May is Older Americans Month: Unleashing the Power of Age

From Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services, we read

This year, the theme of Older American’s Month – President Carter changed the name in 1980 – is Unleashing the Power of Age, which seems eminently appropriate given the numbers and longevity of today’s senior population.  More seniors are still working or looking for jobs, engaged in athletic activities, volunteering in their communities, retooling skills, following artistic pursuits, aging in place, and caring for family members.  With the advent of antibiotics, healthy lifestyles, greater access to health care and community supports, seniors remain in their homes, a visible part of the social spectrum. 

Yet, one barrier remains inhibiting seniors from fully experiencing their power.  That barrier is ageism – the ingrained belief that seniors are less capable, less “with it,” less resilient than their younger peers.  Regrettably, many seniors believe that about themselves.  Ageism undermines the reality of senior accomplishments and abilities.  We fail to acknowledge that if someone has lived a long productive life, he or she probably has been doing something right and experience worth sharing. 

Unleash the Power of Age

Ageism fails to acknowledge that seniors are quite adaptable, having lived through multiple technological and social changes in their lifetimes. Many feel perfectly at home with computers, iPads, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and whatever other new media you can think of.  They were born into a century of unleashed technological power and they adapted to it.  Our misplaced assumptions about older people prevents us and them from realizing their full potential.   

Consider this: aging begins the day we are born. At every age, we unleash the power of age.

You can read the full article here

http://hhs.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/05/may-is-older-americans-month-unleashing-the-power-of-age.html?utm_source=feedly

In the News: motorcycle accident, rail trail

Motorcycle accident closes 495

All three travel lanes on Interstate-495 south near Exit 26 are closed after a motorcycle accident, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

Work progresses on last piece of rail trail in Milford

Work on the final one-mile section of the Upper Charles Rail Trail, to connect the existing five miles of trail in town, is progressing and should be completed within the next 18 months.

"Freedom of time and opportunity"

From the Dean College Library blog, Kent Manning writes:

Learning is something that should be an extension of you, not just something that happens in the classroom. So post-graduation, choose the subjects that you are interested in. Find the resources that are engaging and dynamic. Fit the learning into your lifestyle. And never let a detail like not being in a formal classroom limit your opportunities to be a student of life and to engage your mind.

I wholeheartedly agree. The day you stop learning is the day you'll fall behind. Competition is fierce and the knowledge economy places a premium on being able to think. For a more detail explanation of my own efforts on life long learning, read this  http://www.sobevent.com/what-makes-shersteve-come-back-to-sobcon-over-and-over/

Click through to the full article to check out the resources suggested. I do like the TED Talks series and regularly readers here have seen a few shared from time to time. The Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis site is one I'll have to explore.  http://deancultureconnect.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/a-life-of-learning/?utm_source=feedly

Both the Franklin School District and the Tri-County Regional Voc Tech offer life long learning opportunities.  For Franklin visit http://cfweb.smartedu.net/lll/  and for Tri-County visit http://www.tri-county.tc/?q=node/8


And while on the topic of learning, let me add a reminder for those currently looking for work, the Job Search Jam Sessions will be held on June 14. The day features sessions to learn and share information on the job search. For additional information, including registration, visit the webpage here
http://jobsearchjamsessions.blogspot.com/2013/04/job-search-jam-sessions-ready-to-return.html

Beautification Day - early results

Did you notice that Franklin got  its beautification treatment on Saturday? There are flowers in the flower pots on the triangle, the boxes along the bridge railing and in the planters on the island at Emmons and Main St.

