Tri-County Electrical Students Go For Gold In Wiring Competitions at District SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce. They provide educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education in the nation’s classrooms. “SkillsUSA is an investment in student success and its impact on student learning will be felt over the coming years,” said Tri-County electrical instructor, Robert Sprague.

1st Competition: Industrial Motor Control

The contestant is required to install electrical wiring and other devices used in an industrial setting as well as design and troubleshoot electrical diagrams using the proper testing instrument. 

• Gold - Jack Whittlesy, Sherborn
• Silver - Ryan Nawn, Franklin
• Bronze - Sean O’Reilly, Bellingham

2nd Competition: Residential Wiring

Contestants in residential wiring are tested on their ability to install wiring in a residence, working from drawings and specification sheets. 

• Gold - Alex Majewski, North Attleborough
• Silver - Alan Zheng, North Attleborough

SkillsUSA State Competition 

Students who earned gold and silver medals in the district competition now qualify for the state SkillsUSA competition, which will be held April 29th - May 1st. “This is the industry that I am in and I can tell you that there is a great demand in this field,” said Tri-County Advisory Committee Chairman, John Rainone. “Tri-County students will continue to ‘work hard because today counts,’ just as our school motto states,” commented Tri-County electrical instructor, Francis McKeown. 

Back Row: Sean O'Reilly, Jack Whittlesy. Alex Majewski - Front Row: Ryan Nawn,  Alan Zheng

FM #521 - Marilyn Sutcliffe - Franklin Food Pantry donor - 04/01/21 (audio)

FM #521 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 521 in the series. 

This shares my wonderful conversation with Franklin resident Marilyn Sutcliffe. We learn of Marilyn’s Franklin story and discuss the reasons behind her financial contributions for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Our conversation runs about 18 minutes, so let’s listen in to my conversation with Marilyn.

Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/480cbcf5-e462-4efa-b8c8-188449507b02

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Franklin Food Pantry  https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/  

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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/  or www.franklin.news/

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"

Marilyn Sutcliffe - Franklin Food Pantry donor

What are the fixed costs of the Town of Franklin budget?

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the history of the fixed costs year over year from FY 2004 to FY 2022.

• Appendix C3 - Historic Data: Fixed Cost

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_fixed_costs.pdf

The chart depicts the fixed costs of the budget year by year from FY 2004 to FY 2022.  

What are the fixed costs?

• Liability Insurance
• Employee Benefits:
• Pensions
• Health/Life Insurance/non school
• Retired Teacher Health Ins
• Non GIC - School Retirees
• Workers Compensation
• Unemployment Compensation
• OPEB
• Medicare

What are the fixed costs of the Town of Franklin budget?

Prior posts

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/town-of-franklin-budget-growth-and.html

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html

 

"we don’t build enough homes for everyone"

"PASSING AMBITIOUS LEGISLATION matters for obvious reasons, but so too does the rule-making process that follows a law’s passage. Final language often leaves state agencies with tremendous leeway, and real-world impact can vary widely based on administrative decisions that often get far less public scrutiny. Political scientist Leah Stokes calls this the “fog of enactment,” which opens the door for better-resourced interest groups and engaged insiders to water down the impact of landmark legislation.

Responding to years of advocacy for zoning reform, the Legislature recently passed a new transit oriented development law requiring cities and towns in the MBTA service area to create at least one zoning district that legalizes modest multi-family housing construction of at least 15 units per acre. The new law is a great opportunity to address our region’s housing crisis, but critical details remain to be worked out through a complex rule-making process involving the Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Transportation, and the MBTA – which could last for much of the coming year. Depending on where this process lands, this promising new law could, in practice, net thousands of new homes – or almost none. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/housing/getting-the-details-right-on-transient-oriented-development-law/ 

More COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for veterans, spouses & caregivers!

MORE COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS FOR 

VETERANS, SPOUSES AND CAREGIVERS!

Various Locations - Pre-Registration is NOT Required

Shared from: https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/more-covid-19-vaccine-clinics-veterans-spouses-and-caregivers

More COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for veterans, spouses & caregivers!

Vaccination is important for adults with underlying health conditions

"Vaccination is important for adults with underlying health conditions because they are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Vaccines for COVID-19 are recommended for people who haven’t had a bad reaction to any ingredients in the vaccine.

Get more information for certain conditions, including those that cause weakened immune systems, autoimmune conditions, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and Bell’s palsy": Vaccination Considerations for Persons with Underlying Medical Conditions | CDC

Vaccination is important for adults with underlying health conditions

Join in the town-wide cleanup on Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 24

Earth Day is celebrated across the country on Thursday, April 22 this year.  However, the Town of Franklin is sponsoring Franklin Earth Day on Saturday, April 24, 9:00-12:00 PM with a clean up of the entire Town. 

 
Employees of the Franklin Recreation Department and Franklin Public Works will be on site at Beaver Pond to distribute trash bags and gloves along with maps of the sites we recommend for clean up.  

Community service letters will be given to students that need hours for school. 

 
100 tee shirts to the first 100 volunteers.  DPW will have 100 dogwood saplings as well

Register online

https://franklinrecreation.activityreg.com/ss_t2.wcs?leaguesid=2385&teamsid=11205

Join in the town-wide cleanup on Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 24