St Mary's: Important Information Regarding the Religious Education Office

Religious Education Office to close 

Friday, April 17 -- Sunday, July 26

Good Morning,

We hope that everyone is doing well and making the most of these trying times. Together we will get through this! We have had to make the difficult decision to close the Religious Education Office from the end of the business day on Friday, April 17th--Sunday, July 26th. We will reopen bright and early on Monday, July 27th. It is our hope that we will be able to see everyone in person and this will all be over. July 27th will also be the day that our registration for 2020/2021 begins. It will run from Monday, July 27th--Thursday, August 27th. An email will go out to you on July 27th and you will be able to register 24/7 using the online link.

I will continue to respond to your emails this week. During the time that we are not in the office, all emails will be forwarded to the Rectory Office and answered as best as possible. Full and complete answers will be available after we return on Monday, July 27. In the case of an emergency please contact Trish Murphy at 508-528-0020 (ext. 10) and the voicemail will be returned as soon as possible.

During this time Roger Gullo, Confirmation Director, will still be available by email (confirmation.director@stmarysfranklin.org) for the Confirmation students and their families.

We miss all of our families and will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. Please be safe and stay healthy!

Karen Ackles + Liz Bertoni

St Mary's: Important Information Regarding the Religious Education Office

Part of Clark Cutler McDermott coming to life to save lives

From State Rep Jeff Roy's YouTube channel, he shares a segment from the Boston Fox station. The text I have seen on Facebook attributed to Town Council Chair Tom Mercer who is also part of the video segment. Tom and I have also been in contact to schedule an wfpr.fm/Franklin Matters radio show on this topic.

"The former Clark Cutler McDermott Plant is trying to be brought back to life to help in the growing need for PPE’s. This project started just one week ago when I received a call from a gentleman inquiring about current ownership of the former Clark Cutler McDermott Company as he was a former employee of CCM years ago but was familiar with the equipment that was once in the building. He explained to me what he was looking to do (Make PPE's).

Our Town Administrator and I were able to connect him with the current owners of the property Rick Kaplan and Casey Killam. After this connection was made I called Representative Jeffrey Roy who is not only our State Representative, but the House Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus which encourages “Making it in Massachusetts.” Jeff was able to connect them with the right people at the State Level to get the ball rolling there. He enlisted the support of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership (MassMEP) to help navigate the process.

As of this post the group led by Norb Jankowski who now lives in Michigan and Peter Berzin from Pennsylvania both arrived in Franklin earlier this week. We have met as a group on Tuesday and again yesterday. In the last few days they formed an LLC with the help of Franklin attorney Michael Doherty. They have identified a material supplier in Rhode Island and are now reaching out to a stitchery so that once these PPE’s are die cut at the CCM plant, they would go to a stitching plant and then initially right out to our Massachusetts & Rhode Island front line first responders and Hospitals.

They feel they will be able to produce over 100,000 PPE’s weekly from Franklin’s CCM facility. There still are a few more steps to be made before this project comes to fruition. They are keeping the Town updated on their progress daily. This is a wonderful opportunity for our great community to help in this worldwide crisis.

Two very special “Thank You’s” need to go to Rick Kaplan & Casey Killam of Remax Real Estate who have made their property available to this group and to Representative Jeff Roy for once again jumping in and making the State connections necessary to help get this entity up and running hopefully in record time.

https://youtu.be/TXrtEyLhR70



https://twitter.com/jeffroy/status/1250095036194271234?s=20

FHS athletes competed in Virtual running contest

Great work to athletes who competed in the Virtual Knights of Columbus 4xMile❗️ It’s not easy to run solo. Way to focus and continue to work hard🙌🏽 @BayStateRun pic.twitter.com/mgV3utcsvI

— FHS Boys XC+TF (@FHSPanthersTF) April 12, 2020

Shared via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FHSPanthersTF/status/1249469197677142024?s=09

FHS athletes competed in Virtual running contest

URCC Member Stone Ridge Grill and Bar Feeds First Responders on Easter Sunday

United Regional Chamber of Commerce Member (UCCC) Stone Ridge Grill and Bar's (SRGB) Chef Rob Nihil prepped and cooked dozens of family Easter dinners on Friday, getting everything perfect for pick up on Saturday. And owner Peter Kalemkeridis said that they sold out of every meal.

