Facebook LIVE: Franklin's Top dog drawing - July 15 - 10 AM

Who will be Franklin's Top Dog? Find out tomorrow (Weds, July 15) on Facebook Live, when our Town Clerk draws the winner! 

Tune in to our Facebook account here at 10:00 AM 
https://facebook.com/OfficialTownofFranklin

Facebook LIVE: Franklin's Top dog drawing - July 15 - 10 AM

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1283024749472423936?s=09

Party for the Pantry - Virtually fund raising - Thursday, July 16

Join us for our 5th Annual Party For The Pantry to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry! It's been an interesting year, to say the least, and the pantry is in need of supplies now more than ever. So instead of totally cancelling our Party this year, we're bringing the Party to YOUR living room!

Keep an eye on the Amped Up Promotions page (https://www.facebook.com/ampeduppromotions/) for a special link that will connect you to the party on Thursday July 16 starting at 7 PM.

We'll be featuring live performances from local musicians, talk to our friends from the pantry and hear from some special guests.

Donate NOW here...

https://bit.ly/partyforthepantry2020 or
http://weblink.donorperfect.com/PartyforthePantry2020

Live music by...

• Jennifer Tefft
• Jon-Paul Royer
• Matt Zajac
• South Street Six
• Jeff Roy
• Ken DoRosario
• Ken Barney
• Danielle DeLucia

Party for the Pantry Sponsors:

• Colonial Fence Company
• Mint Dental
• Fenton Financial Group
• Draper & Kramer Mortgage
• Cheron Tree Services
• Franklin Matters
• Envoy Mortgage
• Nerds to Go
• Simons
• Infotrust
• Vendenti Motors
• b,Luxe

Follow the Facebook event for updates
https://www.facebook.com/events/981594765612284/
 

Party for the Pantry - Virtually fund raising - Thursday, July 16

Need some good news about covid-19? Here are six reasons for optimism

From The Washington Post, an article of interest for Franklin:

"These days of rising cases, hospitalizations and now surging deaths can be overwhelming. To help get through this storm, we must keep track of positive developments, too. 

Here are six positive developments to remind us that there is hope in this crisis: 

• Therapeutic treatments (in addition to what we already have for the most sick patients) will arrive before vaccines. When someone contracts the novel coronavirus, his or her body’s immune system launches a defense, including producing antibodies that circulate in the blood to help identify infectious invaders. These circulating antibodies offer some protection against future infection (for how long, we still don’t know). Scientists have now engineered clones of these antibodies — what we call monoclonal antibodies — and they are showing to be effective both therapeutically and to prevent infection. They work by attacking the spike protein of the coronavirus, which is how this virus gets into our cells. Stop that from happening, and the virus can’t replicate inside the body."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/14/need-some-good-news-about-covid-19-here-are-six-reasons-optimism/?hpid=hp_opinions-for-wide-side_opinion-card-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans

Coronavirus portal for Franklin   https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/coronavirus-information-portal

From The Washington Post, an article of interest for Franklin

Franklin Residents: Job Opportunities for Fire Dept, DPW

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Firefighter/Paramedic - 2 vacancies 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/ff-paramedic-job-posting-july132020_0.pdf
 

• Stormwater and Environmental Affairs Superintendent - Department of Public Works 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/storm-water-and-environmental-affairs-superintendent-jobposting-july2020_0.pdf
 
If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/application_for_employment_-_town_of_franklin.pdf

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here  http://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Franklin Residents: Job Opportunities for Fire Dept, DPW

In the News: Finance Committee has open position

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

"There’s an opening on the Franklin Finance Committee after its chairman resigned from his role last week.

“I stepped down after 10 years on the committee to pursue other interests,” Michael Dufour told the Daily News after an opening on the committee was posted on the town’s homepage and Facebook page on Thursday. His term wasn’t set to expire for at least another year.

Dufour was first appointed to the committee as a member back in 2010, and later assumed the role of chairman, he said. He didn’t elaborate on the interests he would be pursing after leaving his role, but said he worked alongside dedicated and collaborative Finance Committee members in his time on the committee, and enjoyed working with former Town Administrator Jeff Nutting and current Town Administrator Jamie Hellen.

“I was very fortunate to work with members of the committee and town administration who put the town before themselves,” he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200714/franklin-finance-committee-chairman-resigns

The announcement of the open volunteer position was made last week and share here:

The Franklin Finance Committee is now accepting applications for a new member. The position is for a 3-year term.

Finance Committee meetings are typically held on the 1st Tuesday of every month. As a committee member, you will be involved in the finances and financial procedures of the Town of Franklin and make recommendations as a committee to the Town Council on all financial matters.

For more information on the Finance Committee visit: https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee

To apply visit: http://franklinmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php

Note: I would add this position provides great insights into the entire operations of the Town of Franklin and could be considered a 'must' as preparation for any further elected role (especially Town Council or School Committee) that one might consider.

 

In the News: Finance Committee has open position

In the News: "Trump administration rescinds rule on foreign students"

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

"Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online because of the pandemic.

The decision was announced at the start of a hearing in a federal lawsuit in Boston brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”

A lawyer representing the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said only that the judge’s characterization was correct.

The announcement brings relief to thousands of foreign students who had been at risk of being deported from the country, along with hundreds of universities that were scrambling to reassess their plans for the fall in light of the policy."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200714/trump-administration-rescinds-rule-on-foreign-students

State Rep Jeff Roy had shared the joint letter sent to the President on this matter last week  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/07/state-rep-jeff-roy-we-made-bipartisan.html

"those who care about keeping state government accountable will have their day in court"

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

"Business owners from Hubbardston, Lexington, Burlington, and Marlborough, the pastors of churches in Westfield and Medford, and Ben Haskell, headmaster of Trinity Christian Academy in Hyannis, have sued Gov. Charlie Baker.

They are challenging his authority to declare a COVID-19 state of emergency and to issue the emergency orders that have shaped life in Massachusetts for the last four months.

The state’s highest court will hear arguments in September.

Justice Barbara Lenk, sitting as part of a single-justice session, ordered a lawsuit brought by the New Civil Liberties Alliance to be transferred to the Supreme Judicial Court for arguments in September. The suit revolves around whether a governor can use the powers afforded under the Civil Defense Act to declare an emergency around public health."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200714/supreme-judicial-court-justice-will-hear-lawsuit-brought-by-business-owners-pastors-and-school-headmaster-against-bakers-coronavirus-restrictions

The MA.gov COVID-19 page can be found online https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information#daily-updates-