"This new website is a celebration of New England as a landscape of work and innovation and a portal for exploring the American birthplace of a revolution that triggered the most profound set of social and environmental changes in human history."
Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/A6zJj5rzrU
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| new webpage -> Industrial History New England |
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin’s Acting Town Clerk Nancy Danello along with her assistant Susan Merullo.
We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
We talk about:
Links to the Town Clerk web page is included in the show notes. The recording runs about 22 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Nancy and Susan.
Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7541a85e-30d4-4916-bb7f-1a078094ad77
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Town Clerk page = https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk
Updated official directory (as mentioned) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/2021_directory_of_town_state_and_county_officials_0.pdf
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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?
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"
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| Acting Town Clerk Nancy Danello provides an update to a Town Council meeting in 2020 |
Medway Marches invites the community to a free virtual event on February 24 from 7:00-8:00 pm. This “Allies in Action'' event will focus discussion on becoming an active ally, the role of race and history in allyship, and how community organizations can affect change through allyship. Based in Medway, Medway Marches is an organization whose vision is to build an inclusive community for people of color through education, engagement, and empowerment. This presentation and discussion feature renowned Victoria Alexander, a diversity educator, and critical race scholar. Alexander will lead a discussion for allies of BIPOC, answering such questions as, “How can I help?” and “What can I do as a non-BIPOC person?” This informative and open discussion will address these questions and more under the expert guidance of Alexander, an experienced diversity educator. To register, visit https://bit.ly/MMALLIES for Zoom log in info via email. The free event will also be live-streamed on the Medway Cable Access Facebook Page. More about Victoria Alexander: Victoria conducts critical research challenging myths regarding the distribution of power and the role of racism and anti-racism in social, professional, and educational spaces. She empowers people to analyze their own social identities and positions within power systems. Follow her on Instagram @victoriaalxndr. For more information about Medway Marches and its mission to engage, enable, and empower our community, join its Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/medwaymarches).
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| Medway Marches invites you to "Allies in Action" - Feb 24 |
The MetroWest Visitors Bureau (MWVB) announced today a new mini-grant program funded through the MWVB and the Mass Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). The MWVB will consider mini-grant applications for projects devoted to marketing a MetroWest event, attraction, business, service, or cultural or recreational offering including virtual and online projects.
Grant applications open Feb. 15, 2021, and close April 1, 2021. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2021. Grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $15,000.
One of sixteen Regional Tourism Councils in Massachusetts, the MetroWest Visitors Bureau participates in the state’s MyLocalMA campaign encouraging Massachusetts residents to eat, shop and stay local. The Bureau’s mini-grant program aligns with that mission and calls for marketing proposals that will increase revenue generation for MetroWest’s designated region: Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland and Westborough.
“Many of our region’s attractions, hospitality and retail operations have been hard hit during the Covid pandemic. These grant funds provide some much-needed assistance as we work together to promote local businesses and stimulate economic recovery,” says Erin Lynch, Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau. “Unlike previous years, there is no match required for grant funding, making it even easier for organizations to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Grant applications and program information can be found online at http://bit.ly/MWVBmini-grants. For questions or more information, please email Erin Lynch at erin@metrowestvisitors.org.
About the MetroWest Visitors Bureau — As the only regional organization with the mission of stimulating the MetroWest economy by marketing the region's assets, the MetroWest Visitors Bureau has served hundreds of businesses, nonprofit agencies, and municipalities since its founding. This independent nonprofit organization markets the region’s cultural and recreational venues, retailers, restaurants, accommodations, and educational and other services to visitors and residents alike. These marketing efforts also serve to brand the region, to build collaborations across sectors and towns, to support jobs-producing enterprises, and to celebrate the diverse and vibrant MetroWest community. Learn more about the MWVB by visiting www.metrowestvisitors.org or by following on social media @visitmetrowest.
