CommonWealth Magazine: mail voting may remain; abortion access up for discussion during lame duck session

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

"Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Massachusetts allowed no-excuse mail-in voting for the first time this year as well as expanded early voting – and millions of voters took advantage.

By Saturday evening, 2.28 million voters had cast their ballots, either by mail or in person – a number equivalent to more than two-thirds of all ballots cast in the 2016 election.

For Pam Wilmot, vice president of state operations for Common Cause, said that is all the proof needed to retain no-excuse mail-in voting going forward. “This process works, and we should absolutely make it permanent,” Wilmot said.

Wilmot and state Sen. Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat who chairs the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Election Laws, joined The Codcast to talk about the changes to voting made in this year’s elections and the implications for future elections."'

Continue reading article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/mail-in-voting-may-be-here-to-stay-2/

 

"MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka announced on Monday that the two branches will take up abortion access legislation during the lame duck session that runs until the end of the year.

“We are very concerned that Massachusetts’ women’s reproductive rights are under threat at the national level,” said DeLeo and Spilka in a joint statement. “We are therefore committed to debate measures in the House and Senate this session that would remove barriers to women’s reproductive health options and protect the concepts enshrined in Roe v. Wade.”

It is not clear what removing barriers means specifically, but it’s likely the legislation would deal with at least some of the provisions in the so-called ROE Act, which would expand access to abortion, require health insurance coverage for abortions to be covered for low-income residents not eligible for MassHealth, and allow for abortions after 24 weeks in cases where the fetus has been diagnosed with a fatal birth defect. Current law only allows abortions to occur after 24 weeks when the life of the mother is at risk."

Continue reading article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/deleo-spilka-promise-abortion-debate-in-lame-duck-session/

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Targeted Measures To Curb Rising COVID-19 Cases

"Today we are taking several targeted measures to curb rising #COVID19MA cases + hospitalizations.

Our goal is to disrupt this trend now, so the Commonwealth can keep our economy + schools open and prevent the need to roll back to Phase I or II."

➡️ MORE: https://t.co/FCUWR035Vf

Shared from Twitter

https://t.co/fYR37s58P0

 

Gov Baker press conf video link:  https://youtu.be/O5JMSqEuNJE

Targeted Measures To Curb Rising COVID-19 Cases

Franklin Voters: Election 2020 reminders

The early voting period completed Friday (Oct 30) at noon time.

 
If you have not sent in your mail ballot, please drop it off at the Municipal Building in the drive through (from 8 AM to 8 PM) or leave it in the dropbox at the Municipal Building.

If you plan on voting in person, all precincts vote in one location: Franklin High School. Parking should be available. It is a professional development day for the district, teachers may be around but no students.

Poll hours are from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. (Note: this is a change as most prior elections open at 6 AM but not this time. Plan accordingly.)

According to the Town Clerk, more than 50% of the registered Franklin voters have already cast their ballots (via mail or early vote) so while it will be busy (10,000 plus voters anticipated) it shouldn't be too crazy.

If you need information to prepare to cast an informed vote, the Franklin voters guide can be found here:  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/franklin-community-voting-guide.html

Info on Ballot Question 3 - Community Preservation Act can be found here

https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/

The "election collection" of all the posts from the Primary through today can be found here:  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/2020-election-collection.html

If you want to "track your ballot"   https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/track/trackmyballot.aspx

Drive through hours posted
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/extended-drive-thru-hours-begin-friday-october-9th

voting booths at FHS, taken during an observation period this weekend

If you do have vision problems, there is a special machine to help you. Check with one of the election workers as you enter the high school 

there is a special machine to help you if you have vision problems

 

FM #379 SchoolComm Davis Thayer FA Mtg - 10/29/20 (audio)

FM #379 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 379 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee meeting held on Thursday, Oct 29, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Quick Recap:

• Meeting opened 7 minutes late. Prior meeting minutes approved.
• Review of current step by step process and where they are, now in Phase 2 of Stage 1 (see chart)
• Specialized programs conducted at DT and Parmenter not part of the analysis and should be considered. Concern over turnkey reference. Appearing to rush into keeping the mentioned Nov 4 community information night (when it will have conflict with the Town Council meeting, and won’t be able to be broadcast).
• Discussion around the work of this committee to complete in their term (before Nov 2021) and work of another ‘long term’ committee as separate.
• Discussion on questionnaire, what it captures, what does success look like, and communications around that survey and for the meeting itself

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to the presentation document.