Courtesy of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, local business sponsors and the help of many volunteers!

spring flowers

The flowers are a mix of red, white and blue with a yellow for accent.

planter on the Triangle

The blue are rather quiet and small but should fill in nicely as the season progresses

flower box along the bridge railing

There was careful choice in the selection, all for hardiness and then considerations for shape and color

flower beds and sponsor sign

Around the 4th of July, these flower beds should look less like they were newly planted and more like they are brimming with growth!

flower bed and sponsor sign

As you pass by, consider thanking the Downtown Partnership, the business sponsors and all the volunteer time to help make Franklin as colorful and welcoming as it is!

flower box along the bridge railing

Did you know that you could join the Franklin Downtown Partnership as an individual citizen for only $25/year? The form and details are contained on the website. http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Updated: the Franklin Downtown Partnership posted their thank you to the sponsors and volunteers here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2013/05/beautification-day-recap.html

Community Garden - Spring Plant Sale and Workday

Spring Plant Sale and Workday 

May 25th 9:00am to Noon 

King St. Memorial Garden

In event of Rain the even will be moved to May 26th

Join us for a day of planting and getting the garden ready for the growing season. We'll have organic plant starts on sale to help your garden get started right, and we'll be working on general maintenance of the garden as a whole. Weeding, spreading wood-chips, and other work the garden needs. We'll also be starting a pollinator garden at the garden to help bring in the beneficial bugs that the beds need for bumper crops. Please come lend a hand! For all plot holders please remember that you need to participate in at least one work day each season. There will be work days at least once a month.

Franklin Community Gardens

Franklin's 2013 Unsung Heroine

Barbara Rondeau of Franklin was honored as an Unsung Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women on Monday, April 29, 2013 in the Great Hall at the State House in Boston. Representative Jeffrey N. Roy recommended Ms. Rondeau for this recognition because of her extraordinary service to the Franklin community.

She was honored with 82 other Unsung Heroines from throughout Massachusetts. The ceremony included a program hosted by Liz Brunner acknowledging each of the 83 Unsung Heroines of 2013, followed by a group photograph and a Just Desserts reception.

Rep Jeff Roy - Barbara Rondeau

“Barbara A. Rondeau was the ideal candidate for this nomination,” noted Rep. Roy. “Throughout her years of service to the Franklin community, she gave her time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others. She never sought the limelight and returns each year to the task of making Franklin a great place to live.”

The Unsung Heroines are women who don’t always make the news, but truly make the difference. They are the women who use their time, talent and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others and make a difference in their neighborhoods, cities and towns. They are mentors, volunteers and innovators who do what needs to be done without expectations of recognition or gratitude. These women are the glue that keeps a community together and every community has them.

Ms. Rondeau is a lifelong resident and a tireless volunteer in Franklin. She is also a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She volunteers her time in the tax work off program in Franklin and is a long time member of the Franklin Alden Club, a women’s service group dating back to 1893. Barbara is also the chairperson of the “Concerts on the Common” that schedules concerts and children’s entertainment on Franklin’s Town Common during the summer months. Those events are enjoyed by many in the town. Barbara is also chair of the Santa Claus on the Common committee that brings Santa to the common each year to the delight of Franklin’s children and parents alike.

This event was made possible with the support of the following community sponsors: Cape Air, Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College, Casner & Edwards, LLP, Continental Resources Inc., Day Pitney LLP, and the members of MetroWest ATHENA Women. The Commission’s annual Unsung Heroine initiative is underwritten by these private sponsors and the MCSW Trust Fund and no tax dollars are used to fund this event.

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is an independent state agency that was legislatively created in 1998 to advance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities. The MCSW provides a permanent, effective voice for the women of Massachusetts.

MassDOT, AAA Promote E-ZPass

AAA members will be able to obtain E-ZPass transponders!

E-ZPass transponders are now available to AAA members at AAA branches across Massachusetts, including in: Auburn, Boston, Burlington, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Newburyport, Newton, North Andover, Peabody, Plymouth, Rockland, Saugus, Waltham and Westwood.

E-ZPass users can forget about keeping cash and change on hand as they skip the line at the cash booths and travel, instead, through dedicated lanes without stopping. As residents begin to plan summer travel, it is important to note that E-ZPass is accepted on toll roads from Maine to Virginia and west to Illinois.

Indeed, the Franklin AAA office is not on the listing but at least the service is expanding. For additional information on the expansion with AAA, pleas visit
http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/05/massdot-aaa-promote-e-zpass.html?utm_source=feedly