FM #253 Senior Ctr Nurse Trish Collatos 4/23/20 (audio)

FM #253 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 253 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Patricia (Trish) Collatos, the nurse at the Franklin Senior Center. The conversation was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talked about some of the virtual services provided by the Senior Center, some are being added, about some mental challenges to keep the synapses going. They are beginning to look at what it would look like to re-open, how many could come in, what meals and the seating would be like, etc.

WE talked about Trish’s experience giving blood recently and how the need is there to donate blood if you can. The process is set up to take blood safely and to adhere to all the requirements social distancing, etc.

The recording runs almost about 28 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Trish   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDbXQ9s7




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Senior Center updates during this pandemic
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/senior-center-resources-and-support

Most recent update: https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/alerts/update4-24.pdf

The Town of Franklin Senior Center page https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

To donate blood find a location and date/time at Red Cross Blood
 https://www.redcrossblood.org/

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!

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FM #253 Senior Ctr Nurse Trish Collatos 4/23/20 (audio)

Department Spotlight: Finance Department and the Treasurer/Collector

A new Department Spotlight is available! Find it here and stay informed and connected with Town operations and services! #spotlight #finance #treasurercollector #learnmore

"This Town of Franklin spotlight will cover two departments that work together very closely, the Finance Department and the Treasurer/Collector. Department Heads Chris Sandini, Finance Director and Kerri Bertone, Treasurer/Collector, manage and oversee all of the financial aspects of doing business in our Town.

Chris has been Franklin's Finance Director since January 2018, having worked in the role for 23 years and as an auditor of municipalities for 10 years prior. The main functions of the Finance Department are to maintain the general ledger, manage payroll across the municipality payroll and handle all accounts payable.

Kerri Bertone has been the Treasurer/Collector since August of 2017. Prior to her employment in Franklin, Kerri worked in the private sector at Putnam Investments for 21 years as a senior operations manager. She joined Franklin's team in 2016 as an assistant.

Franklin is known for being pro-active with staff succession planning, and Kerri was completely prepared to assume the role after the legendary Town Treasurer/Collector, Jim Dacey, retired after nearly two decades in the position."

Department Spotlight: Finance Department and the Treasurer/Collector

Find the full set of info on this Spotlight on the Town of Franklin page https://t.co/nhLAfsgdcW

This was shared from Twitter https://t.co/a4g2KXfBp1

Senior Center is collecting cards, notes and protective masks

"The Senior Center is collecting cards, notes and protective masks to distribute to our elderly and disabled community members. A donation box will be made available beginning this afternoon. Thank you in advance!"

@FranklinSrCntr #community #seniors #connections https://t.co/IFoB1y4eaN

Senior Center is collecting cards, notes and protective masks

Shared via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1255488586293686273?s=03

Dr. Greg Chiklis and MRN Diagnostics in the News

From the Franklin Downtown Partnership:

"MRN Diagnostics, a Franklin-based company and a member of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, has developed a rapid COVID-19 antibody test. Last week, Dr. Greg Chiklis and other researchers at MRN Diagnostics received emergency FDA approval for a tool that could be key in combating the coronavirus. The tests can determine whether you've been exposed to the virus and how much immunity you may have.

Thank you to Dr. Chiklis and his team for being part of the solution. We are excited to report this positive news story."

View the news story reported by NBC News Boston here
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/local-chemist-helps-develop-rapid-covid-19-antibody-test/2114162/

Dr. Greg Chiklis and MRN Diagnostics in the News

Don't Forget to Respond: 2020 Census Reminder Postcards Arriving APRIL 27, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau is beginning to send reminder notice postcards to an estimated 69 million households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. About 53.4% of households across the country have already responded since invitations began arriving in mailboxes on March 12. Those households that have not yet responded to the census will receive an in person visit by a census taker to collect their information later this summer.   Learn More According to the Census Bureau's online response map tracking the nation's participation in the census, almost 79 million households have already responded online, by phone or by mail.  States with the highest response include, (top 5 states). Minnesota 64.0% Iowa 61.2% Wisconsin 60.8% Nebraska 60.7% Michigan 60.0% Counties with 250,000 or more population with the highest response rate include (top 5 counties). Washington County, Minnesota 73.6% Anoka County, Minnesota 72.9% Waukesha County, Wisconsin 72.5% Dakota County, Minnesota 71.8% Macomb County, Michigan 70.2% The Census Bureau strongly encourages the public to respond online at 2020census.gov. Households can respond online in English or 12 other languages or by phone. Households can also respond by mail using the paper questionnaire that was recently mailed to every non-responding address. Households that received a census invitation in the mail and have yet to respond will receive a paper questionnaire by April 30. Households will receive another reminder postcard in the mail between April 27-May 9. The Census Bureau pushed back this mailing to allow the paper questionnaire package to arrive several days ahead of the postcard. The postcard is one reminder in a series of reminders that the Census Bureau has mailed nonresponding households since mid-March urging them to respond. Census takers will visit every address that does not respond on their own to collect responses in person. Responding now to the 2020 Census will minimize the need for a census taker to visit your home later this year. For more information, visit 2020census.gov. No news release associated with this announcement. Tip Sheet only. Help us spread the word about the 2020 Census! Share this on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This Resources for the Media We're here to help you get the most out of our tipsheets, press releases, press kits, and media advisories. If you have a question, contact the Public Information Office at 301-763-3030 or pio@census.gov. TIP SHEET: CB20-CN.42

