Friday, January 21, 2022

Town Council Quarterbacking - with Chair Tom Mercer - 01/20/22 (audio)

FM #703 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 703 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of January 19, 2022: 


  • ok, what just happened? 

  • What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?


We cover the following key topics

Moment of silence for former Councilor Andy Bissanti


Proclamation/Recognition: Police Department

Retirement - Sgt. Brian Johnson

Retirement - Patrol Officer Rick Grover

Moving On - Kallie Montagano, Clinical Social Worker


FY23 Department of Public Works Budget & Enterprise Fund Preview 

Brutus Cantoreggi, Director of Public Works


Legislation

Resolution 22-04: Adoption of 2021-2022 Town Council Goals 

Resolution 22-05: FY22 Transfer of MECC Appropriation 

Resolution 22-06: Gift Acceptance - Senior Center 


LGBTQ+ Discrimination Project (Franklin High School) (video)  


The recording runs about 38 minutes:


Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. 


Let’s listen to this recording of Town Council Quarterbacking Jan 20, 2022

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-703-town-council-quarterbacking-01-20-22


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Town Council Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/tc_agenda_jan_19_2022.pdf 


My notes for the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/recap-town-council-gets-whole-lot-of.html 


Direct link to video if you have not seen it -> https://youtu.be/q8bXTNxtTiw

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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

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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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Town Council Quarterbacking - with Chair Tom Mercer - 01/20/22 (audio)
Town Council Quarterbacking - with Chair Tom Mercer - 01/20/22 (audio)

FHS girls indoor track team tops Taunton in 3-way meet on Thursday

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Thursday:  


Boys Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center) = Mansfield, 65 @ Franklin, 31 
– Final – Mansfield took first place in seven events plus swept both relays to grab a win over Franklin. Jake Wall was a double-winner, taking first in both the 55M (6.79) and the long jump (21-06.25) while the Hornets also got wins from Riley Tremblay (1000M, 2:50.19), Chris Leonard (1 Mile, 4:39.97), Collin Stevens (2 Mile, 10:30.17), Evan Rawlings (high jump, 5-02.00), and Dylan Buchanan (55M hurdles, 8.54). Luke Sidwell (300M, 37.70), Tyler Powderly (300M, 1:28.58), and Emmett Lackey (shot put, 40-08.75) had wins for Franklin.

Tough loss for the boys vs Mansfield (32-64).  Congrats to event winners Luke Sidwell (300), Tyler Powderly (600), and Emmett Lackey (SP).

Loss by the boys in a virtual meet vs Taunton (34-57). Congrats to event winners Tyler Powderly (600), Kevin Proenca (LJ), and Emmett Lackey (SP).

Double meet v Mansfield and Taunton.  Congrats to @emmettlackey1  for taking 1st against both Mansfield and Taunton.  Congrats to @ecournoyer23  for a big PR and placing 3rd v Mansfield.  Shoutouts to @GomezKaleth  for a season best and  @JamesSt80580917 a PR. Great work!  @FHSSports


Girls Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center) = Mansfield, 53 @ Franklin, 47 – Final 
– Mansfield took points from each individual event, getting two of the top three spots in five events to just edge out Franklin and finish the season at 5-0 for the Kelley-Rex division title. The Hornets got key points with a 1-2 finish in the 55M dash (Chloe Guthrie, Abigail Scott), the 1000M (Katherine Miller, Meghan Johnston), the 1 Mile (Norah Puleo, Alanna Conley) and the long jump (Anna Buckley, Elsie Roberts) plus first and third in the 55M hurdles (Buckley, Julia Pike). Mansfield also got key wins in the 600M (Caitlin Dumouchel) and the 2 Mile (Anna Moore). Franklin picked up wins from Sophia Cuneo (300M, 1:48.13), Abigail Griffith (high jump, 5-00.00), and Darby Nicholson (shot put, 30-08.50).

