Mass Climate Action Network: Selma and Science

New post on Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) Selma and Science by massclimateaction Back in January 1995, I read a great piece in the now-defunct Boston Phoenix about Martin Luther King Jr.'s April 1967 "Beyond Vietnam" speech, in which King strongly denounced the Vietnam War. The Phoenix piece noted that "Beyond Vietnam" was the most controversial speech of King's career; he was viciously denounced by many of his former supporters, who argued that his condemnation of the Vietnam War would alienate those who might otherwise support King on the issue of civil rights. (It reminds me of the criticism Naomi Klein received last year over her condemnation of the economic assumptions and attitudes that gave rise to the climate crisis.) Ted McIntyre and I discussed King's legacy and lessons for climate hawks at the conclusion of the January 15 MCAN Climate Minute. King's legacy has certainly been distorted and abused over the years; I remember a January 2004 piece by Wall Street Journal columnist James Taranto in which he asserted, "Would Dr. King really have favored leaving [Saddam Hussein] in power in Iraq? There's no way of answering that question, but [it] surely correct to say Dr. King believed in liberty and democracy--the very values for which America is fighting in Iraq." Based on his remarks about Vietnam, I doubt very much that Dr. King, had he lived, would have been a supporter of the Iraq War. However, I'm quite certain that King would have joined the 400,000 of us who marched in New York last year--and his concluding words in the "Beyond Vietnam" speech also apply to the climate crisis: We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The "tide in the affairs of men" does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace...and justice throughout the developing world -- a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act we shall surely be dragged down the long dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight. Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter -- but beautiful -- struggle for a new world. This is the calling of the sons of God, and our brothers wait eagerly for our response. Shall we say the odds are too great? Shall we tell them the struggle is too hard? Will our message be that the forces of American life militate against their arrival as full men, and we send our deepest regrets? Or will there be another message, of longing, of hope, of solidarity with their yearnings, of commitment to their cause, whatever the cost? The choice is ours, and though we might prefer it otherwise we must choose in this crucial moment of human history... And if we will only make the right choice, we will be able to transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of peace. If we will make the right choice, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our world into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. If we will but make the right choice, we will be able to speed up the day, all over America and all over the world, when "justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream." massclimateaction | January 18, 2015 at 10:18 pm | Tags: Climate Minute, global warming, Global Warming Solutions Act, Selma | Categories: Climate Action | URL: http://wp.me/p14L3C-12v Comment    See all comments    Like Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN). Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/selma-and-science/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

Mass Climate Action Network

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 21, 2015

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 
September 17, 2014, June 18, 2014

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS 
– This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 15-02: Authorization to join Bellingham for the FY 2015 CDBG Program Application
2. Resolution 15-03: Declaration of Town-Owned Land at 150 Emmons Street (Old Municipal Bldg. Property) as Surplus and Available for Disposition
3. Resolution 15-04:Authorization for Disposition (Sale) of Town Owned Land @ 150 Emmons Street(Old Municipal Bldg. Property)
4. Resolution 15-05: Appropriation: Town Administration: Legal Expenses
5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 15-745: Amendment to Chapter 185, Attachment 7, Part VI, Use Regulation Schedule, Residential Uses, Office Zoning District – 2ND Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION 
– Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

150 Emmons St, Franklin, MA - subject of decision to sell or not

The full set of documents released for this meeting can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/012115.pdf

RESOLUTION 15-04: Authorization For Disposition (Sale) Town-Owned Land At 150 Emmons Street

RESOLUTION 15-04

AUTHORIZATION FOR DISPOSITION (SALE) TOWN-OWNED LAND

AT 150 EMMONS STREET (OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING PROPERTY)

WHEREAS, Town owns a parcel of land containing 34,795 square feet more orless at the corner of Emmons and West Central Streets, shown on Franklin Assessors Map 279 as Parcel 36 (Title ref: Norfolk Registry Book 655, Page 411) containing the currently-vacant former Municipal Building, and 

WHEREAS, Town Council, by Resolution 15-03, has declared said parcel to besurplus and available for disposition subject to a reserved easement shown on “Exhibit 1” attached thereto for public green space to include a statue of Horace Mann, together with appropriate plantings and public amenities, and 

WHEREAS, pursuant to G.L. Chapter 30B, Section16, Town previously obtainedan appraisal and subsequently issued several Requests for Proposals (RFP's), thelatest being issued on or about September 10, 2014, which proposal contained aminimum bid price of four hundred, seventy-five thousand dollars, and 

WHEREAS, one prospective developer-purchaser Roger V. Calarese submitteda responsive proposal to the latest RFP and Town Council has evaluated said proposal and heard a public presentation from the developer purchaser, 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE TOWN OF FRANKLINACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS TOWN COUNCIL: 

1. Determines that the proposal of Roger V. Calarese (hereinafter: “Calarese”) to pay the Town of Franklin the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars for the subject property and to construct either a single-story retail and office building thereon, as more fully described in his proposal and, more specifically, as shown on a conceptual plan captioned “Office and Retail Concept Plan of Land for 150Emmons Street in Franklin, Massachusetts” dated December 30, 2014, or, in alternative, to construct a single-story bank building with accessory vehicular drive through, as more fully described in his proposal and, more specifically, as shown on a conceptual plan captioned “Concept #7 Plan of Land for 150 Emmons Street in Franklin, Massachusetts” dated August 19, 2014 is advantageous to the Town and accepts same, subject to the provisions of the following paragraphs. 