In the News: “We can’t just pretend everything is normal when we go back to school”

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

At-home schooling brings added challenges for special education students and parents

"Alexis Forgit, a Milford High School special education teacher, said some of her pupils have been automatically putting their backpacks on in the morning, not understanding why they are not going to school.

Several weeks ago, Alysia Butler’s sons could step out of class if they felt overwhelmed. One-on-one paraprofessionals, shared aides, behaviorists and other support staff helped them navigate the tough situations that would surface throughout the day.

Class has since shifted onto the online video-conferencing app Zoom in wake of the coronavirus. For the four boys and other children on the autism spectrum, the video calls can be draining.

“Fifteen minutes in, they have to check out,” said Butler, of Hopedale. “They can’t do that (on a Zoom call). You are expected to be there and present.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200429/for-metrowest-special-education-teachers-and-parents-at-home-schooling-brings-added-challenges


UMass Medical School to furlough 100 employees

"UMass Medical School plans to furlough 100 employees for up to six months in an effort to rein in costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school announced the move in an internal memo on Wednesday.

The furloughed workers account for nearly 2% of the medical school’s workforce of around 6,000 employees. They could be brought back sooner than six months, and will still receive their health care coverage while they are furloughed, according to school spokeswoman Sarah Willey.

The furloughs are expected to go into effect next week. Willey did not have any information on Wednesday about which departments would be affected; Wednesday’s memo said they would happen “across all business units.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200429/umass-medical-school-to-furlough-100-employees

In the conversation with State Rep Jeff Roy shared here recently, we talked of his concern for the higher education institutions who were facing financial and demographic challenges before the pandemic came. UMass Medical was the first of three stops made in Worcester on the day I was fortunate to join him for his tour of all 29 higher ed state schools.

Listen to our conversation here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/fm-255-state-representative-jeffrey-roy.html

 

State Rep Jeff Roy in one of the UMass Medical classroom with an interactive system of the body

In the News: Franklin Food Pantry lands new home; MAPC provides Community Greenhouse Inventory Tool

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

Franklin Food Pantry lands new home

"After three years of searching for a new home, the Franklin Food Pantry has finally found it - and it’s not too far from where it is now.

On Monday, the Franklin Food Pantry announced that it had purchased the former Dante’s Motors Inc. building at 138 East Central St. and that it intended to make that location its new home. The existing pantry is at 43 West Central St., just a mile away.

“It works - it’s close to where we are now and it’s an empty shell,” said pantry Executive Director Lynn Calling of the new building. She said it allows the pantry to continue serving those who find the current location convenient. The new location is just as accessible and has sidewalks leading to it, she said.

The price to acquire 138 East Central St. was $465,000, according to the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. The building is 5,360 square feet, according to real estate website Loopnet.com. By comparison, the current space where the pantry operates is 3,600 square feet."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200429/franklin-food-pantry-lands-new-home-after-decade-at-current-space

Franklin Food Pantry lands new home

MAPC provides Community Greenhouse Inventory Tool

"A regional planning agency has developed a new tool to help communities streamline the way they catalog greenhouse gases emitted in their communities.

The Boston-based Metropolitan Area Planning Council has launched its so-called “Community Greenhouse Inventory Tool” - an Excel document that provides a template for municipalities to track greenhouse gas emissions by sector and year.

Accompanying the Excel document is one that outlines how municipalities can use it.

The agency hopes that by providing centralized documents that outline the state’s approach to calculating greenhouse gas emissions, municipalities will be better equipped to accurately, consistently and uniformly track how residents are emitting greenhouse gases."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200429/tool-to-help-communities-get-grip-on-greenhouse-gases

The tool and guide are available at the organization’s website
https://www.mapc.org/planning101/community-ghg-assessment/

MAPC provides Community Greenhouse Inventory Tool