Franklin Matters

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

"local performing arts centers were recently awarded grants"

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

"Jennifer Lawless of the Mass Cultural Council said the next round of grants will tentatively open for applications in March 2021.

Through this grant, ātac was eligible to have 47 of its 145 performances reimbursed – representing about 32% of its overall performances. Through the formula, they received a grant for $1,000.

Next to ātac, two other local arts centers were awarded grants – the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) and the Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN).

FPAC was awarded $12,101, with 69 of its 90 overall performances eligible for reimbursement, or about 77% of its performances. Overall, the organization paid $104,211 in fees to their performers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200608/local-performing-arts-venues-awarded-grants-to-fund-canceled-performances

FPAC - https://www.fpaconline.com/

the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC)

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #4 - 6/04/20 Recap

As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

The Twitter hashtag can be found online #fincom0604
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom0604&src=typed_query

Getting ready for real time reporting for final Budget hearing for FY21 tonight #fincom0604
Agenda for today's session can be found https://franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2020-06-04_finance_committee_agenda_2.pdf #fincom0604
FinComm Chair Mike Dufour opens meeting, real time reporting underway #fincom0604 - he runs through Committee roll call and that of staff, as well as meeting protocol
Motion to approve minutes of 6/2 meeting, seconded, passed via roll call 7-0 (2 absent) #fincom0604
First up Health budget, inspections happening, this year construction underway already funded by banks, etc. Next year (FY21) would be different given the re-opening response/ramp up #fincom0604 correction on vote shd be 8-0 (1 absent)
Currently behind on food inspections, usually do 2x year, stopped in March, behind by 67, consultant will help catch up #fincom0604
Karen Alves retiring later this year, Erin Rogers replacing Karen and overlap for some months as transition
Senior Center, no questions from committee tonight. #fincom0604 veteran's services, Dale in joint venture with Avon and Norfolk County, added Deborah as part of contract renewal to provide the additional support and services, added Purple Heart Community
Next up recreation, 25% reduction due to pandemic situation, could increase depending upon opening stats and state funding #fincom0604 rec Dept is generally self funding as registration fees provide funding
Next up, historical museum - Rebecca Finnegan, the Town archivist online tonight. Next historical commission, minor amount. Cultural Council up next, budget pays for mini grants #fincom0604
Next up cultural district Committee, small amount $1,000.0 only 2 other communities in MetroWest so we are in select company. #fincom0604 next up debt service, chart with current line items covered shown
Next up Library; last year got off the waiver list with increase in budget by meeting the minimum annual requirements, #fincom0604 this amount for FY 21 is exact amount for MAR, if further reductions required this would be in jeopardy
Growth in attendance and circulation provided in data. Sign out front was changed #fincom0604
A good health insurance advisory group helps to coordinate the plans and changes across the bargaining units, market research, plan design, cost better managed, huge uptick in HSA option from employees #fincom0604
Next up Liability insurance, safety committee works to reduce workplace injuries through training, awareness, the success has generated awards and reductions in cost #fincom0604
GIC is always considered as a bench mark but it generally doesn't work out better for us, they usually have less benefits and more costs, and once in you're stuck for three years. #fincom0604 we get to control our destiny better this way
First vote to approve budget as proposed, passed 8-0 via roll call #fincom0604 additional items for vote in this doc https://franklinma.gov/town-budget/files/fin-com-docs motion made, seconded, passed 8-0. final resolution voting authorization passed 8-0 via roll call
Next up capital funding authorization to cover $15m as detailed in the sheet shown #fincom0604 in the tech line item, Chromebooks like will not have to be funded, may be able to get a grant to cover those. This list other than top item is not a priority list order
Good to have the capacity for funding, a low interest rate, likely lower construction costs and a good bond rating, we could bring a project on to accomplish something for less #fincom0604 retirement assessment increase not unsurprising, concerning
Thanks to Mike Dufour for his service with FinCom, he is not returning next fiscal year. He acknowledges a privilege to serve in this role. Motion to adjourn, via roll call 8-0.#fincom0604
This completes reporting tonight, catch you all next time! #fincom0604

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #4 - 6/04/20 Recap

Monday, June 8, 2020

Options for Watching the School Committee meeting 6/09/20

1/3 - Three options for watching School Committee meeting Tuesday "This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29"

2/3 - Three options for watching School Committee meeting Tuesday = Follow Zoom link in School Committee agenda doc https://www.franklinps.net/.../uploads/scagenda_6-9-20.pdf

3/3 - Three options for watching School Committee meeting Tuesday = use your web browser to watch the Live Stream https://franklinma.gov/home/pages/live-meetings-stream

Options for Watching the School Committee meeting 6/09/20

A Minister, a Priest, and a Rabbi walk into a Radio Station ...

