"Residents should consider downloading the @nationalgridus app on their phones where you can report power outages, monitor restoration and much more. @FranklinMAFire "
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| Town of Franklin, MA: Storm emergency reminder |
From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin:
Elderly challenges go well beyond COVID
"THE EMERGENCE of promising vaccines to fight COVID-19 is certainly good news, but those older adults on fixed or limited incomes will continue to face serious issues in daily living in a variety of areas. Many of these issues existed before the pandemic, and some have been made worse as a consequence of the deadly virus. Older adults, especially those in nursing homes, suffered the highest rates of infection and death from the virus, and those rates were even more disastrous for older adults of color. The pandemic caused a serious look at the deficiencies in our long-term care system, both institutional and community-based, and most of these deficiencies will remain even after a large portion of Americans have been vaccinated.
In skilled nursing facilities, we’ve learned that older adults should not be forced to live with three or more unrelated elderly in the same room. We know that nursing home staff are underpaid and often need to work in two or more nursing homes to make a living. Many staff are also unvaccinated for influenza, and may have the same low rates of vaccination when COVID-19 vaccines are made available. We’ve also learned that infection prevention and control is an especially weak process in most nursing homes. These are all factors that made such facilities ripe for attack by COVID-19."
"FOR DECADES, Massachusetts has been known for having the best health care in the world. As doctors who’ve practiced medicine for a combined 40 years in the Commonwealth, we have seen firsthand how our state has enjoyed the best hospitals and best doctors and providers to deliver the highest standard of care. Our biggest challenge? How to ensure those exceptional services can be accessed by every patient who needs them.Then came COVID-19 – which threatened our nation’s health care system like no time in modern history. Instead of collapsing, our health care system reinvented itself. The rapid and effective use of virtual care (telehealth and other services) allowed us to continue to provide care to patients while the threat of coronavirus kept them at a distance. Patients with behavioral health needs, many of which were exacerbated by the pandemic, were able to still see their mental health providers. Patients with acute stroke could get rapid evaluations in a local emergency department but be transferred for advanced care if necessary. Unlike in-person visits to shops, restaurants, and bars which were abruptly cancelled, much needed virtual visits to medical specialists could continue unimpeded. Regular medical care is like car maintenance, when it is postponed or ignored conditions deteriorate rapidly."
"Cold Chain Technologies ("CCT"), a leading global provider of reusable and single-use passive thermal packaging solutions for the shipment of temperature-sensitive products for the life sciences industry, has announced the opening of a new facility in Lebanon, Tennessee, a critical site to support the needs for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
As part of this nationwide expansion to meet the growing demands of global vaccine distribution, the new 255,000+ square feet cold chain facility, complete with Koolit refrigerant manufacturing and work cells for CCT's KoolTemp EcoFlex (CCT's market-leading reusable thermal packaging solution), is fully equipped to support the temperature-sensitive supply chain requirements of the COVID-19 vaccine with the industry's broadest portfolio of single-use and reusable systems for parcel and pallet shipments scalable to vaccine temperature needs."
"Cold Chain Technologies ("CCT" or the "Company"), a leading global provider of advanced reusable and single-use passive thermal packaging solutions for the shipment of temperature-sensitive products for the life sciences industry, announced today that Anthony (TJ) Rizzo has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer, and Amardeep (Amar) Chahal has joined the Company as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development.
While serving in several roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Senior Vice President, TJ has made significant contributions to the growth of CCT over the last 15 years—both in the United States and through international expansion in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. He has been instrumental in leading the development and deployment of CCT's global reusable and sustainable strategy as well as an active collaborator with our channel partners to deliver the cold chain capabilities needed to safely and efficiently deploy the COVID-19 vaccine. As a founding member, and current Chairman, of the ISTA Pharma Committee, TJ is well respected in the cold chain industry and is extensively involved in industry collaboration and the best practice development groups PDA, ISTA, and others. "
Contollo Mass Manufacturing, also based in Franklin, was one of the recipients as well. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/manufacturing-caucus-hosts-fifth-annual.html
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| one of the Manufacturing Award winners for 2020 by Senator Becca Rausch |
From the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)
On Nov. 12, the Department of Revenue released the fiscal 2021 distribution from the Community Preservation Act Trust Fund for each participating community, with a minimum match rate of 28.6% for all municipalities.
Municipalities that adopted the CPA with a full 3% local property tax surcharge received a higher percentage.
The Division of Local Services has posted a full list of CPA distribution amounts by municipality.
The fiscal 2020 budget increased the recording fees at registries of deeds in order to provide additional revenue for the statewide CPA Trust Fund. The increase went into effect on Dec. 31, 2019, and was projected to double the amount of matching funds available to participating CPA communities. Advocates said the change would halt the trend of dropping match rates, which were headed toward a single-digit percentage.
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| New youth athletic training program at the YMCA |
Fall Workshop Series - Session #7
CREATE A MARKETING PLAN/JOB SEARCH TOOLBOX
Tuesday, December 8th from 10:00 am – 12 pm
*Virtual Doors open at 9:45 am*
The session will start promptly at 10 am
Bring your 5 Top Marketable Points
Presenter: Deborah Hope, Hope Associates, LLC
Co-host: Melody L. Beach, Melody L. Beach Consulting Group
Host: Susan Drevitch Kelly-Program Director/Founder
In this hands-on workshop you will learn how to create a personal marketing plan for your tool box, including how to identify target companies and your core competencies. We'll start with a review of the SWOT method.
The webinar will also cover:
· Job search portfolio
· Job search techniques
· Job search resources
This is our 7th interactive workshop in the Fall Series. This session isn't just a presentation; we will pose questions, present real-time exercises, and challenge your mindset.
Download a copy of the flyer https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NUx0TJ0dvpKRnF7WGi7J_EHMD0IkQ9a9/view?usp=sharing
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| 50+ Job-seekers Session - Tuesday, Dec 8 |
|
Unofficial election
results |
|
|
Chiklis |
802 |
|
Earls |
723 |
|
Frongillo |
2500 |
|
Sompally |
229 |
|
Blanks |
4 |
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Write ins |
9 |
|
Total |
4267 |
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| Unofficial election results - Dec 5 |
