Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Once Upon A Town: Flax Block - Franklin MA

Join Eamon McCarthy Earls and Joe Landry as the talk about "The Flax Block is located on the town bridge."
Video link => https://youtu.be/vdN-kjWSaVg



Virtual book discussion scheduled for Wednesday evenings

St John's Episcopal Church invites you to join us for a book discussion by Zoom

We will read and discuss together The Book of Joy : Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams

Wednesdays from 5:30-7 PM

  • April 29 (Day 1)
  • May 6 (Days 2 &;3)
  • May 13 (pillars 1-7)
  • May 20 (remainder, incl practices)


Please email Rector@StJohnsFranklinMA.org to request a Zoom invitation.


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The Rev. Kathy McAdams, Rector
St. John's Episcopal Church, Franklin, MA
www.StJohnsFranklinMA.org


Virtual book discussion scheduled for Wednesday evenings
Virtual book discussion scheduled for Wednesday evenings

"want to be prepared to move ahead once the disease threat recedes"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest to Franklin
"Democratic governors in the Northeast — as well as Republican Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker — and along the West Coast on Monday announced separate state compacts to coordinate one of their biggest challenges in the weeks to come: How to begin reopening society amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The governors made separate announcements just hours after President Trump said on Twitter that it was his decision to decide when to “open up the states."

The governors did not announce specific plans on how to scale back stay-at-home orders or reopen businesses. Instead, both groups said they would coordinate those decisions while first considering the health of residents. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said it could take time."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/13/business/cuomo-says-northeast-governors-will-coordinate-reopenings-after-coronavirus-outbreak-subsides/

Gov Charlie Baker spoke during a media availability at the State House to discuss updates relating to COVID-19 on Monday in Boston, MA.Nancy Lane
Gov Charlie Baker spoke during a media availability at the State House to discuss updates relating to COVID-19 on Monday in Boston, MA.Nancy Lane


The "What Trump Can Teach Us About Constitutional Law" is a worthy and timely listen. Law Professor Elizabeth Joh discusses the separation of powers between the President and the States. Our current president may say anything he wants, but as we have heard, not all of it is actually true.   
"During a health crisis, what is the government allowed to do? As the novel coronavirus spreads across America, there have been closures and lockdowns across the country. In this episode, we look to history to understand who has the power to quarantine, and how the office of the president can be used to slow down a pandemic."   https://trumpconlaw.com/39-quarantine-powers

https://trumpconlaw.com/39-quarantine-powers
https://trumpconlaw.com/39-quarantine-powers

Please Respond Online Today to the 2020 Census

We have reached 60.6% Franklin, there is still time to go beyond 80% (actually did 79.9% in the 2010 Census)

"The 2020 Census is underway and more households across America are responding every day. Over 70 million households have responded to date, representing 48.1% of all households in America. Make sure that you and your friends and family are included in this once-a-decade count.

Help us spread the word: Everyone can respond to the 2020 Census online in one of 13 languages, with assistance available in many more.

Please note: About 64 million households across the nation will receive a paper questionnaire in the coming days. If you receive mail after you have responded, you should disregard it. It was sent before we received your response."
https://2020census.gov/en.html


Visit the 2020 Census response rate map 
https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html? 

Please Respond Online Today to the 2020 Census
Please Respond Online Today to the 2020 Census

FTC Alert: Looking for work after Coronavirus layoffs?




Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission
by Lisa Weintraub Schifferle - Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education

Have you been laid off due to the Coronavirus? Or maybe your small business shut down? Today, the FTC kicks off a series of blogs with tips about handling the financial impact of the Coronavirus. 

These days, many people start by looking for ways to make money working from home. If you're eyeing a work-at-home gig, here are some things to keep in mind.

Read more 
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/04/looking-work-after-coronavirus-layoffs

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



FTC Alert: Looking for work after Coronavirus layoffs?
FTC Alert: Looking for work after Coronavirus layoffs?

"the likely result is a generation of students forced to play catch-up"

From The Washington Post, an article of interest for Franklin
"Only weeks after the coronavirus pandemic forced American schools online, education leaders across the country have concluded that millions of children’s learning will be severely stunted and are planning unprecedented steps to help them catch up.

In Miami, school will extend into the summer and start earlier in the fall, at least for some students. In Cleveland, schools may shrink the curriculum to cover only core subjects. In Columbia, Mo., this year’s lessons will be woven into next year’s.

Some experts suggest holding back more kids, a controversial idea, while others propose a half-grade step-up for some students, an unconventional one. A national teachers union is proposing a massive national summer school program.
“We have to have a recovery plan for education,” said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. “I’m really worried that people think schools and colleges just flipped to digital and everything’s fine and we can just return to normal. That’s simply not the case.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/online-learning-summer-school-coronavirus/2020/04/11/de11c278-7adc-11ea-a130-df573469f094_story.html


Found via the Twitterverse:
https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1249669550557274113?s=09

"the likely result is a generation of students forced to play catch-up"
Terrell Bell looks at a learning guide he picked up for his little sister at John H. Webster Elementary School in Philadelphia. Philadelphia public schools are still in the process of moving students online, while districts across the country are already counting on “historic” learning loss for low-income students. (Matt Rourke/AP)

In the News: "at-times chaotic coronavirus pandemic response"; fire destroys house in Franklin

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"After the nation’s top disease response agency posted orders keeping cruise ships docked last Wednesday night, extending the ban through August, the White House Coronavirus Task Force stepped in to cut it by 20 days.

When the no-sail order reappeared on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website hours later, its language had been softened: Ships can sail again in July, and an explicit warning that they could be docked even longer had been deleted, according to emails and internal documents obtained by USA TODAY.

“Sorry to do this, but the Office of the Vice President has instructed us to pull the No Sail Order Extension from the website immediately,” a CDC senior official wrote to staff just after 7 a.m. Thursday, the morning after the notice had been posted.

The 11th-hour interference is another example of the administration’s at-times chaotic coronavirus pandemic response and a misguided decision to allow the cruise lines to police themselves during a national health crisis, critics said."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200413/white-house-task-force-quietly-softened-cruise-ship-no-sail-restrictions-after-months-of-industry-deference


"No one was injured in a fire at 84 Populatic St. on Saturday night, but the house was destroyed, said Fire Captain Chuck Allen.
At around 10 p.m. Saturday, the fire department received a call that they saw smoke coming from the second story, Allen said. 
When firefighters arrived, the family was waiting outside. Flames had engulfed both the first and second stories of the home, Allen said, and it took two hours to completely extinguish the fire.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200413/house-a-total-loss-in-franklin-fire