Franklin Matters

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Sharing: TIME GOES BY "Choosing a Life - Or Letting It Happen"

I recall sharing one of Ronni's posts here previously. This one is particularly poignant.

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Choosing a Life – Or Letting It Happen

Reflecting on the life I have lived is not something I have much dwelled upon during these several years of living with terminal cancer and COPD. I've always been more of a now person than a then one.

Not that I don't remember things or that they don't come to mind or up for discussion. But mostly, now is more compelling for me.

Perhaps it was true for you, too – that in school, there were two or three or four or so classmates who from a young age knew exactly what they wanted to be when they grew up and lo - they actually did that, doctor, lawyer, auto mechanic, whatever they fancied.

But not me. I had no earthly idea what I would do when I grew up – even when I grew up.

All I knew from my lower middle-class family was that it was up to me. Maybe it was not said quite out loud but the idea instilled was that my parents had gotten me to working age and now I had to follow through to support myself.

Looking back, my mother was right about insisting I take typing class in high school and that kept me employed for the several years it took until a career trajectory began to come into view. (An overview of my career is recounted here.)

Even though at the time I believed I was choosing this job, rejecting that one, making a lateral change for better pay, location, whatever, sometimes it has felt like someone or something else was making the decision.

It is rather amazing the number of interesting jobs that dropped into my lap over the years from unexpected telephone calls, even from strangers once or twice who had heard of me from someone and thought we should talk about working together.

Not to go all woo-woo on you but now and then I have wondered if I really chose the men or the friends and others in my life. Did someone or something direct all this? There are people who believe such things.

Without going down the free will rabbit hole, so speaking of this in the most prosaic sense, I have felt at times over the years that I have had nothing to do with my life, that it was written down before I got here and I'm just following the script.

At nearly 80 years into my life now, it is still kind of fun to ponder such notions, but there is a growing sense inside me, too, that I have arrived somewhere – that one way or another I am coming to enough. No more striving, just accepting.

But that imperative to survive I mentioned the other day is still deep and strong. My god, it does hang on; illness doesn't affect that. And there is still a great joy in living each day – well, each good one. And here is how part of that goes:

Many years ago, I worked for a woman I didn't like much. She didn't like me either. But we were both smart, good at our jobs and respected one another so it worked out.

One day I was surprised to learn that she was a boxing fan, that her father had taken her to all the matches he attended in their town when she was a kid and it had stuck with her.

Me? I blurted out rudely that I couldn't think of any more boring way to spend an evening. And then she said to me, "Ronni, everything is interesting if you pay attention."

Since then, that piece of news has never failed me. Choosing my life? Pre-ordained life? That I am right on script during this final chapter? Or am I just getting weird in the late days of my predicament?

What matters is that all of it is just as interesting as everything else has been since JoAnn explained it to me.

Franklin Cultural District Newsletter - October 2020

Welcome from The Chair ... Nancy Schoen

"With the changing of the leaves and the cool crisp evenings we are reminded that fall is now officially here. During the last seven months we have seen our local arts establishments close their performance venues and pivot to offering many performances online. While the future is still uncertain, we in Massachusetts are fortunate that we are now well into Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan. This phase of the plan allows performance venues to hold both outdoor and indoor performances at a reduced capacity. Many local restaurants are also continuing to serve customers at both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Having a strong arts and cultural presence in Franklin provides opportunities for our community to come together during these challenging times. As our arts establishments and restaurants work to find their way in this pandemic let’s all do our best to patronize these businesses in Franklin. If you are not quite ready to attend a live performance or go out for a meal, purchasing a gift card that you can use in the future is a wonderful way to support our local businesses!"

Continue reading the Franklin Cultural District Newsletter https://conta.cc/374C0Gb

Franklin Cultural District Newsletter - October 2020

Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 20 - 3:00 PM

Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 3:00pm

Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda)

Agenda:

Approval of May 20th and July 6th Meeting Minutes

Next Newsletter content:

o Graphic to include in next newsletter – “Get to know Title 1 Tutors”
o Equity Policy JBB
o Updates from Budget Sub Committee
o Calendar of Events
o Other Ideas?

Virtual Coffee Hours?

Senior Center

Newspaper – Judy O’Gara

Agenda doc and meeting connection info
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/community_relations_subcommittee_agenda_10-20-2020.pdf

Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 20 - 3:00 PM

The rainy day fund, pandemic spending, deceptive framing all in one MA FY 21 budget

Pulling together multiple sources today.

"Despite the pandemic-related recession and high unemployment rates, and an expected drop in state tax revenues, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday released a budget proposal for the current fiscal year that is actually higher than the budget he proposed in January.

Baker, a Republican, is recommending a fiscal 2021 budget of $45.5 billion, or 3.8 percent more than was spent in fiscal 2020. The budget he released in January would have spent $44.6 billion, or 2.3 percent more than in the prior fiscal year.

The high budget is largely driven by excessive spending in MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. It would be paid for with an influx of federal money as well as a $1.3 billion draw from the state’s $3.5 billion rainy day fund.