Hard fought loss to Mansfield by the girls tonight (47-53). Congrats to event winners  Sophia Cuneo (300), Abby Griffith (HJ), Darby Nicholson (SP), 4x2 (Sophia Cuneo, Alex Pond, Maddie Gaughran, Barra Pfluke) and 4x4 (Olivia Costa, Anna Cliff, Sarah Dumas, Lainey Costa)

Big win for the girls vs Taunton (66-34). Congrats to event winners Anna Cliff (55), Sarah Dumas (55H), Olivia Costa (600), Meghan Griffith (mile), Abby Griffith (HJ), Cailyn Bruno (LJ), Darby Nicholson (SP), and 4x2 (Sophia Cuneo, Alex Pond, Maddie Gaughran, Barra Pfluke)

In girls shot at Double meet v Mansfield and Taunton.  Congrats to 
@darbynicholson_ for taking 1st in both meets and  @elizabe82032317  for taking 2nd against Taunton and 3rd v Mansfield.  @FHSSports


For other results around the Hockomock League


FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Panther News: Friday, Jan. 21, 2022 (video)

Panther News: Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. At the end, there's a compilation of this week's Jazz Band performance!
https://t.co/nR10LMVgLS via @YouTube



“Imagine what we can learn”

"When talking with entrepreneurs Mariana Matus and Newsha Ghaeli about poop, things can veer into the philosophical.

“The behavior of a city is imprinted in its sewage,” Ghaeli says. “It’s like the fingerprints of our health.”

Their company, Biobot Analytics, has met the pandemic moment. What started as a research idea at MIT, focusing on how waste water data can help mitigate the spread of disease, has turned into something bigger. Now, it’s a fast-growing startup — with over 65 employees and millions in funding — that has contracted with over 700 towns, across every state in the country, to study their sewage and help policy makers predict how bad the coronavirus could get in their communities."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
Mariana Matus, cofounder and CEO of Biobot Analytics.ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF
Mariana Matus, cofounder and CEO of Biobot Analytics.ERIN CLARK/GLOBE STAFF

Boston Globe: The need for substitute teachers; Globe’s climate team is expanding and rethinking its coverage

"When Toni Preston began substitute teaching for Cambridge Public Schools in November of 2019, she monitored the online job listings throughout the day to snap one up before others beat her to it.

Now, whenever Preston isn’t already signed up to work, she’s sure to wake up to an early morning robocall from the district, informing her of the many unfilled openings that day.

“When I’m on a job, I have teachers who may see me in the hall or even drop in the classroom, asking me if I can cover for them,” said Preston, 76. “That tells me that they really need a sub.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/20/metro/its-been-desperate-call-substitute-teachers-high-demand-districts-grapple-with-teaching-shortages/

"This is how long we have ignored warnings of a coming crisis:

It’s been more than half a century since a presidential panel under Lyndon Johnson found that fossil fuel emissions could be warming the earth.

It’s been 40 years since the National Academies of Sciences published a massive landmark study with similar conclusions.

And it’s been three decades — the span of an entire generation — since a NASA scientist named James Hansen sat before Congress and testified that human-caused global warming was not only real but “already happening now.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

Globe’s climate team is expanding and rethinking its coverage
Globe’s climate team is expanding and rethinking its coverage


Register for Senator Becca Rausch's Town Hall - Monday, Jan 24


"You're invited! Join me for a virtual town hall on 1/24 to reflect on 2021 and share your priorities for 2022. 
This event will begin with a short briefing about my legislative work then open up for a Q+A with constituents. 
Register here: https://t.co/fhfj9jg3Py #mapoli "
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeccaRauschMA/status/1484223530283810819

Register for Senator Becca Rausch's Town Hall - Monday, Jan 24
Register for Senator Becca Rausch's Town Hall - Monday, Jan 24



Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Jan 21, 2022

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday
9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

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

7:00 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Fire Safety
8:29:00 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19
9:00:00 am Frank Presents: Michael Walker-Jones
10:00 am Physician Focus: Concussions and Brain Injury
10:30:00 am SAFE Coalition: PSA
11:00:00 am Senior Connection: Sleep
11:30 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Fire Safety
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles
12:30 pm Sandya: Pasta
1:00:00 pm Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19
1:30:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Deep Dish
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 1
3:00 pm The Drummers Studio: 11th Anniversary Show Two
4:30 pm Whole Health Visions: Cheryl Bagangan
5:00 pm We The People January 6th Vigil
7:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur
8:00 pm Senior Connection: Sleep
8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Phil Ochs

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2019
8:30 am ArtWeek: Airme THURSDAY
7:00 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2019
8:30 am ArtWeek: Airmen of Note
11:00 am FHS Varsity Wrestling: v Taunton 0-12-22
1:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Milford 01-05-21
3:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v Hingham 01-12-22
5:00 pm Public School Concerts: Oak Street Music 2019
6:30 pm FHS Varsity Swimming: v Mansfield 12-16-21


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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 01-13-22
11:00 am Finance Committee 01-12-22: 01-12-22
2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 01-13-22
5:00 pm Finance Committee 01-12-22: 01-12-22

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