Sunday, July 26, 2020

Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast July 24, 2020

Hello Everyone!

Next week we have 2 special events along with all of our regular programming! 
Please join us for:

*We are excited to host Molly Rabuffo A Sound Renewal event, sponsored by Benchmark at Forge Hill, on July 27th at 10 AM. Molly Rabuffo is a singer, sound healing artist, and arts administrator. 

Molly Rabuffo
Molly Rabuffo
In this session, Molly will guide listeners through a 30-minute sound journey designed for deep relaxation and energetic clarity. By using various instruments like Biosonic tuning forks, a Shruti box, crystal singing bowls, chimes, and voice, Molly will provide a safe and supportive space for emotional, physical, and mental relief. Find a comfortable place to sit or lay down, plug in your headphones, close your eyes, and enjoy a moment of meditative stillness. 

Following the sound journey, Molly will be available for 15 minutes to answer questions and listen to any reflections you may have about your experience. You may also reach out to her and learn more about her work at mrabuffo.com. Email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend.


Staying Connected
Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc
Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/
Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/

Tips
Tai chi for beginners

Senior Gold - Aerobic workout with GREAT toe tapping music with Paul Eugene

Music
Doo Wop - 50 top hits

Boogie Woogie Piano Tommy Johnson

Classic Rock - Greatest Hits from the 60's and 70's - An hour and a half of your favorite music!

Just for Fun
Virtual tours of some of the world's most stunning libraries

15 incredible abandoned homes

The Badlands National Park - Twenty minute film about the diverse resources and histories associated with Badlands National Park.

People who are at a whole other level of amazing with these skills and tricks!

Have you ever wanted to be hugged by a lion?  Taigan Lion Park in Russia this happens!

Humor
Tony Dayo - Being a parent is harder than being a Navy Seal

Keeping Up Appearances Bloopers and outtakes

Guilty animals - funny videos of animals

Kindness Matters
102 year old dancer sees herself on film for the first time

Therapy dog saves a boys life

Attached you will find:

Love, virtual hugs and good health to you all!  We are still here for you!  Please feel free to email Donna and I with questions, concerns or just to check in!
Ariel and Donna

Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy it.  If you want me to add someone to the email blast list just send me a message with their email in it. 

REMEMBER:
When searching for information about the Coronavirus, COVID-19 please use caution!  Unfortunately there are many false sites that contain viruses and malware that can threaten your computer.  Many look like real sites.  Your best bet is to go directly to the CDC, WHO or your local government page (links below).   

MEMORY CAFE!
For those of you who attend our Memory Cafe events I invite you to learn more about attending a VIRTUAL Memory Cafe through Zoom!  There are many options to choose from.



--
Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator
Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll
There is no act of kindness too small

Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast July 24, 2020
Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast July 24, 2020

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"Unfortunately, the need is likely to be still greater"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin.

"WITH COVID-19 DEATHS and infections remaining low here, enhanced federal unemployment benefits continuing through July, and the state’s emergency freeze on evictions still in effect, it’s possible to believe that Massachusetts is rebounding better than the rest of the country. 
But this is only the eye of the hurricane. The second half of 2020 risks becoming an unfolding catastrophe unless state leaders take decisive action before the end of July. 
The key is to stabilize housing, now. 
So far, the 30,000 undocumented workers in the state who were laid off during the pandemic have borne the brunt of the crisis. Without access to federal assistance, their families have been in dire circumstances. They are scraping by through the heroic efforts of friends, families, neighbors, charitable groups, and churches. 
But on August 1, the problem escalates exponentially, when enhanced federal unemployment benefits end for hundreds of thousands of workers. Even with most employees returning to work, perhaps 120,000 households in the state will have trouble making their housing payments. A survey from the MassINC Polling Group revealed that 29 percent of all renters surveyed had already missed a full or partial payment by the end of May. Young people, communities of color, service workers, and part-time employees have been hit particularly hard."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/housing/the-eye-of-a-housing-hurricane/?
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"Everybody had to give up something here to get to a common good, right"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"And on the third day, after sessions that ran for a collective 35 hours, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a sweeping police reform and accountability bill that seeks to certify all law enforcement officers in the state and curb the use of force tactics by police. 
The bill, representing the House’s attempt at addressing calls to counter systemic racism and force changes within law enforcement, largely stayed true to core principals the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus put forward early last month.
Republicans and a significant number of Democrats opposed the bill, but Democrats who control the House were able to pass it on Friday at 10 p.m. on a 93-66 vote. 
The legislation will likely head next to six-member House-Senate conference committee for resolution, but the bill’s negotiators have a short window - seven days - to try to get a consensus bill to Gov. Charlie Baker, who had proposed his own police accountability bill. The Senate approved its bill on a 30-7 vote. 
Formal legislative sessions, where controversial matters are settled, are set to end for 2020 on Friday, July 31."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200725/house-approves-sweeping-police-reform-bill-in-93-66-vote-after-35-hours-of-debate?rssfeed=true