And a scintillating discussion ensues.

FM #291 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 291 in the series.

This special edition shares the audio of the new Franklin Public Radio show that was broadcast for the first time Sunday morning, June 7: “A Minister, a Priest and a Rabbi walk into a Radio Station”

This new program is an interview format with Rabbi Tom Alpert (Temple Etz Chaim), Rev. Kathy McAdams (St. John's Episcopal Church) and Rev Eric Cherry (First Universalist Society of Franklin). Jay Horrigan and Pandora Carlucci co-facilitate the discussion. Pete Fasciano and Keith Palmieri handle the technical details.

This first conversation covers the following questions:

What’s the latest on how your congregation is facing the COVID pandemic?
What are your thoughts on the social and religious response to George Floyd’s murder?

The recording runs about 28 minutes, so let’s listen to the first of this new show: https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HWRz6hF7

A Priest, A Rabbi and A Minister Walk Into A Radio Station ...

Faith Flaherty: Gone But Not Forgotten

"During the COVID-19 quarantine, I have been walking for exercise. It may seem strange, but my favorite places to walk are cemeteries. I find it interesting to walk through the cemeteries in Franklin.

The Union St. cemetery has grave stones from the 1700s. There are some very recognizable names:

Oliver Dean, who founded Dean College
Fletcher family, there’s a softball field named after the family
Ray family, funded Franklin Library - the first library in the country

Then there’s the Beaver Street Cemetery. It is really called St. Mary’s Cemetery because the parishioners of St. Mary’s purchased the land in 1864 because Catholics weren’t allowed to be buried in the Union St. cemetery. But that was then and this is now. Now anyone can be buried in either the Union St. or Beaver St. cemetery. I found it interesting to notice the Irish and Italian names on the St. Mary’s grave stones in contrast to the English names on the Union St. cemetery tombstones.

Cemeteries hold the history of civilization. These two cemeteries reflect the mindset of our Puritan ancestors who left England for freedom to practice their own religion and then in turn didn’t practice what they preached. In St. Mary’s cemetery we see the oldest gravestones engraved with Irish surnames, reflecting the Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine in the mid-1800s. Soon overwhelming the Irish names are Italian names. Names that only Franklinites could pronounce:

Mucciarone
Bucchanio
D’Aniello

St. Mary’s cemetery has a beautiful memorial garden and a columbarium. A columbarium is a wall of vaults containing the cremated remains of the deceased. It is a peaceful area for respectful reflection.

There’s one more cemetery that is perhaps the most interesting of all, albeit the smallest one. It is on Green St., Franklin. The official name is the City Mills Historical Cemetery. That area is part of the City Mills section of Norfolk/Franklin, hence the name. Some of the people buried there:

Samuel Allen 15 Mar 1778 Franklin, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA - 14 Jan 1866
Edward Gay Jr 2 Jul 1696 Wrentham, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts Bay - 28 Feb 1758
Timothy Hawes 21 Jul 1722 Wrentham, Suffolk, Province of Massachusetts Bay - 8 Mar 1772
Rhoda (Mason) Allen abt 1795 Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA - 15 Apr 1862
James Shepardson 24 Jul 1789 Wrentham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States - 8 Mar 1863

There are other reasons to enjoy walking in these cemeteries besides historical interest. There’s the peace and quiet. The roads are paved so one can wholly concentrate on their reflections. The epitaphs on the gravestones are interesting and some are funny. (That will be a future story.) The architecture, material, and choice of design offer imaginative stories about people’s lives. It certainly makes you wonder what happened between birth date - death date. Just imagine! An entire life is represented by a dash!

Soon many more graves and cremains will be added to our cemeteries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A walk through the cemeteries will put your priorities in order. What will your legacy be?"

Faith Flaherty

Union St cemetery

SAFE Coalition announces PEERS Scholarship award: Emma Kucich

Each year, the SAFE Coalition is honored to provide one graduating senior with the PEERS Scholarship. This scholarship fund was established and donated by the Sacchetti Family in close collaboration with the SAFE Coalition and Franklin High School.

We are Extremely excited to offer this annual $5,000 scholarship award to a graduating FHS Senior in recognition of their selfless and often underappreciated and unrecognized commitment to raising awareness and educating and influencing their PEERS about substance use and prevention.

This year, we are proud to announce Emma Kucich as the PEERS Scholarship award recipient. Emma has been participating in the coalition for three years, has been an active member in meetings and programming, has been a driving force for her peers at school to seek additional mental health support, is a strong advocate for peer recovery services, and has dedicated her last summer before college to interning with the Coalition.

Emma is a bright light, a warm conversation, and someone who we know will share the spirit of recovery and support to all those who cross her path. We are so happy to award this scholarship to Emma Kucich. University of Massachusetts Amherst is so lucky to have you!