"everyone should do their part to stay healthy and prevent the spreading of germs"

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

"The state Department of Public Health Monday night announced a presumptive positive case of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, contracted by a woman who recently traveled to Italy.

The woman, in her 20s and who lives in Norfolk County, had recently traveled to Italy with a school group, according to a statement issued Monday night by the state agency.

The woman was recovering at home. According to the agency, the woman’s test results came back positive Monday evening.

Specimens will be sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and, if confirmed, it would be the second confirmed positive coronavirus case in Massachusetts since the outbreak started in the United States in January. In its statement, the agency said the risk to COVID-19 remains low in the Bay State."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200302/state-health-officials-announce-new-presumptive-positive-case-of-coronavirus


Qualified resources:

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

MA Dept of Health   https://www.mass.gov/influenza

Franklin Board of Health  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

"4 updates on Super Tuesday by Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin"

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

"Local election officials have been advised by the state’s top election overseer to be vigilant about cleaning voting booths, swapping out pens shared by multiple voters and having extra poll workers on call as public health concerns over the spreading coronavirus collide Tuesday with the 1.85 million people expected to vote in the presidential primaries.

Secretary of State William Galvin said Monday that he does not think the virus, which has been confirmed in one patient in Massachusetts but has kicked off widespread concern about the risk of infection, will have any real impact on the elections but advised local clerks to be prepared all the same, and to make arrangements for voters who are self-quarantining themselves out of an abundance of caution.

“Obviously, we do not think it’s a reason for people not to vote, but it has led to some concerns that are quite legitimate,” the secretary said. “If you go through the process that average citizens will involve as a vote, they’ll come to the table where they check in, they’ll get a ballot which they will handle by themselves, they’ll use a pen -- which usually is provided by the local election officials and may be used by multiple voters -- and then they will proceed to a compartment, mark the ballot and, having concluded that, will put it in the box.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200302/4-updates-on-super-tuesday-by-massachusetts-secretary-of-state-william-galvin

The article mentions polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM, that applies to elsewhere around the Commonwealth of MA. Polls in Franklin open at 6:00 AM. All precincts vote at Franklin High School.

"4 updates on Super Tuesday by Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin"

Franklin Residents: Voting Information from the Town Clerk's Office

Voting Information from the Town Clerk's Office

• The Massachusetts Primary Election is on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at the Franklin High School, located at 218 Oak Street from 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• The Town Clerk's Office will be CLOSED on Tuesday, March 3, 2020

 
 https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Franklin Residents: Voting Information from the Town Clerk's Office

FM_#213 Jamie Hellen at the Senior Center - 2/25/20

FM #213

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 213 in the series. We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen visited the Senior Center to provide an outlook on Franklin and answer questions for the audience of about 25 folks.

Director Karen Alves introduced Jamie. Jamie put aside his notes as he felt it would be good to go ‘off the cuff’ with his remarks and then take questions.

The talk goes about an hour and forty minutes including the question and answer period. You’ll hear some banging during the recording, Jamie addresses it during his remarks. As it was a good weather day when this was held, it also was a good time for some roof repairs to be made before the rains came.

Without further ado, let’s listen to Town Administrator Jamie Hellen at the Senior Center.  Audio file https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HNlMs2bX





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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I 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 something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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"

Director Karen Alves introduced Jamie Hellen at the Senior Center, Feb 25, 2020

Mind-Body-Spirit at St. John’s - a three part series

St John’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, MA presents a three-part series entitled "Mind-Body-Spirit". This free series of seminars, workshops, activities, and demonstrations is open to the community and welcomes anyone interested in enhancing their well-being.

MIND

March 22nd & 29th 2 PM–4 PM

If you are experiencing stress and anxiety, come learn how Dr. Trudy Good, a clinical psychologist with 12+ years of experience,
can help. Join us for Dr. Good’s seminar and workshop to learn about how our minds deal with stress, mindful practice (the science behind it and its practical application to your life). Learn self-care for managing stress and how mindfulness can help.

BODY.

April 26th 12:30 PM–4 PM

Looking for new ways to care for your body? Come to St John’s Health and Wellness Fair. Register to enjoy a free, catered lunch.
Explore healthy eating habits, new exercise routines, and ideas for preventative care.
Enjoy samples of healthy and tasty snacks. Learn about nutrition, and watch demonstrations from award winning nutritionist Tricia Silverman. Participate in activities to learn first-hand how you can take better care of your body, including sessions on T'ai Chi, Yoga, and Zumba.

Take a minute (or 10) to relax with a free chair massage. Learn more about acupuncture and get a confidential health screening to check your blood pressure, glucose, and more.
Leave feeling relaxed and more in control of your body.

Mind-Body-Spirit at St. John’s

*BODY SESSION BONUS*

Enter to win door prizes and raffles for gift vouchers to local vendors, including:
a 3mo fitness membership or 6-mo individual tennis membership to Adirondack Club-$220 value

• a $175 Gift Certificate to Franklin YMCA
• Free Trial Week Passes to Franklin YMCA
• a Ninja personal blender and to-go cup
• a Whole Foods gift certificate
• a Healthy foods gift basket
• a fruit infuser water bottle
• and MUCH more!

SPIRIT.

