Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Franklin Almanac - Episode 6 (video) - from the archives

Re-posting the Franklin Almanac - Episode 6 (video) from the archives in early 2017. Polikseni has moved on to a regular weekend position with a TV station in Vermont.

Franklin Almanac, the compendium of life in Franklin. If you missed the broadcast via cable, you can catch up to Episode 6 via the YouTube link. Polikseni Manxhari hosts segments on
  1. Opening/intro- 00:00-00:43
  2. Empty Bowls Dinner- 00:43-6:48
  3. "Hate has no home here" campaign-6:48-11:05
  4. Safe Coalition 5k- 11:06-17:28
  5. Horace Mann Statue- 17:29- 26:34
  6. Final Thoughts- 26.35- 28:53

https://youtu.be/tXozpG_livQ




Local source for Hate has No Home signs

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/people-are-really-looking-for-way-to.html

More about the Safe Coalition can be found http://safecoalitionma.com/

The audio recording of the Horace Mann Statue Unveiling ceremony is available here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/fm-130-audio-recording-of-horace-mann.html


the Horace Mann statue stands to welcome folks to downtown Franklin
the Horace Mann statue stands to welcome folks to downtown Franklin

Franklin Cultural District Update

Dear Cultural District Partners and Friends,

It was great to see so many of you in attendance for our first Cultural District partners' meeting. Many wonderful ideas for collaboration were discussed.

· The Downtown Partnership is planning to create murals in 3 of the alleyways downtown and is looking for artists to help them complete them

· Franklin TV is looking to organize shows, both on TV and FM radio. Podcasts could be recorded in advance, often at your place of business. They would also like to support twenty-second spots (3-4 typed lines at 12 pt font) for announcing events on the radio.

Various "walks" were discussed, including:

· Scavenger hunts—it would be good to find topics that would be interesting to children helping them to get outside and active

· Ghost tours ending at the cemetery with perhaps a production by Dean College theater department on the lives of those buried there.

· "Art Trail" or "Ladybug Trail" (a tour to see the ladybug statues created by the Franklin Cultural Council)

· Taste of Franklin, perhaps organized as a progressive dinner

· Topic-based tours, such as History of Franklin (including a stop at the Historical Museum, Library to see the Ben Franklin books, etc), Historical Sites of Franklin (old houses, etc), Play Areas of Franklin, etc. Again, finding ones that interest children would be beneficial

Since our June meeting, we have continued our work of reaching out to partners and businesses in the Franklin community. As you know, we submitted the Cultural District application to the State in June. At this time, we are waiting to hear back regarding the next stage of the application process—the site visit, when a team from the state will come to tour the proposed Franklin Cultural District and to meet the Franklin Cultural District partners. We would like many of you involved in that tour. As soon as we know the date of this visit, we will share this information with all of you.

Sincerely,

The Franklin Cultural District Committee


Franklin Cultural District
Franklin Cultural District

Event Invitation: Night to Honor the 2018 FHS State Champion Team - Aug 7

Night to Honor the 2018 FHS State Champion Team.

Held in the Auditorium. Help Franklin TV honor the 2018 State Championship Baseball Team. We will being showing highlights of all 4 Super 8 games as well as talking to the players and coaches.

Tuesday, August 7 at 6 PM EDT
Franklin High School (Franklin, Massachusetts)

Follow the event on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/271317116979154/

Night to Honor the 2018 FHS State Champion Team
Night to Honor the 2018 FHS State Champion Team

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

SAFE Coalition - Monthly Meeting - Aug 1

The monthly meeting of the SAFE Coalition is scheduled for Wednesday evening, August 1, beginning at 7:00 PM.

The meeting will be held in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central St.

SAFE Coalition - Monthly Meeting - Aug 1
SAFE Coalition - Monthly Meeting - Aug 1

This was shared from the Facebook posting:
https://www.facebook.com/725586407571568/posts/1335302739933262/

For more information about the SAFE Coalition, visit them on the web at
http://www.safecoalitionma.org/

Concerts on the Common: DJ Mike Rutkowski - Aug 1

August 1
DJ Mike Rutkowski

The main program is scheduled Wednesday from 6:30 PM  - 8:30 PM. 
The Children's Programs from 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM.

You can download a copy of the schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oG2-XOINB4ziJgVbf_4N0B6MNJCrG_SJ/view?usp=sharing


Concerts on the Common: DJ Mike Rutkowski - Aug 1

Concerts on the Common: DJ Mike Rutkowski - Aug 1
The concerts will use the new stage. Franklin's Town Council authorized the purchase last year and it has arrived in time to be used this summer.

full stage view
full stage view

Franklin Almanac - Episode 5 (video) - from the archives

Re-posting the Franklin Almanac - Episode 5 (video) from the archives in July 2017. Polikseni has moved on to a regular weekend position with a TV station in Vermont.


