Boston Globe: "Harvard professor Danielle Allen to launch historic bid for governor"

"Harvard professor Danielle Allen will launch a historic campaign for governor on Tuesday, entering the Democratic field as the first Black woman to run for the executive office as part of a major party in Massachusetts at a time when women and people of color are breaking barriers in city and state government.

Allen, 49, joins what’s likely to be a crowded primary with a hefty academic resume but no experience holding elected office.

A MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient and the head of Harvard’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics since 2015, Allen says she is running to bring the lessons of her career as a political philosopher — that government must meet a high bar, serving all people — to Beacon Hill.

And her bid solidifies a family legacy steeped in fights for racial justice: a grandfather who helped found the first NAACP chapter in his North Florida community, where doing so meant risking one’s life, and a grandmother, working as a nurse in the segregated South, who dreamed that one day her offspring would study at Harvard."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/13/metro/harvard-professor-danielle-allen-launch-historic-bid-governor/

CommonWealth Magazine coverage of her campaign launch

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/harvard-professor-launches-campaign-for-governor/

You can listen to Danielle on an episode of  "Toward a More Perfect Union"

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5230abc8-a5e5-4ec6-89b3-2f1e1beeaa11

I have read her book on the Declaration of Independence "Our Declaration." She provides a slow reading of the text with insights and perspectives you don't get elsewhere. Well worth the time to read.

https://smile.amazon.com/Our-Declaration-Reading-Independence-Equality-ebook/dp/B00FPT5KYW/

"Our Declaration"

FM #562 - Board of Health Mtg - 06/09/21 (audio)

FM #562 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 562 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Board of Health meeting held on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

The meeting was conducted in person at the Municipal Bldg third floor training room. There was also a Zoom session for remote participation and no one did. This was the first in person meeting since Feb 2020.

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 31 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting for June.  Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f82d62b7-9494-48db-9871-3c5cac165c7e

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Board of Health agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/agenda-06-09-2021_0.pdf

My notes captured from the meeting 

• Live reporting for Board of Health meeting underway #boh0609

• Cathleen provides update on work for new podcast The Topic, to explore a variety of health issues #boh0609

• Lots of ideas coming for the new podcast, BoH loves the concept #BoH0609

• Discussion on emergency condemnation, slow process but underway. #BoH0609 VNA contract ending Jun 30, hiring a nurse is underway.

• There is progress on the 27 Winter St property, as well as Jordan Road property. #BoH0609

• (I neglected to close out the meeting when it adjourned. Had some in person conversations to distract me from the process.)

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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"

 

screengrab of a prior virtual Board of Health mtg

Register O’Donnell Reminds Homeowners of Need to File Mortgage Discharges with this Increased Real Estate Activity

The Norfolk Registry of Deeds even during this COVID-19 pandemic has been very busy recording land documents.  In calendar year 2020 there were over 179,000 documents recorded at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds which was a nineteen (19%) percent increase over the year before.  A sizeable portion of this document volume were the 45,669 mortgages recorded representing a fifty-four (54%) percent increase in calendar year 2020 over 2019. 

This growth has continued into calendar year 2021.  During the five-month period from January 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021 there were 85,046 documents recorded at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds which is a forty-four (44%) percent increase over the same time period in 2020.  A big part of this document volume was the 22,045 mortgages recorded.  This represents a forty-nine (49%) percent increase in filed mortgages in this five-month period in calendar year 2021 over the same period in 2020.
 
Given this huge increase in mortgage activity Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell advises Norfolk County homeowners about the need to file a mortgage discharge after their mortgage has been paid off.
 
Register O’Donnell stated, “As consumers we all need to borrow money.  There are many reasons why consumers borrow money- to purchase a house, to make home improvements or to help pay for ever increasing tuition payments of our children.  The borrowing of money involving real estate leads to a mortgage being recorded against the title of that real estate.”
 
Register O’Donnell stated, “When a mortgage has been paid off, a mortgage discharge document needs to be recorded with the Registry of Deeds to clear a homeowner’s property title relative to that loan. This is particularly important in light of the thousands of homeowners who have been taking advantage of historically low interest rates to refinance their mortgages. It should be noted a discharge is a document (typically one-two pages) issued by the lender, usually with a title such as “Discharge of Mortgage” or “Satisfaction of Mortgage”.  During this busy period of refinancing your old mortgages are being paid off.  As a consumer you want to make sure a discharge has been recorded at the Registry of Deeds which tells the world that that mortgage has been paid off.”
 
