Community Relations Subcommittee - Jan 12, 2022 - 6 PM

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin School Committee

Community Relations Sub Committee

Wednesday January 12, 2022 = 6:00 P.M.

A G E N D A

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● Call to Order

● Review Community Relations Subcommittee mission: to unify the Franklin community through an ongoing dialogue that broadens the community’s knowledge of FPS, increases engagement, and enhances our understanding of the community’s needs

● Legislative Forum - Date, Questions

● How do we maximize the reach and impact of our communications? Which activities should we continue, stop, start? What are the more effective communication channels?

● Confirm schedule for upcoming meetings

Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/community_relations_sub_comm_agenda_1-12-22.pdf

Community Relations Subcommittee - Jan 12, 2022 - 6 PM

Medicare.gov: 3 things you can do to protect yourself from Omicron (vax, boost, mask!)

Help stop the Omicron COVID-19 variant by using all the tools to protect yourself and others.

Protect yourself from Omicron The Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes COVID-19. Here are 3 things you can do to help protect yourself and others: Get the COVID-19 vaccine, if you haven't already. Vaccines are the best tool to protect us from COVID-19. They slow the transmission of the virus, and provide strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization. Get the booster when you're fully eligible. Everyone 18 years and older should get a booster shot 2 months after their Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or 5 months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Adolescents and teens ages 12 to 17 should also get a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech 5 months after their primary series. Continue wearing a mask in indoor public places in areas of high or substantial community transmission. Use the COVID-19 County Check Tool to find your county's level of community transmission. Learn More Remember: Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot at no cost to you. Visit Vaccines.gov to find COVID-19 vaccines and boosters near you. Sincerely, The Medicare Team This message is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was created and distributed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You're receiving this message because you signed up for email updates from the Medicare Team.

Add this to the worry list: IRS "warns of ‘enormous challenges’ this tax-filing season"

"Treasury Department officials on Monday said that the Internal Revenue Service will face “enormous challenges” during this year’s tax filing season, warning of delays to refunds and other taxpayer services.

In a phone call with reporters, Treasury officials predicted a “frustrating season” for taxpayers and tax preparers as a result of delays caused by the pandemic, years of budget cuts to the IRS and the federal stimulus measures that have added to the tax agency’s workload.

Typically, IRS officials enter filing season with an unaddressed backlog of roughly 1 million returns. This year, however, the IRS will enter the filing season facing “several times” that, Treasury officials said, although they declined to give a more precise estimate. The IRS website says that as of Dec. 23, 2021, it still had 6 million unprocessed individual returns, and as of the start of this month it still had more than 2 million unprocessed amended tax returns, a separate category."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/01/10/treasury-irs-filing-season/

FYI - For 2020, I filed in February and didn't get a return status until July.  I had a very minor miscalculation in my return that held it up.  Only thing to do is file early, and file accurately.

IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig appears before a House panel last year. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Looking for a podcast to listen to? Have you heard of the Kitchen Sisters?

Looking for a podcast to listen to? This might be one to fit: 

"For more than 40 years, radio and podcast producers, Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, best known as The Kitchen Sisters on public radio, have chronicled the lives, rituals, triumphs and tribulations of people from all walks of life, weaving together a rich tapestry of America’s cultural heritage. Now the Library of Congress is acquiring their full body of work, including more than 7,000 hours of audio, photos, handwritten journals, podcasts and storybooks.

Known for their pioneering approach to storytelling, Nelson and Silva’s award-winning public radio programs amplify the voices of people rarely covered in the news media and have helped raise awareness about myriad social causes. Their work is featured on NPR, PRX, the BBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as well as at international festivals, and in live and multimedia performances.

“The Kitchen Sisters have enlightened audiences for decades, unearthing unique stories about people and cultural traditions across the globe. You learn about the impact of internment on Japanese American cooking, stories about the mythic Route 66, and the ways minority and immigrant communities shape the American soundscape. The Library of Congress is thrilled to receive this outstanding body of work,” said Elizabeth Peterson, director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress."

Shared from the Library of Congress page:  https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-22-001/

Looking for a podcast to listen to? Have you heard of the Kitchen Sisters?

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Tuesday, Jan 11, 2022

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Tuesday

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM  Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era

11:00 AM 2 PM and 8:00 PM SAFE Radio– Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen
Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY

7:00 am The Drummers Studio: 11th Anniversary Show Two
9:00 am It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club
10:00 am Frank Presents: Greg Dowd
11:30 am Senior Connection: Sleep
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles
12:30 pm Sandya: Pasta
1:00:00 pm SAFE Coalition: PSA
1:30:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 8
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 11
3:30 pm The Only Cure Is Education
4:00 pm ArtWeek: Games
4:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Roberto Morbioli
5:30 pm Physician Focus: Concussions and Brain Injury
8:30 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = TUESDAY

7:00 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2019

8:30 am Public School Event: Lifelong Winter Music 2021

10:00 am FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v Belmont 01-02-22

12:00 pm ArtWeek: Airmen of Note

2:00 pm It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club

3:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey: v Longmeadow 12-31-21

4:31 pm Public School Concert: FHS Winter Jazz 01-23-20

6:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Basketball: v King Philip 01-15-21

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = TUESDAY

8:00 am School Committee: 12-14-21

11:00 am Economic Development: 01-05-22

2:00 pm School Committee: 12-14-21

7:00 pm School Committee: LIVE, Chambers, 861 6627 2236 P: 850368

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf     

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Sign up for the Franklin Matters Q&A Session - Jan 12, 2022 - 11 AM (hybrid)

Please join me for an informative and informal Q&A session. A hybrid meeting. I plan to be in the Senior Center and will have the Zoom conference bridge available for remote participation.

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form:   https://forms.gle/cjgfpsG3yi4dkLiq9

When: Wednesday, Jan 12 at 11:00 AM  

• What should be on the "Watch List" for 2022? 
• budget, COVID, affordable housing, downtown zoning, etc...

 

Franklin Matters Q&A session scheduled for Jan 12, 2022 - 11 AM

Franklin Food Pantry schedule change due to weather/COVID-19

"The Pantry will be closed for night distribution, Tuesday, 1/11 from 5:30p-6:30p due to a combination of COVID-safety concerns and frigid temps. 

Please visit us from Tuesday 9a-1p or Friday 9a-1p for curbside distribution – no appointments needed. @franklinmatters"

Shared from Twitter ->  https://t.co/2sbtXDMDTX  or   https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1480601210457571331

Franklin Food Pantry schedule change due to weather/COVID-19