Franklin Matters

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Bottle/Can drive to benefit Scouts BSA Troop 126 held on Oct 3 and Oct 10

On Saturday, October 3, and Saturday, October 10, 2020, Scouts BSA Troop 126 will be having a bottle and can drive, to raise money for camping equipment and exciting trips like whitewater rafting. Our troop is in Franklin, which means your contributions will directly benefit the youth of your community.

If you wish to donate bottles or cans, please drop them off at the Elks parking lot, 1077 Pond Street, on October 3 or 10, 2020, between 10 A.M. and 12 P.M.

If you are a Town of Franklin resident and are unable to come, but you would still like to contribute, please fill out our Google Form to have your donation collected at your curbside. Please complete the form by Friday at 5 P.M., and please have curbside bottles and cans out by 7 A.M. We thank you in advance for your contribution and your support for local Scouting!

Google form for pickup
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelJfph-q1qFM0iZiUUFU1F0R9E3k7vF6PeYvf6yKsHX_SmfQ/viewform

Bottle/Can drive to benefit Scouts BSA Troop 126 held on Oct 3 and Oct 10

Sculpture Park - September 2020 (slide show)

A walk through the Sculpture Park this weekend enabled me to capture some current photos.

To view the album directly in Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157716169151072

MMA: "The flu shot is even more important this year"

From the Mass Municipal Association:

"In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging everyone over the age of 6 months to get an influenza vaccine this year.
Both the flu and COVID-19 are respiratory illnesses that can lead to hospitalization for pneumonia and other serious – sometimes life-threatening – complications.
According to research conducted over multiple flu seasons, people who get the flu vaccine and still get sick have a 37% lower risk of being admitted to the hospital for treatment and an 82% lower risk of admission to an intensive care unit. Due to the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the hospital, it’s particularly important this year to keep flu cases out of hospitals.
After getting the flu shot, it takes about two weeks for the body to develop protection against the flu. That’s why it’s a good idea to get the vaccine before the flu starts to spread in your community."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.mma.org/the-flu-shot-is-even-more-important-this-year/

MMA: "The flu shot is even more important this year"

In the News: "Lawmakers make plea for federal dollars"; 3 year old loses part of leg in accident

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Dozens of lawmakers want the Baker administration to act promptly to aid workers who missed out on up to $1,800 in additional benefits because of “arbitrary” and “punitive” eligibility requirements.
More than 110 legislators, almost all Democrats and no Republicans, wrote to Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta on Thursday, urging her to work with the House and Senate to raise the state’s minimum unemployment benefit payments so all recipients can access a pool of federal aid.
A small but unclear number of Bay State residents facing major economic strain fell just short of qualifying for the temporary Lost Wages Assistance federal program, lawmakers say, blocking off additional aid that could help them survive the pandemic’s continuing upheaval."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200928/lawmakers-make-plea-for-federal-dollars?rssfeed=true

"Sarah Reardon “got the kind of phone call that no parent ever wants to get.”

She was unpacking boxes on Aug. 22 at her new home in Franklin while her two daughters, Alexa, 6, and Abigail, 3, stayed at their father’s home in Lakeville for a few days. That Saturday, she received a hysterical call from her children’s father riding in the back of an ambulance.

Abigail had been backed over by a riding lawn mower.

He told her the ambulance was on its way toward Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, which had the closest Level 1 Trauma center."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200928/franklin-3-year-old-loses-part-of-leg-after-lawn-mower-accident-her-mother-is-urging-parents-to-understand-full-dangers-of-machines?rssfeed=true

In the News: "Open or closed? Town officials have to decide"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Franklin Town Manager Jamie Hellen agreed that the pandemic has spurred some innovations that are likely to continue after the outbreak subsides. For instance, he said the town has been conducting some inspections via photo or video, which has been successful so far. In addition, the Town Council and other boards are meeting in person at the Franklin Municipal Building, but broadcasting sessions and taking public comment virtually via video-conferencing.
Hellen said the town worked with the local cable access television station to outfit its meeting chambers for video-conferencing participation, and he doesn’t anticipate that format going away anytime soon, though Franklin is looking to reopen some of its facilities in November.
“Citizen engagement in our meetings has been at an all-time high,” Hellen said. “And I think the great thing is, because they’ve had more access through Zoom or Google Hangout or whatever technology, we’re going to end up continuing to use to be that portal for public participation, I think if we removed it, I think people would be disappointed.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200928/open-or-closed-town-officials-have-to-decide-to-what-to-do-about-public-buildings-during-covid-19-outbreak?rssfeed=true

Board of Health meeting conducted virtually in September

RSVP for "Housing to Build a Just Recovery," Envisioning Equity Pt. I Recap, and more

September 28, 2020

RSVP for Envisioning Equity Part II:

Housing to Build a Just Recovery

The pandemic and recession have created a new housing crisis across the Commonwealth as renters struggle to pay rent and homeowners struggle to meet their mortgage payments. But this crisis is hitting communities of color and low-income communities hardest, tearing the cover off long-standing, structural housing inequities.

Join us on Tuesday, October 6th from 4-5 pm to hear from our esteemed panel of housing experts. They will discuss housing policy challenges from the national, state, regional, and local perspectives and look at ways that antiracist policy choices can help build housing for a just recovery. The panel will include:

Peggy Bailey, Vice President for Housing Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Keith Fairey, President & CEO, Way Finders
Lisa Owens, Executive Director, City Life/Vida Urbana
Robert Terrell, Member, Roxbury Neighborhood Council
Moderator Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, CEO, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción
Host Marie-Frances Rivera, President, MassBudget

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4_gBYGskSM6MnhNok-WwSg

Watch: Equitable Education through the Crisis

Envisioning Equity Part I: Equitable Education through the Crisis

Thank you to all of our panelists and attendees for the first session of our Envisioning Equity series. Were you unable to attend?

Watch the full webinar today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YRE7S_j8ws

#ICYMI: MassBudget in the News

Read President Marie-Frances Rivera's latest opinion piece in MassLive on the need for increased federal relief to help address multi-billion state revenue shortfalls.
Senior Policy Analyst Phineas Baxandall provided his take on unemployment and what the economy needs to recover in Commonwealth Magazine.