Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Opioid abuse and addiction will become a regular topic on the Board of Health’s agenda.
Member Jordan Warnick, who made the push for Medway to join the SAFE Community Coalition, based out of Franklin, made the request at Monday’s meeting “so opioid abuse can come up as a regular topic.”
Warnick said the coalition’s meeting – which featured a speech by Director of Addiction Recovery Management Service at Mass General Hospital Dr. John Kelly – was a success.
“He gave a really good discussion of the problem at a community level so that everybody could understand it,” said Warnick, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2012. “I even took some new things away from it.”
Steve - Hope you might notify people about the next program in our series around the substance abuse disorder issue.
Judy Giovangelo talks about the suicide of her creative, but troubled son who committed suicide just six days after his 18th birthday. She turned her grief into a non-profit foundation, Ben Speaks Louder than Words, with a mission to empower youth and reduce self-destructive behavior.
She shares her wisdom and offers gentle guidance for young people and the people who love them.
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is an insidious public health crisis impacting more than 85 million Americans. The time has come to UNITE to Face Addiction at a national rally that will transform the conversation from problems to solutions for one of the most pressing issues of our time.
On October 4, 2015 a transformative event will take place in Washington, D.C. that will ignite and grow an emerging national grassroots movement to solve the addiction crisis.
UNITE To Face Addiction is being organized by an independent coalition of national, state, and local non-profit organizations to produce a collaborative and unifying event to collectively raise awareness and reduce the human and social costs of addiction.
UNITE to Face Addiction - Oct 4, 2015
Why Now?
Long-term recovery from addiction is a reality for over 23 million Americans, one of our nation’s best-kept secrets. Regardless of the paths people have chosen to achieve recovery, their lives and the lives of their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and communities are vastly improved as a result. They are the living proof that there are real solutions to the devastation of addiction.
While recovery from addiction is a reality, more than 350 Americans die from alcohol or other drugs on average each day – some 135,000 people each year – more than who die from either homicides or motor vehicle accidents. Another 22 million Americans are still suffering from addiction and the majority never receive any help.
Where is the national outrage about this needless loss of life, the costs to families and the economy, and more importantly, the demand for solutions? We know that addiction is preventable, treatable, and people can and do get well. Too many of those affected have been incarcerated, and for decades they and others have been afraid to speak up about the failed policies and poor care due to long-standing stigma and discriminatory public policies. And, for too long, a great majority of people connected to addiction have remained silent.
About 40 candidates have taken out nomination papers to run in the town's November election.
The majority of the Town Council has taken out papers to seek re-election, and a total of 14 candidates are seeking election to the council. All nine of the body's seats are up for election.
Eight council incumbents have taken out papers: Brett Feldman, Judith Pond Pfeffer, Peter Padula, Thomas Mercer, Robert Dellorco, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Bissanti and Robert Vallee. Six newcomers are seeking seats on the council, including current Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri, Richard Power Sr., Glenn Jones, James Schultz Jr., Sean Slater and James Gianotti Jr.. Of the 14 candidates, only Power and Pellegri have returned papers so far.
The MA Gov blog ran a two part series for renters recently. Citing a stat from the Census, 37% of MA live in rental units. Excerpts from each of the two parts are shared here. Follow the links for additional details on "Knowing Your Rights as a Tenant"
Searching for a rental home, signing a lease, and meeting new neighbors can be exciting, but it’s also important that you keep your rights as a tenant in mind. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) provide information on what you should expect from your landlord before renting a home in Massachusetts.
Franklin will have some choices to make for key positions. It is good to see so many candidates at this time! The updated listing of candidates as of Friday, August 21 is shown below. 8 of these have returned their papers and 6 of the 8 have had their papers certified at this time. There is still time to take out papers, the ballot won't get finalized until the end of September. The full election calendar is linked to below.
"Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC ("Algonquin")' is hosting Landowner Informational Meetings in your area for our proposed Access Northeast Project ("Project"). The Project could have construction on or near your property.
As we have mentioned to you in previous correspondence, we are currently evaluating a proposed expansion of our Algonquin pipeline system. The proposed project plans include replacement of existing pipelines and construction of new pipelines in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
At the informational meetings, Algonquin representatives will be available to answer questions concerning the proposed facilities, safety, environmental and permitting processes, construction and operation, and other aspects of the Project.
We encourage you to attend the informational meeting and share with us your questions about the proposed project. For your convenience, please feel welcome to attend any of the landowner informational meetings on the dates and times listed below. Please note that there is no formal speaking program, so you can arrive anytime within the timeframes listed below."
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Medway, Bellingham, Franklin, Massachusetts
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
835 Union Street Franklin, MA 02038