“The rainy day fund is there to support services when it’s raining, and I think most people would agree it’s raining,” Baker said at a State House press conference."

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/government/baker-releases-45-5-billion-revised-fy21-budget-proposal/

"The revised budget is built on a projection that state tax revenues will be $3.6 billion lower than originally estimated, due to the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. Overall, the updated budget would be balanced through a blend of increased federal assistance, a drawdown of $1.35 billion from the state’s $3.5 billion stabilization fund (preserving $2.1 billion for future needs), and changes to a range of appropriation recommendations.

The Division of Local Services released revised Cherry Sheet amounts for each city and town today based on the new budget recommendation. The DLS update includes receipt and assessment items for municipalities and regional school districts. (Link to updated Cherry Sheets for regional school districts.)

The governor said that he hoped the Legislature would return a final budget to him by Thanksgiving."

https://www.mma.org/gov-files-revised-fy21-budget-with-ugga-ch-70-matching-july-commitment/

"Today, Governor Baker filed his FY21 budget with you. While I had hoped for better than the inflation-only increase that was passed in July, I to some degree was also resigned to it. However, to hear the Governor repeat the deceptive framing posed by Secretary Peyser yesterday, that the funding to schools this year surpasses that laid out by the Student Opportunity Act, is infuriating. I have had reason to wonder if the Governor has any understanding of the school funding formula before this, but this statement has confirmed that he either does not or chooses willfully to ignore the principle upon which it is based.

Pandemic funding is precisely that: it is funding for an EMERGENCY. To have that funding then touted as filling the gaping hole in our basic needs is simply wrong; having to spend money to repair my car does not take away my need for gas money.

Moreover, the funding for the pandemic has been flat: it is distributed regardless of student need, regardless of community need. Every student in every district, whatever its wealth, received that emergency funding. The state's funding formula, on quite the other hand, is progressive: it recognizes that greater need requires greater resources to meet. "

http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-plea-from-worcester.html

“I’ve got everything that I need. I’m ready to roll.”

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

In the past, Election Day has always been the main event during election years, but this year it could very well be like the credits that scroll at the end of a long and dramatic movie -- one with an eagerly anticipated bonus reel at its conclusion.

Local town clerks are reporting that they’ve been busy sending out thousands of mail-in ballots to voters who are considering skipping the polls on Nov. 3, and starting this weekend they’ll be opening doors to voters choosing to take advantage of early in-person voting.

In Franklin, interim Town Clerk Nancy Danello said the voting booths have been ready and waiting for the influx of early voters inside the gym at Franklin High School ever since the last of the ballots were counted following the September primary, and they’ll remain until after Election Day.

Danello’s got a team that’s been working diligently on keeping up with the mail-in ballot requests -- over the course of two days alone they prepared and mailed out a whopping 10,000 mail-in ballots -- and they’re now preparing to kick it up a notch with the early in-person voting.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20201014/local-clerks-ready-for-start-of-early-in-person-voting-oct-17-30?rssfeed=true

In the News: mystery about the expanded 'shelter in place' order; individual to be arraigned on multiple charges

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

"Police from Franklin sent out a Reverse 911 on Sunday ordering residents to “shelter-in-place” during a standoff with an armed man who fired at police officers.

Although that is not an unusual move, what happened afterward was. The order was also sent to residents in several other nearby communities, including Milford, Blackstone, Mendon, Wrentham, North Attleboro and Walpole.

How that happened is a mystery, according to Franklin police Sgt. Brian Johnson."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201014/franklin-police-dont-know-how-emergency-alert-went-to-several-communities-during-sundays-standoff-they-only-warned-their-residents?rssfeed=true

The man who authorities say fired several shots at police officers during an armed standoff at the Spruce Pond condominium complex on Sunday is expected to be arraigned Thursday in Wrentham District Court.

Police filed charges against Thomas E. McManus, 53, of 46 Quince Landing, related to the incident on Sunday.

Police charged McManus with six counts of armed assault to murder with a firearm; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; assault and battery on a police officer; discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling; disorderly conduct; disturbing the peace; and three counts of vandalizing property.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201014/franklin-standoff-suspect-to-be-arraigned-thursday-on-multiple-charges?rssfeed=true

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Community Preservation Act: Frequently Asked Questions - answered by CPAForFranklin

Question of the Day:

"Is there really any open space left to save in Franklin?"

https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-is-there-really-any.html

Question of the Day:

“I don’t mind paying more on my taxes for saving open space, but I don’t want to pay more for the other uses. If money raised gets split up, will it really ever be enough to do anything with?”

https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-will-there-be-enough.html

Question of the day:

"Does adopting the CPA mean there will be an additional tax when I sell my home?"

https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-does-adopting-cpa-mean.html

Question of the day:

"How is the CPA amount calculated? Will the CPA surcharge be figured as 2% of my property value under the CPA?"

https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-how-is-cpa-amount.html

Question of the Day:

"Doesn’t the Town have enough affordable housing for those who need it?"

https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-doesnt-town-have-enough.html

Question of the Day:

“How many communities have adopted the CPA? And have any revoked it?”