The text of the legislation and amendments can be found online
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4860


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Saturday, July 25, 2020

DESE released guidance on 'Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations' and 'Remote Learning'



DESE released guidance on 'Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations' and 'Remote Learning'
DESE released guidance on 'Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations' and 'Remote Learning'

You can get a copy of Remote Learning



Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations:



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Talk Franklin: "Mid-summer in Franklin: What's going on and what's coming up!

FM #317 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 317 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Communications Specialist Anne Marie Tracey. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

 We talk about: Current Town News
  • Solar info sessions for NexAmp (Aug 25, Aug 26)
  • Cannabis info session (Aug 6)
  • Hazard mitigation plan (Jul 28)
  • #Think Blue Franklin
  • Spotlight on Senior Center
  • Fire promotions event (Jul 22)
Meetings
  • School committee Jul 28
  • Town Council meeting rescheduled Jul 29
Re-opening
  • Travel executive order just issued
  • Plastic bag prohibition scheduled for Aug 1/ waiver for Nov 1
  • Concerts on the Common tonight
The recording runs about 48 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie.
Audio file link: https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Mid-summer-in-Franklin-Whats-going-on-and-whats-coming-up-eh6o27




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 We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.

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"

Talk Franklin: "Mid-summer in Franklin: What's going on and what's coming up!
Talk Franklin: "Mid-summer in Franklin: What's going on and what's coming up!


Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted at 3:53 PM on Fri, Jul 24, 2020:
Listen to "Mid-summer in Franklin: What's going on and what's coming up! " Tune in to stay updated! Thanks, @FranklinMatters #FranklinMA #ThePlacetoBe #StayConnected #news #events⚓ https://t.co/XFN0qCvpwY https://t.co/lY65wHbFpr
(https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1286751442947252225?s=03)

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State Budget for FY 2021 not likely until September

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Massachusetts tax collections in the fiscal year that ended June 30 are about $3 billion lower than what budget managers were expecting when they crafted the $43.3 billion state budget a year ago, according to preliminary data released Friday by the Department of Revenue. 
Revenue officials said incomplete revenue collections for fiscal year 2020 so far total $27.276 billion, which is $2.417 billion or 8.1 percent less than fiscal year 2019 and $3.014 billion or 9.9 percent below the year-to-date benchmark. 
But because the tax filing deadline was moved from April 15 to July 15 and DOR is still collecting fiscal 2020 taxes, the agency said the fiscal 2020 revenue total is expected to be updated over the next several weeks." 
“Approximately 81 percent of the year-to-date shortfall is in non-withheld income tax, which is due in large part to the deferral of the deadlines for personal income tax returns and payments and the first two estimated payment installments to July 15, 2020,” Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said. “DOR will be releasing a full FY2020 revenue report in September because recently enacted legislation requires the Comptroller to record income tax payments received between July 1 and August 31 as FY20 revenue. We will continue to closely monitor these delayed FY20 revenue collections.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200724/interim-report-flags-3b-gap-in-last-years-budget?rssfeed=true

August funding bill submitted by Gov Baker https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4869
The message for Gov Baker on H-4869  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/HD5195

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Weekly video update from FHS Principal Josh Hanna

Franklin High School Principal Josh Hanna writes:
Here is a link to a video update I plan on sharing on a weekly basis. Please click the link under the video and submit questions / concerns around our return to school. I hope you all are able to have a peaceful weekend.

https://youtu.be/YTx2cca8NRg




Click the link to offer questions / concerns to be shared in future updates.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdF9xbPGfZHC8RZZP2GdZCuek8nR1jW5WT9bfJMGblqIHhvQw/formrestricted

(Note the link to the form is currently restricted to those with an FPS email address. I expect this will change to enable parents and community to provide input.)

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/MrHanna_FHS/status/1286803738041163777?s=09

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