FM #216 Board of Health Meeting March 4, 2020 (audio)

FM #216 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 216 in the series.

The Franklin (MA) Board of Health met at 5 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Interesting to note that while coronavirus was among the topics, the Health Director Cathleen Liberty was following best practices and participated remotely as she was not feeling well. A good example to set for us all these days.

Chair Bridget Sweet opens the meeting. Members Tim Cochrane and Jeff Harris participate. Ginny McNeil the Health Agent also contributes actively to the meeting. There is acknowledgement of a Town Council who entered the room during the course of the meeting to sit and participate. In case you don’t recognize his voice, for the record I can say it was Eamon Earls.

The agenda document is linked to in the show notes
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/agenda/boh-agenda-36

The new coronavirus information portal was discussed and the link is included here
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/urgent-alerts/corona-virus-information-portal

The meeting audio runs about 45 minutes so without further ado, let’s listen in to the Board of Health meeting of March 4, 2020  Audio Link 
https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDfQW0wX






We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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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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coronavirus information portal

Artist Reception: Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau - March 29

The First Universalist Society in Franklin will be hosting a public reception for Franklin artist Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau on Sunday, March 29, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 

Please join the artist and learn about her series of paintings called “Future Awash”. (www.chrisbluelamb.com) Ms. Toubeau uses art as a vehicle to communicate about the current climate change crisis, and how humans are complicit. 

The exhibit will run from March 9 - May 3 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. www.fusf.org

Please join the artist and learn about her series of paintings called “Future Awash”

Purim dinner, service, and Megillah reading - March 9

Purim dinner, service, and Megillah reading scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 6:00 PM.

RSVP to rac@temple-etzchaim.org for the dinner only.  Location is Temple Etz Chaim, 900 Washington ST. in Franklin

Purim dinner, service, and Megillah reading - March 9

For more about the Temple and its services, visit their page
https://temple-etzchaim.org/

FYI - Purim commemorates the day Esther, Queen of Persia, saved the Jewish people from execution by Haman, the advisor to the Persian king

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Mardi Gras in Franklin - March 14

New Orleans comes to Franklin View this email in your browser The Squeezebox Stompers Cajun/Zydeco Band March 14 -  8 PM  - $20 The Squeezebox Stompers will be bringing the sounds of New Orleans to Franklin at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse on Saturday, March 14th.  Listening to the Squeezebox Stompers is like taking a walk through the streets of the French Quarter. Even in staid New England every day is Mardi Gras with the Squeezebox Stompers. Wherever they go, they bring on the party with their mix of Zydeco, Cajun, blues and good ol' roadhouse rock 'n roll. Whether you're a dancer or just a toe tapper, the Stompers will get your blood boiling and put a smile on your face.  There will be an area for dancing. Led by accordionist Rockin' Ralph Tufo, formerly of the award-winning Boogaloo Swamis, the Stompers feature musicians who have decades of experience playing the roots and branches of American music. Guitarist Larry Plitt was the winner of the 2007 Boston Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. Geoff Wadsworth on saxophone, harmonica, and tin whistle is a veteran of the Boston jazz and blues scene. Andy Solberg, versed in jazz, folk, and blues drives the band with his scintillating bass lines. Mike Migliozzi on drums is a master of Cajun, Zydeco, and New Orlean rhythms. Finally, Steve Latanision a virtuoso on fiddle, mandolin, and banjo adds an eclectic roots dimension to the band. https://www.squeezeboxstompers.com/ The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available.  Please visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information. Upcoming Shows Apr 4          Tom Rush Apr 18        Matt Nakoa with Emerald Rae May 9         Red Molly

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Councilor Melanie Hamblen's remarks on the Civil Discourse Pledge

Thanks to Councilor Hamblen for sharing the copy of her remarks made at the Town Council meeting March 4, 2020:
 
"It is obvious that there has been a gross mis-understanding about the civil discourse pledge and I would like to say a few words:

The pledge is not a personal attack on anyone one of us (believe me I know what one is) It is a statement that the council as a whole, no matter who is on it - rejects discrimination and bullying and is committed to supporting an inclusive community.
The pledge does not, in any way take anyone’s rights away. It does not stop the council for taking concerns from employees and citizens, it states that we will do so with respect for all involved.