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| MetroWest Visitors Bureau to Offer Mini-Grants |
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| What's with Complete Streets? |
Another great win for these girls!! 💙#undefeated @FHSSports @FranklinHS @FranklinMatters @MetroWestSports @HockomockSports @MyFM1013 @KatCornetta @FHSTrainingRoom
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| FHS Gymnastics: Saturday meet results 1 |
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| FHS Gymnastics: Saturday meet results 2 |
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| FHS Gymnastics: Saturday meet results 3 |
As past readers of these “Good Deeds” articles know sometimes the subject matter deals with real estate and home ownership issues. Other times a current event, a matter involving history or just something of interest is written about. With this article due I started looking at and writing about Groundhog Day which occurred on February 2, 2021. This is the day a groundhog, most notably Punxsutawney Phil, comes out of his home and predicts how much time is left of winter. There is even a movie film entitled “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray where everyday he wakes up reliving the same day over and over again. How many of us have felt that this is what has been taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic?
There is a saying “Life is what happens as you are making plans”. My plan and words for the “Good Deeds” article went right out the door when I received a call at 6:50 A.M. on Saturday morning February 6, 2021. I will get into what happened – but this “Good Deeds” message first and foremost is “Thank you to the Dedham Fire Department for responding to and knocking down a fire that took place at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Building.”
That early Saturday morning call I received was to get to the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds building in Dedham. There was not only a fire alarm sounding but there was a fire in the building. The fast and timely response of the Dedham Fire Department was crucial in preventing what could have been a disastrous fire at the beautiful and historic Registry building in Dedham square. No one got hurt in the fire. No firefighter nor other first responders got hurt. Property can be replaced but individuals not getting hurt or worse is what is most important.
How many times do firefighters respond to fire alarms going off and it was nothing? Not in the case of this call to the Registry building during the early hours of a Saturday morning. Firefighters, police officers and all first responders have to be ever vigilant and on top of these calls because the situations they walk in to may not be “false” or “routine”. In this case what was later to be determined to be an electrical fire caused by a light fixture ballast was taking place in a first-floor basement area of the Registry building. The firefighters of the Dedham Fire Department were on top of things as they came into the Registry Building using their training and skills. The fire personnel did a wonderful job in containing the fire and putting the fire out. You also see the work the Fire department does after a fire is put out. The firefighters start sorting through debris, putting items on a separate tarp while other fire personnel as well as police personnel start reviewing evidence left behind by the fire. Thank you to Dedham Deputy Police Chief Mike Buckley and Massachusetts State Police Detective Sergeant Tom Berteletti of the Office of the State Fire Marshall for their admirable professionalism and thoroughness after the fire was put out.
The words I kept repeating when I was at the Registry the morning of the fire was “It could have been worse.” These are the words I continue to repeat when asked since about the fire. Some might say what is the big deal of putting out a fire at the Registry of Deeds Building. As Register of Deeds with a responsibility to make sure land records get recorded and preserved that deal with the biggest asset most of us have, our homes, my biggest concern and fear over the years has been the Registry of Deeds due to fire burning down. Many hours of staff time have been spent looking at disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
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| Dedham Fire Department |
This beautiful and historic edifice built in 1903 has received extensive repairs and renovations culminating with a building rededication in 2019. A fire that destroyed this building would be a loss from a historical and preservationist perspective. But what about the records, indexes and land information dating back to Norfolk County’s founding in 1793? What about the modernization initiatives that have brought computers, servers and other technological equipment into the Registry Building? Be assured the records have been backed up on off-site computers as well as put on microfilm that is also stored at off-site facilities. However, the business impact of not having a Registry of Deeds Building in a key component of our economy, the real estate sector, would be incalculable. Buyers of homes, sellers of homes, lenders and banks, carpenters, developers, house builders, real estate brokers, attorneys, title examiners, engineers, house appraisers, home inspectors, tradesman and so many others have livelihoods that depend on what takes place at the Registry of Deeds Building. So, to me putting out a fire at the Registry of Deeds Building is a real big deal as it saved the Registry of Deeds Building and all that takes place, as well as the ripple effects of what takes place, in that building.
My thanks to all first responders everywhere for what you do everyday especially with the difficulties the Coronavirus pandemic has brought on. I am so grateful to the Dedham Fire Department for their professionalism in putting out this fire. In thanking these first responders that morning I could tell that they felt they were “Just doing their job”. For the Dedham firefighters it may be just doing their jobs but the effect of what they prevented is so much more. The firefighters of Dedham did and do their jobs exceptionally well. THANK YOU DEDHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT.