The year of understanding: COVID-19 and the humanity of the unvaccinated - The Boston Globe

"For the most part, people are looking for answers, but the cards are stacked against them in this digital world. Every health care provider has had that one ardent unvaccinated conspiracy theorist who refused to believe that COVID is real despite showing them their trashed lungs on the CT scan, all while they’re on high-flow oxygen. Anecdote holding the power that it does, that patient runs the risk of coloring our perception of all unvaccinated patients in this same light. But, instead, my charge to health care providers is this: Take a meaningful pause and ask, “How did this person get to this point?” And understand that their condition is in part due to the challenges of the common person trying to understand complex medical science and being influenced by those with alternative agendas.

That same night, I diagnosed a young woman, with three young kids, with lung cancer. She was a smoker, and she knew that smoking can cause cancer. How is her situation any different from an unvaccinated person with COVID? How many of us would stand at the bedside in her tragic hour and berate her for smoking? How many of us would, upon learning of someone’s death from cancer, say flatly, “Served her right”? If she said. “I didn’t think it would happen to me,” would anyone really say, “Whelp, I hope you survive” as we walked out the room? These are statements I have heard said to or about unvaccinated COVID patients in a recent week. Clearly, this does nothing to foster that trusted relationship between a physician and their patient.

When I asked my unvaccinated COVID patient what was keeping him from getting the shot, he said he had read online that the vaccine gets into your DNA and he was afraid of what that would mean. So I sat down on his bed and spent a few minutes drawing a picture of a cell and nucleus, and explained in simple terms how mRNA works and why his DNA is not at risk. His next question was, “How soon can I get the vaccine?” He then called his kids and told them the same, and they asked where they could get the vaccine. While not successful in every encounter, I’m optimistic about the ripple effect that these little wins may have. And damn it if we don’t need a win now and again. In our most fundamental charge, “doctor” means “teacher.” This is the year where we understand. This is the year where we teach."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/27/opinion/year-understanding-covid-19-humanity-unvaccinated/

Anti-vaccination protesters near Los Angeles City Hall on Aug. 14. Earlier that week, the City Council voted to require proof of vaccination to enter many public indoor spaces in the city. DAVID MCNEW/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

One story, two headlines

Boston Globe:  

"Eric Rosengren, president of the Boston Fed, moves up retirement, citing kidney illness"

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/27/business/eric-rosengren-president-boston-fed-retire-after-fed-begins-review-how-it-oversees-investments-officers/

Washington Post: 

"Two Fed officials announce retirements amid controversy over ethics and stocktrading"

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/09/27/eric-rosengren-boston-fed/

Sen. Rausch on COVID emergency paid sick leave

Senator Becca Rausch: 

"Last month I filed a bill to provide paid time off for parents and caregivers taking children to COVID-19 vaccination appointments; today that provision is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law. We cannot get to the other side of this pandemic without widespread vaccination, and we cannot force families to choose between putting food on the table and providing their children with life-saving preventive care. I am so proud that my proposal to uplift Massachusetts families was included in the Legislature's COVID emergency paid sick leave extension, and I remain fervently committed to advancing the data-driven public health policies we need to safeguard our communities.

Sen. Rausch on COVID emergency paid sick leave

Mass. Public Health - in-home vaccination available

"Massachusetts offers in-home vaccinations for anyone who can't travel to a vaccination location. To learn more and sign up for an in-home vaccination, call (833) 983-0485. 

Learn more about the in-home vaccination program: https://t.co/Aoly326Nn8 

#TrustTheFacts #GetTheVax"

Shared from https://t.co/ooVrOH7k5E

Mass. Public Health - in-home vaccination available

FSPA Ballet Conservatory Alums Join Professional Ballet Companies

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) Ballet Conservatory celebrates its former students who are currently dancing in professional companies all around the world. FSPA's Ballet conservatory Program offers classical ballet education of the highest quality. Under the direction of former American Ballet Theatre (ABT) dancer Cheryl Madeux, an extensive range of training and performance experiences provides exceptional opportunities for students of all ages and levels interested in the study of classical ballet. The FSPA Ballet curriculum is based on the foundations of the ABT National Training Curriculum. All teachers on the FSPA Conservatory Track have been certified in the NTC program.

Former FSPA Ballet Conservatory student Melissa Chapski is currently dancing with the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich after joining the company in April. After training at FSPA until 2012, she graduated from the Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program in New York City. That same year, she was awarded a gold medal at Indianapolis International Ballet Competition and Youth American Grand Prix's Boston regional, and a contract to the Dutch National Ballet's junior company at YAGP Finals where she placed top 12. Chapski danced two seasons in Dutch National's junior company followed by three seasons in the corps de ballet. She has appeared as a guest artist in galas in London, Spain, Mexico, Switzerland, China, America, and The Netherlands. Chapski was also featured as 'Emma' in the movie High Strung: Free Dance and has done ad campaigns for Huawei Mobile, Nikon Europe, Discount Dance Supply, Capezio, and Russian Pointe.

Noura Sander was recently promoted to Studio Company with The Washington Ballet and Jared Brouillette joined Kansas City Ballet II. Both studied in FSPA’s Ballet Conservatory with Cheryl Madeux and faculty and were featured in the Franklin Performing Arts Company’s Nutcracker.  Colleen Megley, an FSPA Ballet Conservatory graduate, has been serving as Manager of School Programs at New York City Ballet since 2018. Megley received her Master’s degree in Dance Education and Ballet Pedagogy from NYU Steinhardt and was on the ballet faculty at the Peridance Capezio Center in NYC for eight years. 

In previous years, FSPA has presented its students for Examinations in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum at ABT’s studios in New York, NY. The Examination class was taught by Ms. Madeux. FSPA is proud to incorporate the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum, a nine-level program that combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health and child development for students of all ages and skill levels. Upon successful exam completion, Cheryl Madeux earned the distinction of ABT Affiliate Teacher.

FSPA also offers two additional tracks of Ballet study for students not on the pre-professional path and advanced dancers with limited time in their schedules. 

For more information on Ballet at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, visit www.FSPAonline.com, call 508-528-8668, or stop by the facility at 38 Main Street in Franklin, MA. Follow FSPA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

Noura Sander

FM #612 - Town Council Candidate Tom Mercer - 09/22/21 (audio)

FM #612 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 612 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with candidate for Town Council Tom Mercer. 

This is one of a series of conversations with candidates for the Franklin Election on Nov 2, 2021. I do this to provide Franklin, MA voters with accurate and timely information that they can use to cast an informed vote.  Publication of the answers or interview responses does not constitute an endorsement of this or any candidate.

We cover the candidate questions as previously developed with the community and shared with the candidates. Five of the questions are ‘general’ in nature, the sixth is specific to the role of the candidate. In this case, for the Town Council.

Our conversation runs about 21 minutes, so let’s listen to my interview with Tom Mercer.  Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f91cda47-c24b-459a-8433-e1fb7f6efb8c

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Candidate questions -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/09/election-2021-candidate-interview.html 

Contact info:

• Phone -> 508 528-9084

• Email address -> tmercer@franklinma.gov 

Election Collection 2021 ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/franklin-election-collection-2021.html 

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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"

 

Town Council Candidate Tom Mercer

Denise Spencer: School Committee meeting reminder - 9/28/21 - 7 PM

Agenda: https://t.co/MeTmk6OR8A

Zoom: https://t.co/phH4kzbbEZ 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/6uYviqTuvq

Denise Spencer: School Committee meeting reminder - 9/28/21 - 7 PM