“In some instances,” noted the Register, “mortgage discharges are filed directly by banks or settlement closing attorneys with the Registry as part of a property sale or as a result of a refinancing transaction. In other cases, the mortgage discharge is sent to the property owner who then becomes responsible for making sure the document is recorded. Whether or not the mortgage discharge is recorded by the lending institution or the individual property owner, it is imperative that the property owner makes sure all necessary documents have been recorded at the Registry of Deeds.”
 
“If you are looking to check your title and make sure all your mortgages have been properly discharged, Norfolk County homeowners can access the Registry’s online records at www.norfolkdeeds.org. By going to the Online Research section of our website, you can verify that all mortgages associated with the property have been discharged. Please remember not having a mortgage discharged will result in a title issue and thereby impact the process of selling one’s home,” noted O’Donnell. 
 
The Register further noted that there have been cases where no discharge has been recorded against a long paid off mortgage. “Unfortunately, some of the lending institutions that provided funds for these mortgages are no longer in existence. In other cases, financial entities have merged with another lending institution.”
 
If a property owner needs to retrieve an original discharge of a mortgage and is unclear which lending institution is now responsible for providing the document, an option is to contact the Massachusetts Division of Banks at 1-800-495-2265 x-1 and then x-61501. Another option is to access the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation website www.fdic.gov. Then find the BankFind tab approximately half way down the home page, put in the lending institution in question, then click on the lending institution link and you will be able to determine who has responsibility for the mortgage. 
 
When recording a mortgage discharge, the original document is required. The Registry of Deeds by law cannot accept photo copies or faxed copies of documents. The filing fee, set by state statute, is $106.00.
 
In conclusion, Register O’Donnell stated, “After paying off all the mortgages on their property, homeowners want to know they have clear title to their property, especially if they are contemplating selling. Knowing what steps need to be taken to ensure all paid off mortgages have been properly discharged will go a long way in giving the homeowner assurances that they have clear title to their property. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that homeowners make sure their mortgage discharge has been filed with the Registry of Deeds once their mortgage has been paid off.”
 
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is staffed with a team of customer service representatives who can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30AM-4:30PM at 781-461-6101. These representatives have been trained in researching documents and are well versed on the subject of mortgage discharges and what, if necessary, needs to be done to clear title to a property.
 
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.
 
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham.  The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information.  All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org.  Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

Reminds Homeowners of Need to File Mortgage Discharges

Economic Development Subcommittee - June 16, 2021

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

June 16, 2021 - 7:00 PM

The public will be permitted to enter the building to participate in person.

Agenda:

1. Housing Production Plan  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

2. Home Occupation Business Zoning Discussion

The agenda doc contains connection info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/edc_agenda_6-16-2021.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee - June 16, 2021

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - June 16, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting 

Agenda & Meeting Packet 

June 16th, 2021 = 6:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street

The public will be permitted to enter the building to participate in person.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate via the “ZOOM” Platform.

Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comments
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Chapter 61A, Town’s Right of First Refusal to Purchase Approx. 70 Acres of Land off Maple Street approved as “Maple Hill” Definitive Residential Subdivision:

a. Cover Memo and Purchase & Sale Agreement: (

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/6._web_rofr_hearing.pdf)

i. Notice of intent to sell land for residential use off Maple Street

b. Open Space Presentation - April 6th, 2021 CPC Meeting  (

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/open_space_presentation_update_4-6-2021.pdf)

c. 2016 Town of Franklin Open Space Plan  

(https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/updated_osrp.pdf)

d. Financials

e. Town Administrator Presentation to Town Council June 9, 2021  (

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/_maple_hill_rofr_open_space_update.pdf)

5. Budget Stabilization Policy Discussion
6. Fletcher Fund Expenditures
7. FY21 Budget Update
8. Future Agenda Items
9. Adjourn

Agenda doc contains connection info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/6-16-21_fincom_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - June 16, 2021

Escape to the Arts! - last day of events today, ArtWALK continues through June

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13 closes out the Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration. 

 
For the complete schedule of events and activities for the ArtWALK

https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts 

ArtWALK map of art located in the businesses ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SafEWF9L8tiAXkFuhQ4xwtfHffYhTKyF/view?usp=sharing

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13

Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13

Nick Gaspar Day at George’s Pizza - June 23

"Join us and show your support for Nick on Wednesday June 23rd, 2021 by eating at George’s!

15% of ALL Orders will be generously donated by George’s to support Nick and his family.  

Please visit George’s @ 1 Crossing Plaza Franklin, MA 02038 or CALL 508-528-0055
or order online -> http://george-s-pizza.mxstorefront.com/"

#1NickStrong18  

Download the flyer as a reminder:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1baV772erbBN-_GcZMZewd6to6V5zW822/view?usp=sharing 

Visit the webpage for additional ways to support the Gaspar family https://nickgaspar.com/

Nick Gaspar Day at George’s Pizza  - June 23