In the News: Demonstration returns Saturday; Supreme Court rules on Census question

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

"As campaign activity ahead of the 2020 presidential election begins to build, the Franklin Democratic Town Committee is ramping up efforts to express dissatisfaction with the current administration and to make a plea for change.

The committee is mounting a demonstration on Saturday “against the behavior of the Trump administration” from 10 a.m. to noon in downtown Franklin on the sidewalk in front of the Rome Restaurant, 4 East Central St.

It will be the group’s second protest held this month. The first was held June 15 and drew participants from Franklin and many neighboring towns, organizers said.

“We are part of a great effort across the country with several activist organizations, including moveon.org and indivisible.org,” said Sue Cass, a member of the Democratic Town Committee."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190627/franklin-democrats-plan-demonstration-make-plea-for-change/1

demonstration on Saturday, June 15 (courtesy photo)

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling halting the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census was cheered Thursday by state officials and advocates who said such a question could jeopardize an accurate count in Massachusetts.

In a 5-4 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Commerce from asking Census respondents about their citizenship status, finding “a significant mismatch between” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ decision to add the question “and the rationale he provided.”

The court sent the matter back to the Commerce Department, seeking a new explanation.

Secretary of State William Galvin, who oversees the Census count in Massachusetts, and Attorney General Maura Healey, one of 18 attorneys general who sued the Commerce Department over the question, both urged the department to accept the court’s decision and prepare for a Census that does not ask about citizenship status."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190627/citizenship-question-foes-cheer-court-ruling

Learn more about the 2020 Census
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census.html

learn more about the 2020 Census

HMEA's incredABLE Day 2019 is in the Books

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To review the full set of contents use this link:
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Now We Want to Hear from You!

HMEA's 18th Annual incredABLE Day Celebrates the ABLE in All of Us! May 19, 2019 marked HMEA's 18th Annual incredABLE Day, our largest community event and biggest fundraiser of the year. While the day came with some clouds, wind, and a touch of rain, it also brought together hundreds of walkers, runners, volunteers, and HMEA families, dozens of community organizations and generous sponsors, and too many smiles to count!    This year, through the efforts of families supported by HMEA, our staff, and the people and organizations who donated time or valuable sponsorships, over $180,000 was raised. That's incredABLE! One hundred percent of the net proceeds will be returned directly to our programs, for each to determine how to best support the agency's mission and their program's goals, including funding regular art, horticulture, and music therapy sessions, recreational and educational community outings, assistive devices and technology, such as iPads, Amazon Echos and Dots, which help to increase independence for people with disabilities, and so much more.    Beyond the 5K race and community stroll, incredABLE Day included entertainment for the whole family. The Wellness Area featured vendors focused on physical, emotional, and financial health for those of all abilities. Entertainment for the day included a photo booth, Maggie and Clarity the clowns, a DJ playing crowd favorites and keeping the energy high, and mascots-galore, from the Cardi's Brothers, to the Massachusetts Pirates, to the New England Revolution, the Worcester Bravehearts, Nibbles Woodaway from the Big Blue Bug, and Urbie from Urban Air Bellingham.  Wally and Tessie joined the festivities and held down the fort at the Red Sox Showcase, which allowed attendees to try their best to steal second base and swing for the Green Monster in batting practice; it's always a crowd favorite! In the Kids' Corner, kids of all ages enjoyed getting their faces painted, planting seedlings, playing table games, running in the Kids' Fun Run, riding the mini train, and trying their luck at winning one of more than 70 raffle prizes. Winners in the 50/50, Elite, and Dream raffles took home more than 100 great prizes, from gift baskets and gift cards, to concert and event tickets, and even a one-week vacation to anywhere in the world! Donuts, coffee, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, cotton candy, popcorn, and an ice cream truck kept our incredABLE participants well-fed and energized throughout the day.    On behalf of HMEA and the nearly-5,000 families we support throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we extend a sincere THANK YOU to all of the supporters of incredABLE Day! The success of this event depends on the strength of our community. The positive impacts these efforts have on the lives of the individuals and families supported by HMEA cannot be understated and, because of you, are celebrated!    Save the date for the 19th Annual incredABLE Day. We hope to see you again on Sunday, May 17, 2020!  We're always looking to improve incredABLE Day, and we want to hear your ideas! Click the button below to take a brief, six-question survey and let us know how you think the 19th Annual incredABLE Day, in May 2020, can be the best walk, run, and day of family fun yet!

