Eamon McCarthy Earls and Joe Landry talk about the days "Long before big box stores or the opening of the first supermarkets, Franklin residents turned to small grocery stores in downtown to get their food"Video link = https://youtu.be/Mq1oQkglsZk
Friday, April 3, 2020
Once Upon a Town: Grocery Stores - Franklin MA
Jefferson Spirit Day - Slideshow (YouTube)
Jefferson Elementary School had their "spirit day" this week, and this video/slideshow shares the results https://youtu.be/13Qdk_x1tHI
Some MA state parks will be open more during the coronavirus outbreak
From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200402/ashland-natick-and-hopkinton-state-parks-will-be-open-more-during-coronavirus-outbreak
Hiking in MA State Parks https://www.mass.gov/hiking-in-massachusetts-state-parks
"All coastal beach reservation parking areas managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation will be closed to reduce groups of people from gathering during the coronavirus outbreak......
Gov. Charlie Baker issued the emergency order that goes into effect Friday at noon.
DCR will open select state parks early and expand access to other parks to provide additional open space opportunities for residents, the governor said. DCR will also be limiting the amount of parking spaces available at certain high-visitation state parks.
DCR’s ice rinks, visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, fitness areas, athletic fields, athletic courts, golf courses and bathroom facilities will remain closed until May 4"Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200402/ashland-natick-and-hopkinton-state-parks-will-be-open-more-during-coronavirus-outbreak
Hiking in MA State Parks https://www.mass.gov/hiking-in-massachusetts-state-parks
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| Hiking in MA State Parks |
Medicare and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know
From the Social Security Administration (SSA):
https://blog.ssa.gov/medicare-and-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/
Visit the SSA COVID-19 page https://www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/
"With the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), being informed about your Medicare coverage is more important than ever.Continue reading the article online
Medicare recently expanded its coverage of telehealth services. Telehealth enables beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. It also helps frontline clinicians stay safe themselves while treating people.
If your doctor orders a COVID-19 test for you, Medicare covers all of the costs. You should not have any co-pay, no matter what Medicare plan you’re enrolled in. There’s no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time, but when one becomes available, Medicare will cover it."
https://blog.ssa.gov/medicare-and-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/
Visit the SSA COVID-19 page https://www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/
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| Medicare and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know |
IRS issues warning about Coronavirus-related scams; watch out for schemes tied to economic impact payments
The Internal Revenue Service today (4/02/20) urged taxpayers to be on the lookout for a surge of calls and email phishing attempts about the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. These contacts can lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft.
"We urge people to take extra care during this period. The IRS isn't going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "That also applies to surprise emails that appear to be coming from the IRS. Remember, don't open them or click on attachments or links. Go to IRS.gov for the most up-to-date information."
Taxpayers should watch not only for emails but text messages, websites and social media attempts that request money or personal information.
"History has shown that criminals take every opportunity to perpetrate a fraud on unsuspecting victims, especially when a group of people is vulnerable or in a state of need," said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Don Fort. "While you are waiting to hear about your economic impact payment, criminals are working hard to trick you into getting their hands on it. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division is working hard to find these scammers and shut them down, but in the meantime, we ask people to remain vigilant."
Don't fall prey to Coronavirus tricks; retirees among potential targets
The IRS and its Criminal Investigation Division have seen a wave of new and evolving phishing schemes against taxpayers. In most cases, the IRS will deposit economic impact payments into the direct deposit account taxpayers previously provided on tax returns. Those taxpayers who have previously filed but not provided direct deposit information to the IRS will be able to provide their banking information online to a newly designed secure portal on IRS.gov in mid-April.
If the IRS does not have a taxpayer's direct deposit information, a check will be mailed to the address on file. Taxpayers should not provide their direct deposit or other banking information for others to input on their behalf into the secure portal.
The IRS also reminds retirees who don't normally have a requirement to file a tax return that no action on their part is needed to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. Seniors should be especially careful during this period. The IRS reminds retirees – including recipients of Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099 − that no one from the agency will be reaching out to them by phone, email, mail or in person asking for any kind of information to complete their economic impact payment, also sometimes referred to as rebates or stimulus payments. The IRS is sending these $1,200 payments automatically to retirees – no additional action or information is needed on their part to receive this.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that scammers may:
Reporting Coronavirus-related or other phishing attempts
Those who receive unsolicited emails, text messages or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), should forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
Taxpayers are encouraged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone. Learn more about reporting suspected scams by going to the Report Phishing and Online Scams page on IRS.gov.
Official IRS information about the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impact payments can be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus) page on IRS.gov. The page is updated quickly when new information is available.
This was shared from the IRS page
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-warning-about-coronavirus-related-scams-watch-out-for-schemes-tied-to-economic-impact-payments
"We urge people to take extra care during this period. The IRS isn't going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "That also applies to surprise emails that appear to be coming from the IRS. Remember, don't open them or click on attachments or links. Go to IRS.gov for the most up-to-date information."
Taxpayers should watch not only for emails but text messages, websites and social media attempts that request money or personal information.