May 17th 2 PM–4 PM

Allow Ethel Fraga, a highly respected mindfulness-based stress reduction instructor, centering prayer presenter, and a spiritual director, to guide your spirit in understanding and connecting with the sacredness of life.
Ms. Fraga has been a student of contemplative spirituality for 52 years and practices meditation daily. Learn from her how you can enrich your life through Christian Contemplative Practice.


All events are free, but registration is highly recommended. Childcare and refreshments available at all events.
To learn more visit: http://stjohnsfranklinma.org/
To register, or to learn more, please contact: Amali De Zoysa (508) 528-2387
St John’s Episcopal Church-237 Pleasant St. Franklin, MA 02038 stjohns.mindbodyspirit@gmail.com


Download your copy of the flyer here or from copy embedded below
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tEanB4_hkwj2YEWqHcOnipyUiBY8giYu/view?usp=sharing

School Committee meeting recap - Feb 25, 2020: Demographics report available; budget outlook presents math problem

The two major topics from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2020 were the first look at the demographics study report and two, the Superintendent's Recommended budget for FY 2021.

The demographics report is provided below along with the presentation document. There is a second review of the report scheduled for Thursday, March 5 at the Horace Mann Middle School cafe at 7:00 PM.

The demographics show the student enrollment decline will continue to drop from the peak of 6300, currently 5100 to about 4500 before settling and eventually rising again. The factors and assumptions for the numbers are provided. The two critical factors to maintain the numbers projected are keeping the mortgage interest rate under 5% and having existing home sales reach 275 units per year. If either of these factors change, the numbers would be off. If, for example, the home sales don't reach 275, the enrollment likely would continue to drop.

More discussion around the numbers will be forthcoming. This is the first of two steps to help decide the future of Davis Thayer. The second piece is due in an April time frame and is the facility analysis. What are the space requirements to provide the education to the current and projected enrollment and how do the existing facilities provide that space?

My back of the scrap paper analysis says a building can be closed, if the enrollment does continue to drop, perhaps even two could be closed. What the facilities analysis shows will be key to understand what is needed and how we can provide it. Stay tuned.

The Superintendent's Recommended budget came out of the gate asking reasonably for the critical needs to be met. Some several hundred thousands of other requirements didn't make the 'critical' cut. There is another $1.2M in unmet needs NOT included in the budget as shown.

The math problem comes into this as the whole of Franklin's budget can only grow about $3M. So even if the critical needs budget was desired, and ALL of the $3M went to the schools. One, that leaves police, fire, DPW, Library with no increase for anything over what they had least year. Two, that also means $900K of the critical needs doesn't make the budget this year.

Of course, the gap will get resolved before the budget is finalized in June, the real question is how. What and where will the cuts come from? Expecting $3M to be 'found' is unrealistic.

Additional details from the meeting can be found in my notes recorded live during the meeting in the links below.
 
Meeting docs

You can also find the demographics study on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/demographic-presentation

FPS Demographics Presentation from Franklin Matters

Assumed to be supporting documentation for the presentation
(was not referenced during the meeting but was posted to the packet web page)
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/enrollment-forecast

FPS FY 2021 Superintendent's Recommended Budget from Franklin Matters

Also available on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/supt-rec-budget-presentation

My meeting notes

• Live reporting: New business to Closing (Executive Session)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/live-reporting-new-business-to-closing.html

• Live reporting: Discussion/Action Items - Discussion

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/live-reporting-discussionaction-items.html

• Live reporting: Recommended budget FY 2021

 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/live-reporting-recommended-budget-fy.html

• Live Reporting: School Committee - Feb 25, 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/live-reporting-school-committee-feb-25.html

The future of Davis Thayer is being studied this year

FHS boys basketball team posts win to advance to D1 Central Final on Friday

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap for the FHS boys basketball game win vs. Worcester South 45-42

"The Franklin boys basketball team has proven to be a serious threat from behind the three-point season throughout the course of the season.

The Panthers have a handful of capable shooters that can get hot any given quarter of any given game.

But on Sunday evening, Franklin couldn’t find its rhythm. Only senior Chris Edgehill connected from deep, once in the first quarter, and once each in the third and fourth quarters. The rest of the Panthers, despite some good looks, just couldn’t find the range, missing on nearly two dozen attempts from deep as a team.

So when push came to shove, Franklin turned to what the program has hung its hat on year in and year out: defense.

The sixth-seeded Panthers got five straight stops to close its D1 Central Semifinal matchup with Worcester South, including a pair of three-pointers that could have tied the game, to earn a hard-fought 45-42 win over the second-seeded Colonials.

...

Franklin boys basketball (18-5) advances to its fifth D1 Central Final appearance in the past seven seasons. And for the fourth time, the Panthers will meet up with St. John’s Shrewsbury, the top-seed in the bracket this year, on Friday at 6:00 at Worcester State University. "

Continue reading the game reap:
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-boys-basketball-claw-past-colonials-in-central-semis/

For a photo gallery from this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-Worcester-South-Boys-Basketball-03-01-20/

For other results around the Hockomock League on Sunday
https://hockomocksports.com/sundays-schedule-scoreboard-03-01-20/

Franklin senior Brayden Sullivan goes up for a layup against Worcester South in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)