Brewing a Cure 4 ALS - Aug 10

All proceeds raised at the event will be donated in honor of Denis Ceruti, a local businessman, originally from Medway. “Brewing a Cure 4 ALS” (https://fundraise.als.net/brewingacure4als), a craft beer and wine festival being held on August, 10th in Cambridge, MA, with the critical mission of raising funds to help find a cure for the devastating disease, ALS.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Once ALS starts, it almost always progresses, eventually taking away the ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow, and breathe, and shortening the life span. How fast and in what order this occurs is very different from person to person. While the average survival time is three years, about 20 percent of people with ALS live five years, 10 percent will survive 10 years and 5 percent will live 20 years or longer.

There is currently no cure for ALS. This urgent unmet medical need for effective treatments for this devastating and fatal disease is the basis for the research and drug development effort at the nonprofit biotech organization, ALS Therapy Development Institute https://www.als.net/. Located in Cambridge, MA, ALS TDI is the world’s first and largest nonprofit biotech focused 100 percent on ALS research. ALSTDI is a 501 (C)3 organization. 87% of all funds raised by the organization go directly to ALS Research.

The organizers of “Brewing a Cure 4 ALS” are proud to be partnered with ALS TDI for this event. All proceeds raised will be donated to the ALS TDI in honor of our dear friend, Dennis Ceruti, a hardworking small business owner, a loving husband, and father of 4 amazing girls, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. We believe that ALS is not an incurable disease. It is an underfunded one.

At the moment, our greatest need is with ticket sales as well as table sponsorships. Tickets range from a $100 VIP early access ticket to a $60 general admission ticket. Table Sponsorships are $750. Whether it is sponsoring a table, purchasing tickets, or simply helping publicize the event to other interested businesses, brewers or beer enthusiasts, any support one could provide, big or small, would be appreciated.

Brewing a Cure 4 ALS - Aug 10

"recent evidence suggests that the impact of the opioid epidemic is moderating”

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

"The rate of opioid-related hospital visits in Massachusetts dropped slightly between 2016 and 2017, the first decline since those numbers were first tracked in 2010, according to a new analysis.

The analysis, released Wednesday by the Health Policy Commission, found that rates of substance exposure in newborns also decreased by 6 percent from 2016 to 2017, along with the 2.3 percent drop in hospital visits.

The number of people dying of opioid overdoses was also on the decline over that time period, falling from 2,100 to an estimated 2,050, according to Department of Public Health data. The commission, in its report, notes that the drop came while the national opioid mortality rate climbed 11 percent, but that the rate in Massachusetts nonetheless remained high compared to other states, at nearly twice the national average."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190626/mass-opioid-hospital-visits-decline

For resources from the SAFE Coalition
http://www.safecoalitionma.org/safe-resource-manual/

one of the resources the SAFE Coalition developed is the "What do we do now? pamphlet

Haba selected as MVP, FHS reps for baseball and softball Hockomock League All Stars

Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Baseball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

** Hockomock League MVP
Alex Haba, Franklin

** Hockomock League All Stars
Scott Elliott, Franklin
Alex Haba, Franklin
Jake Macchi, Franklin
Brennan Rivera, Franklin
Liam Dailey, Franklin


Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Softball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

** Hockomock League MVP
Kelsey White, Taunton

** Hockomock League All Stars
Jackie Cherry, Franklin
Ally Shea, Franklin
Anna Balkus, Franklin


For the other selections to baseball All Stars around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-league-baseball-all-stars/

For the other selections to softball All Stars around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-league-softball-all-stars/

Haba selected as MVP, FHS reps for baseball and softball Hockomock League All Stars

 

FTC - Consumer Alerts: Are You Getting Unwanted Calls?

Are you getting unwanted calls? It could be scammers calling. Scammers can use the internet to make calls from all over the world. They don't care if you're on the National Do Not Call Registry. That's why your best defense against unwanted calls is call blocking. Learn how to block unwanted calls at ftc.gov/calls. Tired of robocalls? So are we. Find out what the FTC is doing to go after robocallers.

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This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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SAFE Coalition: July 2 meeting - Canceled

Hi All

Our SAFE Community Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, has been cancelled. 

Please join us on August 7 at the Franklin Municipal Building, 3rd floor at 7 PM for our next forum!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!


Steve Spiewakowski

Secretary
SAFE Coalition

SAFE Coalition: July 2 meeting - Canceled