"History has shown that criminals take every opportunity to perpetrate a fraud on unsuspecting victims, especially when a group of people is vulnerable or in a state of need," said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Don Fort. "While you are waiting to hear about your economic impact payment, criminals are working hard to trick you into getting their hands on it. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division is working hard to find these scammers and shut them down, but in the meantime, we ask people to remain vigilant."
Don't fall prey to Coronavirus tricks; retirees among potential targets
The IRS and its Criminal Investigation Division have seen a wave of new and evolving phishing schemes against taxpayers. In most cases, the IRS will deposit economic impact payments into the direct deposit account taxpayers previously provided on tax returns. Those taxpayers who have previously filed but not provided direct deposit information to the IRS will be able to provide their banking information online to a newly designed secure portal on IRS.gov in mid-April.
If the IRS does not have a taxpayer's direct deposit information, a check will be mailed to the address on file. Taxpayers should not provide their direct deposit or other banking information for others to input on their behalf into the secure portal.
The IRS also reminds retirees who don't normally have a requirement to file a tax return that no action on their part is needed to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. Seniors should be especially careful during this period. The IRS reminds retirees – including recipients of Forms SSA-1099 and RRB-1099 − that no one from the agency will be reaching out to them by phone, email, mail or in person asking for any kind of information to complete their economic impact payment, also sometimes referred to as rebates or stimulus payments. The IRS is sending these $1,200 payments automatically to retirees – no additional action or information is needed on their part to receive this.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that scammers may:
- Emphasize the words "Stimulus Check" or "Stimulus Payment." The official term is economic impact payment
- Ask the taxpayer to sign over their economic impact payment check to them
- Ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact payment
- Suggest that they can get a tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on the taxpayer's behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person
- Mail the taxpayer a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount, then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it
Reporting Coronavirus-related or other phishing attempts
Those who receive unsolicited emails, text messages or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), should forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
Taxpayers are encouraged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone. Learn more about reporting suspected scams by going to the Report Phishing and Online Scams page on IRS.gov.
Official IRS information about the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impact payments can be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus) page on IRS.gov. The page is updated quickly when new information is available.
This was shared from the IRS page
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-warning-about-coronavirus-related-scams-watch-out-for-schemes-tied-to-economic-impact-payments
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| Coronavirus Tax Relief (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus) page on IRS.gov |
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Franklin Public Schools: Remote Learning Closure Update / Remote Learning Frameworks
April 2, 2020
Dear Franklin Families,
We want you to know that we are thinking about our students and families at this difficult time. We are all missing our regular routine and our connections with the children who attend Franklin Public Schools.
Remote Learning Update
As you are aware, Governor Baker extended school closure through May 4 and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provided districts with updated guidance on remote learning. We have been spending time aligning to this updated guidance and are prepared to begin phase II of Remote Learning on Monday, April 6. There is a “soft launch” of the learning plan tomorrow, April 3, where teachers who have yet to connect with students this week via Google Meet will be doing so.
We are pleased to share the Franklin Public Schools Remote Learning Framework, accessible by the following link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fID4qLBUoxvsQ28MaqFDzm-kpnxdXEXmUxNQPn1vfAI/edit?usp=sharing
An important distinction from our phase I message is that student participation is expected. Connection to school and educators is very important for students at all times, and especially now with the disruption we are experiencing. We recognize that our students, families, educators, and leaders are doing something they have never done before. As a result, we know that it will be imperfect. Additionally, we know there must be flexibility within the structure; it is a balance we are trying to strike.
Questions
District administrators will be holding Google Meet calls by level on Sunday, April 5, 2020, in order to share some brief thoughts about the plan and to answer questions.
We invite you to ask questions ahead of time by completing the following form: https://forms.gle/vFCCkr6jBW9oywMTA
We will hold these virtual meetings at the following times, which you can access via a live stream:
ECDC/Elementary Schools Sunday April 5, 2020 at 5 PM
Live stream link: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/6b95aa95-32ff-48f6-a425-07edcb108b65
Middle Schools Sunday April 5, 2020 at 6 PM
Live stream link: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/1c015a61-de41-4c92-9f32-27984c2b337b
High School Sunday April 5, 2020 at 7 PM
Live stream link: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/39cd3395-eb78-4ddd-a365-c993f159047b
Questions will be answered during the presentation, which we will record and publish to our Coronavirus portal. Additionally, the form will be open during the presentation to ask questions at that time.
We will be monitoring Remote Learning over time, seeking feedback from all groups, and making adjustments along the way.
You can expect to hear from me again tomorrow, prior to the weekend.
Kind regards,
Sara E. Ahern
Superintendent of Schools
For Frameworks and all translations
https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent/pages/messages-superintendent-regarding-coronavirus
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| https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/franklin-public-schools-covid-19-closure-information-portal |
Great American Gift Card Purchase - Friday, April 3
Please join us in support local small businesses by participating in the Great American Gift Card Purchase
https://www.facebook.com/events/628613174537145/
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| Great American Gift Card Purchase - Friday, April 3 |
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