are grateful. Join us Thanksgiving morning for the Franklin Turkey Trot Buy groceries online through our GivingTuesday Campaign Support your neighborhood Food Elf through the "12 Days of Donating" Campaign  Make a one-time donation or set up a monthly recurring gift to feed our families all year long When the season of giving ends, the need continues. Your gifts now will help us care for the 1,000 individuals who count on us long after the holidays are over.  THANK YOU for your support, however you choose to help the Pantry. Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!   Warmly, Erin  Franklin Food Pantry       www.franklinfoodpantry.org Our facility is generously donated by Rockland Trust. We are located at 43 West Central Street, Franklin, MA, on Route 140 in the Rockland Trust parking lot,  across the street from the fire station.

Franklin Food Pantry, 43 West Central Street, PO Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by erin@franklinfoodpantry.org in collaboration with Try it free today

The newsletter was shortened for publication here, to view the full contents
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1114432653691&ca=9d64fc33-62fc-4e8f-a4ea-039bc2793c59

"it is an opt-in program"

From the Mass Consumer Affairs blog we find out about a new credit score becoming available in 2019.

"Your credit score has long been determined by a standard measurement known as FICO. Your score is determined using the information in your credit report, such as your payment history and how much debt you owe, and creditors and lenders, along with insurance firms and landlords, use your score to determine your credit-worthiness. The lower your score, the higher interest rates you will pay on your loans and credit cards, if you are approved for them at all. 

Starting in 2019, however, a new opt-in credit score system, UltraFICO, is being implemented and consumers could see a boost to their credit scores. 

Here are the important differences you should know: the original FICO score takes into account debt levels, new credit, payment history, length of credit history, credit mix, and several other factors. UltraFICO will also focus on cash behaviors, such as how much you keep in your checking, savings, and money market accounts, and how you use this money; how long you have maintained a bank account; and whether you’ve had negative balances."

Continue reading the article online
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/ultrafico-the-ultimate-in-credit-scores/

Other resources on this topic

From Consumer Reports
https://www.consumerreports.org/credit-scores-reports/ultrafico-new-fico-credit-score/

From Lifehacker
https://twocents.lifehacker.com/heres-how-the-new-ultrafico-credit-score-will-work-1829909471

From the FICO site
https://www.fico.com/ultrafico/

It is a good thing that this new scoring is an opt in program which means you have to sign up for it. I would really think about it before doing so. Given the history of data breeches, you would effectively be giving the credit agencies, more of your data. What could go wrong with that?

"it is an opt-in program"

MassBudget: Massachusetts taxes on par with U.S. average

Read our new report

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. November 20, 2018 Massachusetts taxes on par with U.S. average Education, transportation, public safety, and other essential services are possible because of state and local taxes. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) notes, in a pair of new briefs, that Massachusetts' level of combined state and local taxes are about average compared with the rest of the United States in Fiscal Year 2016, the year for which most recent data are available. Since 1977, Massachusetts has cut taxes more than most other states - by 26.2 percent. This directly affects the amount of revenue that the Commonwealth and local communities are able to collect and, therefore, the services they can provide. Read the reports, MA Taxes on Par with U.S. Average in FY 2016 and How Has the Level of Taxes in Massachusetts Changed Compared to Other States? The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

In the News: social media diet is beneficial; student loan servicing company adding to student debt

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"If you were considering going on a social media diet, new research backs up the benefits. 

According to a paper in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology’s December issue, tightening Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat use can lower loneliness and depression. 

University of Pennsylvania psychologist Melissa G. Hunt led the study, which surveyed 143 students at Penn. Researchers divided the undergrads into groups that limited social media use and groups that continued to use the platforms as they pleased. Participants, who were predominately female, were offered academic credit for their time. 

The study did not ask students to abstain from social media. The researchers explained this choice in the paper, noting, “It is unrealistic to expect young people to forgo this information stream entirely.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181120/study-cutting-social-media-time-can-lessen-depression-and-loneliness

https://www.instagram.com/franklinmatters.ma/

"One of the nation’s largest student loan servicing companies may have driven tens of thousands of borrowers struggling with their debts into higher-cost repayment plans. 

That’s the finding of a Department of Education audit of practices at Navient Corp., the nation’s third-largest student loan servicing company. 

The conclusions of the 2017 audit, which until now have been kept from the public and were obtained by The Associated Press, appear to support federal and state lawsuits that accuse Navient of boosting its profits by steering some borrowers into the high-cost plans without discussing options that would have been less costly in the long run. 

The education department has not shared the audit’s findings with the plaintiffs in the lawsuits. In fact, even while knowing of its conclusions, the department repeatedly argued that state and other federal authorities do not have jurisdiction over Navient’s business practices."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181120/is-national-student-loan-servicer-swindling-borrowers