The pledge is NOT, I repeat, Not a waste of time or efforts. It is a statement to the community, whom we serve, that we want everyone to be treated with respect and feel welcomed.

Do not believe that this has been brought up because of ONE incident.

If you think that life in Franklin is perfect for everyone living here, then you are refusing to even think about other people’s reality - the people that we all represent.

I am going to ask you to do something for me- set aside yourself for a moment and let’s walk in someone else’s shoes:

It’s a beautiful day, like yesterday, you are getting ready to go to the playground and have fun with your family, 

But you stop and think, what will I do if someone yet again yells “death to Muslims” at you.

Or your child comes home crying because his friends were laughing at him telling him at school that he is going to have to go back to Mexico, and he was BORN IN THIS COUNTRY!

Or maybe your child is called a “thing” to your face just because she has a learning disability.

Or you get spit at and have derogatory insults shouted at you, just because of the person you love.

Or you hesitate to go into your place of worship because you are afraid someone full of hate will hurt you and your family.

We are elected officials, we represent the town of Franklin 24/7 everywhere we go.

We represent everyone in this town and the fact that people are afraid and feel unsafe everyday is NOT OK.

It is not OK that our citizens are afraid to tell us how they feel, and afraid to live normal lives. This pledge can help people feel a little at ease. 

It is a reminder to try to be kind, that other people experience different things than we do. 

It reminds us to be the type of leader who will not sit idly by when people in our community feel unsafe.

This pledge will reassure our community that we stand with them and that we will protect them.

I could just bow to the pressure and give up and slide back into the community and hide, but there are people who cannot afford such comfort because of the color of their skin or who they love or where they worship and I will stand with them. And because it is the best thing to do for ALL of Franklin."

• The resolution ended up passing by a 6-2-1 vote with Councilors Chandler, Hamblen, Pellegri, Dellorco, Mercer and Jones YES; Earls, Bissanti NO, and Kelly abstained.

 
My notes reported live during the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/live-reporting-civil-discourse.html
 
 

Boy scouts from Troop 126 lead the overflow crowd at the Town Council meeting in the "Pledge of Allegiance"

"We had the results, we just couldn’t get it on paper”

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

"A technical issue caused by spreadsheet formulating problems caused election results to be delayed in town by nearly four hours on Tuesday night.

When spreadsheets provided to the town by its election consulting service weren’t formulated properly, Town Clerk Teresa Burr said clerks didn’t have access to reformulate the spreadsheet to correctly total their data, resulting in the delayed results.

“The formulas just weren’t set up right,” she said, adding that nothing was wrong with the voting machines and that the problem was “nothing major.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200304/incorrect-spreadsheet-forumulating-to-blame-for-delayed-franklin-election-results

The unofficial results were shared here Wednesday morning
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/franklin-presidential-primary-results.html

after the polls closed the voting operation at Franklin HIgh School in process of shutting down

FHS Mock Trail team ends run in Final 16; Cheerleaders are Hockomock Champions

Catching up to provide two other FHS updates:

• The Mock Trial team made it to the final 16 this year before ending their season
• The FHS Cheerleaders won the Hockomock League Championships

https://twitter.com/MockWalsh/status/1234191235268694017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/MockWalsh/status/1234237835034669057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/FHScheer_/status/1234197191532728320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

135 schools started out the year in Mock Trial. We’re still dancing in SWEET 16! Pocket constitution to captain Michaela Olah. Here’s our score sheet. pic.twitter.com/lNO2NbJ79B

— Michael Walsh (@MockWalsh) March 1, 2020

And the 2020 FHS Mock Trial season ends with a loss in the Sweet 16 this afternoon. Heads held high, your coaches are so proud of you. In the loss, it was probably your best collective performance of the year. All 9s and 10s once again. Pocket constitution to Ava Farnan! pic.twitter.com/SBmvgor8zq

— Michael Walsh (@MockWalsh) March 1, 2020

2020 Hockomock Champs!! pic.twitter.com/8DUAFl51kF

— FHS CHEER (@FHScheer_) March 1, 2020

2020 Hockomock Champs!! pic.twitter.com/8DUAFl51kF