The recording runs about 64 minutes, so let’s listen to the Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee meeting of Oct 29, 2020.  

Audio file =  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-379-schoolcomm-davis-thayer-fa-mtg-10-29-20

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Agenda doc      https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_subcom_10.29.2020_1.docx 

Comprehensive Facility Analysis presentation doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-analysis-presentation-10-27-20 

Facility Assessment report doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-assessment-report 

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/davis-thayer-facility-analysis.html  

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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!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #379 SchoolComm Davis Thayer FA Mtg - 10/29/20 (audio)

FM #378 School Comm Workshop - Digital Learning Integrationist Demo - 10/28/20 (audio)

FM #378 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 378 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee workshop with the primary purpose to observe a Digital Learning Integrationist Demo on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2020. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the School Committee and Central Office personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder of the Committee and DLI personnel were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I have requested a copy of the presentation which was shared with one of the School Committee members to  help them follow along but have not yet received the doc. While viewing the screen images would be helpful, the conversation is more important hence this audio file.

The recording runs about 62 minutes so let’s listen to DLI demo of the School Committee workshop of Oct 28, 2020. (Note: the workshop started late and the trial and tribulations of getting folks connected was not copied here in the audio recording.)   Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/Hy6KBt1K

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Agenda doc  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda-dli_workshop_10-28-20.pdf 

Photos captured during the demo  https://photos.app.goo.gl/URDTd2cn8MU89inK8 (not many as I am expecting the presentation copy)

--------------

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"

Digital Learning Integrationist Demo - 10/28/20 (audio)

“It offers outdoor recreation and healthy exercise"

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

"For years, a steep hill along the Southern New England Trunkline Trail in Franklin severed the path, leading hikers and bikers to climb the hurdle and cross private property to get back on.

Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin said he knew he’d get funding to fix that in 2016.

Roy, an avid cyclist and veteran rider in the annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, took Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton for a bike ride on the path one day to show him first-hand what residents were dealing with.

Before reaching the hill, located on Prospect Street, Roy told Beaton that he was going to walk up it with his bike. Beaton said he’d ride up it."

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201101/tunnel-bridging-troublesome-gap-along-southern-new-england-trunkline-trail-snett-has-been-reconfigured-and-is-open-once-again?rssfeed=true

MA DCR SNETT Link  https://www.mass.gov/locations/southern-new-england-trunkline-trail

Rail Trail Committee page  https://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

Photos from a walk on the SNETT in 2013
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157636043702445/

And from a recent walk n October, actually the day the new tree identification signs were posted
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QqxR9VQA3VxhTbz48

autumn screen from a break in the treeline along the trail in Bellingham

“The holidays need to look and feel very different this year”

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

"Holidays will need to look different this year, state officials said as they recommended Thanksgiving celebrations be held virtually or limited to one household to minimize COVID-19 transmission risks.

“The science on this one’s pretty clear — gathering in groups indoors for an extended period of time with family and friends is likely the worst possible scenario for spreading the virus,” Gov. Charlie Baker said during a recent press conference.

Pointing to rising COVID-19 case numbers among Massachusetts residents under age 30, Baker again said people should stop hosting parties and other large social gatherings. He urged younger people, who may not experience severe symptoms of the respiratory disease, to think about the relatives they might infect, the health care workers gearing up for a second surge, and the children whose ability to attend in-person school hinges on the rate of virus spread.

Baker said his own Thanksgiving celebration this year will be “immediate family, and that’s it,” and said all families should “think long and hard about the well-being of your loved ones before you make your plans.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201101/baker-limited-turkey-day-is-way-to-go?rssfeed=true

The DPH guidance for Thanksgiving and the holidays

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/thanksgiving-during-covid-19.html

Thanksgiving during COVID-19