Franklin Almanac, the compendium of life in Franklin. If you missed the broadcast via cable, you can catch up to Episode 5 via the YouTube link. Polikseni Manxhari hosts segments on

  1. Intro- 0:00-0:31
  2. Spectra Access Northeast Pipeline- 0:31-8:35
  3. Madalene Village interview 8:36- 21:48
  4. Madalene Village resident feedback-21:48-23:43
  5. Distracted Driver Simulation- 23:51- 28:34
  6. Earth Day-28:35-29:14
  7. Final thoughts-29:15-31:06
https://youtu.be/Qusc54gjiRU




Franklin Public Access Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street
Franklin Public Access Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street

Minuteman Library Crawl - Wednesday, August 1

The Franklin Library is taking part in the Minuteman Library Crawl on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
"A “crawl,” or tour, is a fun way to visit multiple libraries in your area. You can travel from library to library, meet the friendly staff and learn more about what the libraries around have to offer! This is your passport to a day full of fun and adventure. 
We have many different libraries on the crawl. The challenge is to visit as many as you can and take a picture of yourself with a designated item in each library – it’s a 21st century scavenger hunt! Then, please post your pics and tag the library. 
If you get to at least 5 libraries, you’ll get a highly coveted prize (one prize per group). Just show your pics to the librarians. 
And, check out the Web App for it: http://minutemanlibrarycrawl.org/"

Minuteman Library Crawl, Wednesday, August 1
Minuteman Library Crawl, Wednesday, August 1 
What library are taking part?
http://minutemanlibrarycrawl.org/librarycrawl/libraries

Additional info on the library crawl
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/pages/librarycrawl2018_7-13-2018.pdf

Pour Richard's Wine: The Whole Pour - Pennywise Aug 26


'Whiskey is carried into committee rooms in demijohns and 
carried out in demagogues.'
-Mark Twain
Never Drink Ordinary!
July 29, 2018
No Richard

Pennywise Aug 26

Countless people have asked if my last name was 'Richard'. Variations: 'Who's Richard?' 'Where's Richard?' and 'Is your husband Richard?' Ladies and gentlemen, there is no Richard. We named the store for Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, then doubled down on the clever with 'Pour' instead of 'Poor'.

Why would we do this? Because the town of Franklin, originally planned as Exeter, is named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the great statesman/scientist/publisher/inventor/entrepreneur. Franklin famously contributed 116 books from his personal collection to the Franklin Library. He declined to donate the requested funds for a bell tower, but the townspeople-either content with the books, impressed with the old statesman's career, or both-settled on 'Franklin' instead.


Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits, 14 Grove Street, Franklin, MA 02038

Sent by info@pourrichardswine.com in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Monday, July 30, 2018

Save the Date: 2nd Annual Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8


"A visit to the Farmer's Market in high summer is an exercise in flat-out hedonism. Mmm... fresh basil, that's smells amazing! The local tomatoes are starting to come in-I need some of those. Corn. I definitely need corn. Peaches! Do I have time to make peach cobbler? Or I could just bite into one right now....Blueberries! Can't forget those. Cucumbers. Snap peas. Fresh salad greens. Local cheese. I really should have brought more shopping bags.

These delights are brought to you courtesy of your local farmers, whose hard work produces delicious food which nourishes both body and spirit. And land devoted to farming preserves open space, a precious commodity when new condo developments are popping up all over town. Local farms are a wonderful asset to our town and region. Shopping at the Farmer's Market is an easy way to support them, but we could- and probably should-do more.

So when our fabulous customer Liz Smith approached us about holding a MA Farm Bureau event, we said, 'Absolutely! Count us in'. And the Pour Richard's Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser was born.

Last year's event featured local produce, local cheese, local ice cream, local craft beer, organic wines, and a whole pig(!). Chef Daniele Baliani, of Waltham's La Campania, created an incredible feast, and a rollicking good time was had by all. We immediately started planning a sequel.

This year's MA Farm Bureau FUNdraiser will take place on Saturday, September 8, from 1-5 PM. Chef Daniele will be back. So will the ice cream, the beer, and the killer produce. Another pig is on the menu. And this year, we're featuring winemaker Roberto Gianelli, from Tuscany's San Filippo Estate, pouring his lovely organic Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Farm Bureau's scholarship fund. We will also donate a percentage of our sales.

Save the date, and definitely save up your appetite. Help us support our local farms. Because no farms= no food."

