Friday, June 4, 2021

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned

"World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 raises awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. This is more important than ever as cases of elder abuse have increased significantly during the pandemic. Abuser tactics—isolation, manipulation, and systemic barriers (such as ageism and racism)—put older adults at greater risk for harm.

One common tactic scammers use is to pose as Social Security employees. They may claim the older person’s Social Security number is linked to a crime. Feeling isolated and frightened, the scammers get the older person to provide them money or vital personal information that they then can use to exploit them financially. Social Security offers guidance and reporting assistance to help prevent this form of elder abuse. If you or someone you know is a target of one of these scams, we encourage you to report it on the Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General website."

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned

Continue reading the article online

https://blog.ssa.gov/world-elder-abuse-awareness-day-what-we-have-learned/ 

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Panther TV: FHS Senior Awards - Class of 2021 - broadcast at 7:30 PM

Franklin High School's Senior Awards Ceremony premieres tonight at 7:30!! 
Watch it here: https://t.co/STms2Rh0EO via @YouTube  
@FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews @FranklinMatters



the FHS field is set for graduation, Senior Awards are broadcast tonight
the FHS field is set for graduation, Senior Awards are broadcast tonight


FM #557 - ArtWALK Artists & Business Panel - 05/26/21 (audio)

FM #557 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 557 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with a wonderful fun loving panel of business and artists on the forthcoming ArtWALK Celebration. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.


  • Agway- Melanie Hamblen 

  • Artist - Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau

  • Rockland Trust- Laurel Katsaros 

  • Artist -  Walter Spencer  


We talk about the upcoming ArtWALK scheduled for June 11, 12 and 13. The events will take place on the Town Common, at THE BLACK BOX, and the Historical Museum. 


Check out the Cultural District page for all the details https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts 


Thanks to the Franklin Cultural District, The Franklin Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (grant), Franklin Downtown Partnership, The Franklin Art Association and the Franklin Public Library. Did we miss someone? I hope not, there are a lot collaborating on this wonderful event.


The recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen to our conversation

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ca85c06e-3f17-462b-a7a9-75e5abf1eee9



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ArtWALK - event page -> https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts 


Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/ 


Library Summer Reading page https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/events/317406 


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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"

One of the pieces of art to be displayed at Agway:  


Artwork by Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau with Brooke J. Toubeau as her collaboration partner
Artwork by Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau with Brooke J. Toubeau as her collaboration partner

Recap - Municipal Affordable Housing Trust 06/02/21

Quick Recap:
  • Presentation by Planning Director Bryan Taberner provides an overview of the Housing Production Plan as drafted for review and comment
  • Some clarification questions were asked by the small audience. Who sets the affordable housing rate? The State does and each community uses the same calculation. What is calculated as affordable isn't really affordable for some.
  • Before the meeting closed an overview of process from this point was provided: more meetings/public hearings coming, the public comment period closes 6/25/21, then a redraft is made to incorporate the public comments. Another schedule of hearings by the Planning Board and Town Council before they approve the HPP and it is submitted to the State for approval

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #hpp0602

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23hpp0602&src=typeahead_click 


Agenda doc for this meeting -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/municipal_affordable_housing_trust_june_2_2021_01.pdf 