2. Votes to dispose of the subject property by selling it to Calarese for the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars subject to a reserved easement on a portion of said parcel to maintain the public green space, including a statue of Horace Mann, together with appropriate plantings and public amenities in accordance with Resolution 15-03 and “Exhibit 1” thereto, conditioned upon Calarese's execution, within sixty days, of a purchase and sales agreement and/or landdisposition/development agreement containing terms and language consistent with Town's RFP and otherwise satisfactory to Town, both to ensure Town's timely receipt of the full purchase price and that the property is developed consistent with Town's RFP and Calarese's proposal within a reasonable time period; without limiting the foregoing, the agreement shall provide for exhaustion of reasonable efforts to develop retail and office building on property prior to proceeding with development of bank building, and shall prohibit any vehicular drive-through, except as accessory to bank building and operation. 

3. Directs the Town Administrator, with the assistance of the Town Attorney, to prepare and execute a purchase and sales agreement, land  disposition/development agreement, deed and such other documents as he determines to be necessary, both to effectuate the sale of the subject property by Town to Calarese and to ensure that the subject property is developed consistent with Town's RFP and Calarese's proposal and the provisions of this resolution. 

This Resolution shall become effective according to the rules and regulations ofthe Town of Franklin Home Rule Charter.

150 Emmons St

The text of resolution 15-04 was copied from pages 18-19 as released for the Town Council agenda for Jan 21, 2015
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/012115.pdf

RESOLUTION 15-03: Declaration Of Town-Owned Land At 150 Emmons Street as surplus

RESOLUTION 15-03

DECLARATION OF TOWN-OWNED LAND AT 150 EMMONS STREET

(OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING PROPERTY) AS

SURPLUS AND AVAILABLE FOR DISPOSITION

WHEREAS, Town owns a parcel of land containing 34,795 square feet more or less at the corner of Emmons and West Central Streets, shown on Franklin Assessors Map 279 as Parcel 36 (Title ref: Norfolk Registry Book 655, Page 411) containing the currently-vacant former Municipal Building, as shown on "Exhibit 1" attached hereto, and 

WHEREAS, Town is not currently using and no longer intends to use said parcel for municipal purposes, with the exception of an area immediately abutting the intersection of Emmons and West Central Streets shown on said “Exhibit 1” which Town intends to develop as a public green space to include a statue of Horace Mann, together
with appropriate plantings, and public amenities, 

NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Franklin, acting by and through its Town Council, declares the parcel of Town-owned land described above and shown on "Exhibit 1" to be no longer needed for municipal purposes, except for the area of said parcel also described above, and therefore to be surplus and available for
disposition, subject to a reserved easement on said parcel, of the area immediately abutting the intersection of Emmons and West Central Streets shown on “Exhibit 1” which Town intends to develop as a public green space to include a statue of Horace Mann, together with appropriate plantings, and public amenities. 

This Resolution shall become effective according to the rules and regulations of the Town of Franklin Home Rule Charter.

150 Emmons St, the subject property

This was shared from page 16 of the document released for the Town Council agenda for Jan 21, 2015
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/012115.pdf

"no evidence that mastering these standards in kindergarten rather than in first grade brings lasting gains"

One key concept being lost in the educational discussion is "developmentally appropriate." This article from the Washington Post highlights a report showing no studies supporting the Common Core and reading requirements for kindergarten level students.

The Common Core State Standards call for kindergartners to learn how to read, but a new report by early childhood experts says that forcing some kids to read before they are ready could be harmful. 

Two organizations that advocate for early childhood education — Defending the Early Years and Alliance for Childhood — issued the report titled “Reading in Kindergarten: Little to Gain and Much to Lose.” It says there is no evidence to support a widespread belief in the United States that children must read in prekindergarten or kindergarten to become strong readers and achieve academic success.

Brian Peyes-Mendez participates in a test with Kendra Sarris as kindergarten teachers assess students with new tests, on Oct. 30 in Accokeek, Md. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post)

The report summary outlines the following:

• Many children are not developmentally ready to read in kindergarten, yet the Common Core State Standards require them to do just that. This is leading to inappropriate classroom practices.
• No research documents long-term gains from learning to read in kindergarten. 
• Research shows greater gains from playbased programs than from preschools and kindergartens with a more academic focus.
• Children learn through playful, handson experiences with materials, the natural world, and engaging, caring adults.
• Active, play-based experiences in language rich environments help children develop their
• ideas about symbols, oral language and the printed word — all vital components of reading.
• We are setting unrealistic reading goals and frequently using inappropriate methods to accomplish them.
• In play-based kindergartens and preschools, teachers intentionally design language and literacy experiences which help prepare children to become fluent readers.
• The adoption of the Common Core State Standards falsely implies that having children achieve these standards will overcome the impact of poverty on development and learning, and will create equal educational opportunity for all children.

You can find the full report here

https://deyproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/readinginkindergarten_online-1.pdf

FHS Basketball: Coaches vs. Cancer

The Franklin Boys Basketball teams and Cheerleaders will be running a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser on Friday, January 23rd. 

There will may be a dress down day for teachers and staff (for a small donation) and There will be events and activities at all three basketball games later that day. 

The freshman play at 3:30, JV at 5:00, Varsity at 6:30.

FHS Panthers

Senior Center: A new edition of The Franklin Connection is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site. 

Click the link below to read the latest edition
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Feb15connection.pdf

Franklin Senior Center

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