Monday, February 1, 2021

5 Ways SSA.gov Saves You Time

"Our online tools and services save you time and make your life easier. Often, there’s no need to contact us. Here are five of our webpages that can make your life easier:

1. With your own personal my Social Security account, you can request a replacement Social Security card, verify your earnings, get future benefit estimates, obtain benefit verification letters."

Continue reading to find the other 4 ways SSA,gov can help


5 Ways SSA.gov Saves You Time

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Franklin Public Schools: Half-day for Monday, Feb 1 - Stay tuned for Tuesday decision (weather dependent)

January 31, 2021

Dear Franklin community,

The weather forecast is calling for a significant snowstorm to move into our area through the day tomorrow and developing into heavy snow in the afternoon hours, and lingering into Tuesday where mixed precipitation and big wind gusts are possible. 

Therefore, we will hold school (both in-person/hybrid and remote) tomorrow, Monday, February 1, on a half-day schedule. Schools will be dismissed as follows:
  • ECDC: 12:15 PM
  • Elementary Schools: 11:45 AM
  • Middle Schools:10:45 AM (10:50 AM at HMMS)
  • High School: 10:55 AM
Although the actual impact of the storm could change, at this time, we are anticipating that the weather event will impact Tuesday. We are planning for the possibility that Tuesday, February 2, will be a traditional snow day. 

There were many strong feelings conveyed from members of the community with the call to have a remote learning day back in December and we had communicated in November that we would monitor our approach and make adjustments, as necessary. We also know that there are strong feelings among community members who feel that a remote learning day would be better for continuity in instruction. Planning for a remote day due to snow is more involved and complicated than the typical remote Wednesday, which is something we learned from December. As school will be abbreviated tomorrow, planning for a remote day on Tuesday will be more difficult. Additionally, having a snow day will result in the school day needing to be made up at the end of the year. This could yield a day with better quality instruction should health metrics related to the virus continue to improve this spring.

Snow day decisions never please everyone, but I hope that sharing this rationale provides you with a better understanding of our approach.

I will continue to keep the community apprised of a final decision for Tuesday, as winter weather can be unpredictable and the storm may not be as bad as forecasted.  For now, we will have a half-day of school on Monday and the next update will come by Monday evening. Updates will come in the form of e-mails, text messages, phone calls, posts on our Websites, posts to news outlets (TV and radio), and our Twitter and Facebook social media pages.

Kind regards,

Sara Ahern
Superintendent of Schools 


Franklin Public Schools: Half-day for Monday, Feb 1 - Stay tuned for Tuesday decision (weather dependent)
Franklin Public Schools: Half-day for Monday, Feb 1 - Stay tuned for Tuesday decision (weather dependent)


Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 3, 2021


1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29.  This meeting may be recorded by others.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. 

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. December 16, 2020
b. January 6, 2020

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
a. Bill Murphy

5. APPOINTMENTS
None Scheduled

6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm
None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Finance Department: Borrowing & Debt Update 
b. Department of Public Works: Stormwater   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8b._storm_water_presentation.pdf

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
d. Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report

10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Bylaw Amendment 21-869: Chapter 82, Municipal Service Fees Section 82-6 Schedule of Service Fees, Subsection F. Fire - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 21-869 to a second reading - Majority Roll Call Vote)

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
a. COVID-19 Updates
b. FY22 Budget Calendar

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None Scheduled

ADJOURN

Note: 
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting 

The agenda folder on the Town of Franklin page

The PDF doc with the agenda and docs released  (35 pages)

new rain garden at the end of Griffin Road
new rain garden at the end of Griffin Road



FM #448 School Comm - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Mtg - 01/28/21 (audio)

FM #448 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 448 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee meeting held on Thursday, Jan 28, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a remote format; all the subcommittee, Central Office personnel and the public participants were remote via conference bridge, to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. 

The recording runs just about 1 hour and 40 minutes

Let’s listen to this segment of the Davis Thayer Facility Analysis meeting of Jan 28, 2021.   Audio file = https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-448-schcomm-davis-thayer-fa-mtg-01-28-21

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Quick Recap:
  • Review of the 5 options as discussed at the meeting last week. Committee should have had time since then to review and prepare, final questions, clarifications asked of each option as they went through each one
  • The three members got to outline their background and approach to decision and what the factors were for them; Superintendent and Business Administrator also asked for their views
  • Consensus across the group for recommending to close in September, acting now to start planning for a good transition. Recognizing not an easy decision to close, or even in the pandemic period, but it is the best for the students across the district
  • Next meeting to work on the proposal and outline of decision factors for the full committee to decide at a future meeting (time TBD, could be as early as the Feb 9 meeting - stay tuned.)
Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one folder
https://photos.app.goo.gl/71thcyJaDWXNoWqC7

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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 #448 School Comm - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Mtg - 01/28/21 (audio)
FM #448 School Comm - Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Mtg - 01/28/21 (audio)

Encore Music Education Foundation: 2021 Senior Scholarship Application Open

The Encore Music Education Foundation, Inc.'s 2021 Senior Scholarship Application is now OPEN! 
 
* Applications are due before March 31, 2021 
 
*To be an eligible applicant you must be a graduating high school senior or high school graduate studying a musical instrument or voice, with the intention to pursue an undergraduate degree in music performance, music education, sound recording and engineering, music business administration, or musical theatre at a two or four-year accredited institution of higher learning. 
 
* To learn more, and to download and print it out, click here: https://www.wesupportmusic.org/scholarship-opportunities/
 
Encore Music Education Foundation: 2021 Senior Scholarship Application Open
Encore Music Education Foundation: 2021 Senior Scholarship Application Open
 

FPS: Budget Subcommittee Meeting - Feb 2

Franklin Public Schools
Franklin School Committee
Budget Subcommittee
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 = 4:30 PM

 
 - FY22 Budget Development

Please find the agenda and connection information posted here  https://t.co/XnfgX8ygiE  
Shared from Twitter  https://t.co/OChbxOdVXf


FPS: Budget Subcommittee Meeting - Feb 2
FPS: Budget Subcommittee Meeting - Feb 2

Both FHS gymnastics and boys hockey teams top Mansfield on Saturday

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS sports results: 

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 6 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final 
– Franklin scored three unanswered goals in the second period to pull away from the Hornets for a season sweep. The Panthers built a 2-1 lead after a period, getting a pair of goals from Justin Magazu (with Dylan Marchand assisting on both). In the second, Conor O’Neill (from Sean Connelly and Declan Lovett) made it 3-1 and Ryan Sicchio scored back-to-back goals for a 5-1 edge. In the third, Lovett found the back of the net with O’Neill and Connelly earning assists. Gary Mandia made 15 saves in net for the win.

Gymnastics = Attleboro, 134.5 @ Franklin, 141.5 – Final 
– Franklin added another win to its total this season after the results were examined from their virtual meet against Attleboro. The Panthers competed last week while the Bombardiers were in action on Friday night. Emma White took first in three of four events (vault, bars, floor) while Kate Heun had the top score on the beam (8.95) for the Panthers.

For other results around the Hockomock League 


Franklin defeats Attleboro 141.5 to 134.5
Franklin defeats Attleboro 141.5 to 134.5

FHS gymnastics team poses for photo
FHS gymnastics team poses for photo



Hard hat to Justin Magazu   https://twitter.com/FHSPantherHocke/status/1355693531688480773

Game puck to Ryan Sicchio  https://twitter.com/FHSPantherHocke/status/1355694022598291460