Meeting recording to be available soon
  • Live reporting underway for the Municipal Housing Trust public hearing on the housing production plan #hpp0602
  • Copy of the plan can be found https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf #hpp0602
  • Slides from presentation being shared by planning director Bryan Taberner #hpp0602
  • (I obtained a copy of the presentation so that is available - see link below - Several tweets shared 3 photos of the slides as Bryan moved through the updates. He read much of the content. When finished, there was more discussion and that is picked up in my notes)
  • Affordable rent currently in Franklin is about $1600-1800/month which in most cases is not really affordable. #hpp0602
  • How do we increase density? In some zoning districts multi family is via a special permit, or we could change the current zoning bylaws to allow for more than we have #hpp0602
  • Zoning changes take time but the process for housing adjustments starts now. There is a study of our overall zoning regs specifically looking at affordable and housing #hpp0602 the study will help outline some possible changes
  • At one point we were comfortably over the affordable percent. Every time we build a house and add it to the inventory our percent drops if it is not affordable. So if we add a development of x units with none affordable, it makes a bigger change. #hpp0602
  • #hpp0602 if a project comes on with a portion of affordable, the whole total, assuming the portion goes thru the state affordable process, can count in the inventory of affordable.
  • #hpp0602 there have been projects that were good for the Town that didn't work out. We really should go for a friendly 40b where we still get a say and the affordable units.
  • There are developers who are very anxious to work on affordable units, we (the Town) should have an appropriate set of an incentives available #hpp0602
  • Four developments and the senior housing account for 90% of our affordable units #hpp0602 attachment D in the plan as linked before contains the details of our current inventory
  • Some Q&A, overview of process from here, more meetings coming, public comment closes 6/25 and then a redraft is presented for approval by Planning Board and Town Council before submitting to state #hpp0602
  • Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0. Catch you next time. #hpp0602
Membership of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust
  • Present: Chris Vericker (chair), Maxine Kinheart, Judy Pfeffer
  • Absent: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Mary Anne Bertone, Chris Feeley, Robert Keras

Planning Director Bryan Taberner
Planning Director Bryan Taberner


Link to presentation doc


Pantherbook: Student Spotlight -> Carolyn Hagy and Elaine Pu

"Congratulations to Carolyn Hagy and Elaine Pu for being named Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2021
Pantherbook reached out to both girls to hear their thoughts on this amazing accomplishment and learn more about how they achieved this!"

Carolyn Hagy’s Senior Photo(left) & Elaine Pu traveling to Niagara Falls(Right)
Carolyn Hagy’s Senior Photo(left) & Elaine Pu traveling to Niagara Falls(Right)


FHS girls lacrosse team posts win vs. Mansfield

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS spring sports results:
 
Softball = Franklin, 4 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final 
– Mansfield won for the third straight time and moved within a game of .500 on the season. The Hornets scored the winner in the bottom of the sixth, after Franklin had rallied from three runs down to tie it. Ashlyn Conley (3-for-3) doubled and then came around to score on a Nicole Kobasa (2-for-3) single. In addition to driving in the winning run, Kobasa also came up big in right field, throwing out a pair of runners at first. Franklin jumped in front in the second, but Mansfield scored three in the fourth inning to lead 3-1. Casey Moussette (2-for-3) started it with a single, Molly Kucharski reached on a fielder’s choice, Conley singled, and another fielder’s choice from Kobasa scored the first run. Abby DeCoste (2-for-3) tripled to score one and then came around when the throw got away. The Hornets tacked on a run in the fifth on a walk by Jill Koppy, a stolen base, and then an RBI-single from Moussette. Live Madeira also had a hit for Mansfield.

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 23 @ Mansfield, 6 – Final 
– Franklin secured at least a share of its eighth straight league title, beating Mansfield for the second time in as many days, and extending its lengthy league win streak by another game. Katie Jones powered the Panthers with six goals and an assist, but Franklin showed off its balance on offense. Jackie O’Neil scored four times and assisted on another and Stella Regan scored twice and had five assists. Jamie Tanner had a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Lindsay Atkinson had a strong game in the Franklin midfield, winning 10 draws.


FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Empty Bowls Event - June 10, 2021

The Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club will host a reimagined Empty Bowls event on June 10. 
The event will take place at Franklin High School in the ceramics studio from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. 
The club partners with the Franklin Food Pantry to create hand-made empty bowls to give to attendees as a reminder of the many “empty bowls” that exist in the lives of those who experience hunger.
Shared from Facebook:
Empty Bowls Event - June 10, 2021
Empty Bowls Event - June 10, 2021