This was shared from the Pour Richard's page
http://pourrichardswine.com/content/no-farms-no-food

No farms, no food
No farms, no food

2nd Annual Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8
2nd Annual Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8


Franklin Almanac - Episode 4 (video) - from the archives

Re-posting the Franklin Almanac - Episode 4 (video) from the archives in early 2017. Polikseni has moved on to a regular weekend position with a TV station in Vermont.


Franklin Almanac, the compendium of life in Franklin. If you missed the broadcast via cable, you can catch up to Episode 4 via the YouTube link. Polikseni Manxhari hosts segments on


  • Relay for Life (Franklin, Bellingham, Wrentham)
  • Empty Bowls - FHS fund raising for the Franklin Food Pantry
  • Blood drives for Boston Children's Hospital



More about the Empty Bowls program and to donate to the Franklin Food Pantry
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/give-help/volunteer/empty-bowls/

More about the Sabini-Leite twin's blood drives
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/02/blood-drive-march-4-hockomock-ymca.html



Giovanna and Olivia Sabini-Leite, seniors at Franklin High School, are coordinating the blood drive March 4
Giovanna and Olivia Sabini-Leite, seniors at Franklin High School
coordinate blood drives for the Boston Children's Hospital



MassBudget: Summary of the Governor's vetoes to the FY 2019 budget



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.

July 27, 2018





Summary of the Governor's vetoes to the FY 2019 budget

Yesterday the Governor signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 state budget, setting spending levels (subject to override) for education, local aid, transportation, environmental protection, supports for lower-income working families, access to health care, and everything else we do through government. The Governor approved approximately 99.9 percent of the Legislature's budget proposals, making $48.9 million in vetoes.
The Governor also proposed amendments to 12 of the 110 outside sections in the budget. Outside sections are legislation included in the budget. Often they amend laws that relate to expenditures in the budget. When the Governor proposes an amendment to an outside section the provision is returned to the Legislature. The provision then does not become law unless it is re-enacted by the Legislature (with or without amendment) and not vetoed by the Governor, or a veto is overridden.
The paragraphs below describe many of the Governor's vetoes and proposed amendments. The charts at the end of this email provide a complete summary of the vetoes and total spending levels by category after accounting for vetoes. For a full description of the budget line items that had been resolved by the Conference Committee, see our recent Budget Monitor.

EDUCATION
The Governor vetoed $200,000 from Assessment Consortium, a program that supports the development of alternative assessments of student educational performance, including measures beyond standardized tests.

ENVIRONMENT and RECREATION
In parks and recreation, the Governor vetoed $4.2 million of funding to various Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) programs. Of this, $3.9 million was for the new DCR Special Projects account, which the Legislature's budget created. This includes funding for parks and recreation project around the state.

HEALTH CARE
The Governor vetoed $11.8 million of a $14.8 million earmark intended for supplemental payments to increase the rates paid to specific hospitals to support their increased costs for specialized pediatric care. The Governor leaves $3.0 million earmarked for any pediatric specialty unit. The Governor also eliminates $1.0 million for the development of a regional hospital system Western Massachusetts and $4.0 million to increase rates for adult day health and adult foster care programs.
The Governor also proposes changing an extension of a manufacturer's drug rebate program from two years as in the Legislature's budget to one year, and proposes language that the Health Policy Commission analyze its effectiveness.

HUMAN SERVICES
In transitional assistance, the Governor proposed an amendment to provisions the Legislature included in the budget to remove a restriction that bars families from receiving Department of Transitional (DTA) benefits for a child conceived while the family was receiving public assistance. In his amendment, the Governor proposes language to count adult social security income when determining eligibility and benefit levels for Transitional Aid for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC). This new criterion could result in benefit cuts for almost 7,000 children.

INFRASTRUCURE, HOUSING and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Governor vetoed $10.0 million from economic development accounts. Of this, he vetoed $2.1 million from the Legislature's Massachusetts Cultural Council proposal and $6.9 million from local economic development programs. The Governor also vetoed $50,000 in funding to reinstate the Massachusetts Office of Employee Involvement and Ownership.
In housing, the Governor vetoed $110,000 in proposed funding for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Administration account. He also struck line item language that would have required DHCD to staff and maintain 10 offices around the state to accept in-person applications for the Emergency Assistance shelter Program.
Instead of the pilot program proposed by the Legislature to experiment with reducing traffic congestion by providing toll discounts to drivers traveling at off-peak hours, the Governor proposes a study of ways to reduce traffic congestion.
The Governor proposed an amendment to the requirement for a new Massachusetts Department of Transportation study of how the MBTA currently sets commuter rail fares to inform future fare-setting policy so that the study of using variable pricing based on time of day also examine how options would affect fare revenue. The Governor would also delay release of the report a year to make use of newly available data.
The Governor vetoed $817,000 in funding for the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund (MTTF) by eliminating virtually all spending targeted to specific local transportation projects.

LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY
The Governor vetoed $7.5 million from the Legislature's FY 2019 for law and public safety accounts. Of this amount, the Governor vetoed $2.5 million from the Legislature's Community Based Re-entry Programs proposal, aimed at reducing recidivism. Another $3.1 million of the Governor's vetoes were from local public safety agencies.
LOCAL AID
The Governor vetoed $1.3 million from the Municipal Regionalization and Efficiencies Incentive Reserve by eliminating funding for targeted local projects.
REVENUE
The Governor proposed an amendment to the Legislature's structure for a process to examine, evaluate, and report on the administration, effectiveness, and fiscal impact of tax expenditures. The Legislature had located this function in the Department of Revenue and the Governor's proposed amendment would instead create a new standing commission for this purpose.
The Governor proposes transferring up to $10 million in consolidated net surplus, if such a surplus exists at the end of the budget year, to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund. This is in addition to the similar $10 million transfer of consolidated net surplus to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund proposed by the Legislature.
Summary of the Governor's vetoes to the FY 2019 budget

MassBudget: Summary of the Governor's vetoes to the FY 2019 budget

For a full description of the budget line items that had been resolved by the Conference Committee, see our recent Budget Monitor
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108


Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds: Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry's Social Media



Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry's Social Media

Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell today reiterated the importance he places on the Registry's use of social media platforms to communicate directly with the citizens of Norfolk County.

O'Donnell noted, "A core mission here at the Registry of Deeds is to make important information readily available on a 24/7 basis. After all, just because our doors close at the end of the business day doesn't mean the Registry has to stop working for you. For example, our website www.norfolkdeeds.org lets people review scanned images of over 6 million land documents dating back to 1793, as well as to learn about our latest consumer protection programs. I also want people to note that Registry information is available not just from using their workstations or laptops, but also from their smartphones or tablets."

The Register also noted that you can print out an application of the popular Homestead Act. A Homestead provides a homeowner with limited protection against the forced sale of their primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000.

Norfolk County residents can also sign-up on-line for its free Consumer Notification Service. This program will alert a person anytime a land document has been recorded against their name in Norfolk County. Additionally, there is valuable county real estate information that can be researched and tracked based on the monthly and quarterly real estate statistical reports, such as the number of residential and commercial properties sold and average prices of property sold, and much, much more.

Besides the Registry website, other forms of social media utilized by the Registry of Deeds include Facebook, facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds, Twitter, twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds, and Instagram. "The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds," noted O'Donnell, "has utilized Facebook and Twitter extensively to provide information to the public. We are also utilizing Instagram which will capture the demographics of younger property owners and real estate professionals. We are optimistic that homeowners, and in particular first-time home buyers, will use these social media platforms. They can learn more about home ownership and other consumer initiatives like protecting themselves against Deed Scam rip-offs, along with other outreach services, including learning about Registry office hours in their community."

The Registry has also filmed multiple public service announcements (PSA's) which are available on the Registry's website and YouTube. These PSA's have touched on a variety of issues such as assistance for residents who have received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage from a lender. Videos highlighting the Registry's various philanthropic initiatives, such as its Annual Holiday Food Drive and its Suits for Success program, which helps people who are attempting to re-enter the workforce, can also be viewed.

Concluding, Register O'Donnell stated, "My office recognizes the value of using social media platforms to forward important information to Norfolk County residents. If you have questions related to real property, I urge you to take a look at our social media offerings."

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street, Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.


Register William P. O'Donnell
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds

email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org
phone: 781-234-3336
Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831

Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Register O'Donnell Announces 36,000th Book Printed at Registry
Register O'Donnell Announces 36,000th Book Printed at Registry

“They’re just looking for you to react to the email"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Local residents are experiencing an old email scam with a new twist: Sextortion scammers appear to be hacking into breached databases and using old passwords for leverage over their victims. 
Scammers claim to have videos of their intended victims on their laptops while they watch pornography on the internet. They threaten that if a certain amount of money isn’t paid, they will send those videos to everyone in their target’s address book. The password trick is just an additional ploy. 
Kevin Morton, owner of Franklin computer repair shop Nerds-To-Go, was working on a sextortion case when contacted on Thursday afternoon. He said scammers are usually all bark and no bite, but he has seen a higher volume of these calls for help coming from the Milford and MetroWest areas in the past few weeks.

“To fix it, just simply delete the email and change the password,” Morton said. “It’s not really necessary to get a new email address.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180729/sextortion-scam-hits-franklin-over-past-week

Regular readers will recognize that I share info from the FTC on scam alerts that they post. Being vigilant these days is required. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Several of these alerts can be found in the archives
http://www.franklinmatters.org/search?q=FTC%2C+alert