After that 13-hour shift, Chef Rob spent Saturday prepping and cooking 50 meals that SRGB supplied to local first responders at the COVID-19 Test Site in Foxboro. It was their way of saying thank you to the brave heroes who are on the front lines, keeping us safe.

SRGB hasn’t been open in Plainville for a year, but they have already shown that they value our community and its first responders.

SRGB is at 60 Man Mar Drive in Plainville. They are offering take-out, delivery, and curbside pick-up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some of the meals that were supplied to local first responders

 

Stone Ridge Grill and Bar Feeds First Responders on Easter Sunday

GoFundMe for Joyce Family

From the Wicked Local/Franklin, article of interest for Franklin:

"A GoFundMe effort is underway after a Franklin home was lost to a fire on April 11.

No one was injured in the fire at 84 Populatic St., but the house was destroyed, said Fire Captain Chuck Allen.

A mother and her 6-month-old daughter were able to make it out of the house, according to the GoFundMe page set up for them by resident Cheryl Hobbs.

“Funds donated will help this family get back on their feet,” the fundraising page reads. “As of right now, they have no permanent address, but (are) staying with family.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20200414/gofundme-started-to-help-franklin-family-after-home-lost-to-fire

"On April 11th, the night before Easter, a mother and her 6 month old daughter barely made it out of their home, here in Franklin, due to a fire which has destroyed their home.

Funds donated will help this family get back on their feet. As of right now, they have no permanent address, but is staying with family. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

We know it is hard to during this Covid 19 crisis, however, these donations make it easier for the family. Thank you, all in advance for any help, as it is greatly appreciated and the family is forever Grateful."

https://www.gofundme.com/f/hu23gt-the-joyce-family

GoFundMe for Joyce Family

 

FM_#245 Josh Vanada, President, URCC YPO 4/07/20 (audio)

FM #245 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 245 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Josh Vanada, President of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Org (YPO). We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about the revamping of the YPO focused around the 3 C’s (community, connection, and continuing education). The web site is being redone along with that of the United Chamber’s page. 

In the meantime, updates can be found on their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/UnitedRegionalYoungProfessionals/

The recording runs about 14 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Josh Vanada.   Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H1nxNrC7




--------------

United Regional Chamber of Commerce page http://www.unitedregionalchamber.org/

Updates can be found on their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/UnitedRegionalYoungProfessionals/

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

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We 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 like 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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM_#245 Josh Vanada, President, URCC YPO 4/07/20 (audio)

Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - Proposal - First Reading

From the Town Council agenda document for Wednesday, April 15, 2020:


10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

Bylaw Amendment 20-857: Chapter 82, Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - First Reading (Motion to move Bylaw Amendment 20-857 to a second reading - Majority Vote)
 
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-857_municipal_service_fees_-_trash.pdf

Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - Proposal - First Reading

The full agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/april-15-town-council-agenda-remote-meeting

The agenda can also be found in one LARGE PDF file (~59MB - can take time to download)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/04-15-2020_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

This was forecast in January. Readers may recall my "Watch List' for 2020
https://www.franklinmatters.org/search?q=%22watch+list%27%2C+2020


Exhibit one: the Town Council's proposed 'goals and objectives' doc fortunately captures most of these in the first Fiscal section:

Fiscal

● Approval of Annual Capital Improvement Plan -- FY20 and FY21
● Approval of a balanced Operating Budget -- FY21 and FY22

o Closely monitor expected budget shortfalls in both FY21 and FY22

● Establish Ad Hoc Subcommittee to evaluate storm water fee analysis

o Present analysis to the full Council

● Determine Water rate increase for FY20/FY21, notably for the water treatment plant and wells loan package
● Determine Sewer rate increase, if needed, for FY20/FY21
● Seek new borrowing capacity for municipal and school building capital improvements and sidewalks
● Discussion on the Community Preservation Act
● Discussion on Trash & Recycling account
● Continue to ask for OPEB solutions with state officials
● Explore new revenue options, generally

 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list_6.html