Friday, June 28, 2019

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Jun 28 to THU - Jul 4

Friday, June 28
9:30am
 SUMMER Family Yoga (outside if permitting)
10:00am
 Knitting Group
12:00pm
 Farmers Market
1:00pm
 SUMMER PROGRAM: Farmer's Market Fun!
Saturday, June 29
10:00am
 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)
1:00pm
 TEEN SUMMER Spiderman Homecoming Movie Screening (Community Room) (BREE)
Sunday, June 30
1:00pm
 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
Monday, July 1
10:00am
 SUMMER PERFORMER: Animal Affair!
1:00pm
 SUMMER PROGRAM: Picnic Storytime (MITZI)
7:00pm
 Friends of the Franklin Library Meeting
Tuesday, July 2
9:30am
 Cool Cruisers
1:00pm
 SUMMER PROGRAM: Slime Science!
4:00pm
 TEEN SUMMER Code It!
6:30pm
 Foreign Film Series
7:00pm
 Friends of the Franklin Library Book Group
Wednesday, July 3
6:00pm
 Franklin 4th of July Celebration
10:00am
 Veterans Coffee Social
10:30am
 SUMMER Family Chess and More!
3:00pm
 Peter Willis at Orleans Artist Cottages
4:00pm
 SUMMER Crafternoon!
6:00pm
 TEEN SUMMER Stranger Things Celebration
7:00pm
 Franklin Art Assoc - Monthly Meeting
Thursday, July 4
 Franklin 4th of July Celebration
 Library Closed
 Independence Day
3:00pm
 Peter Willis at Orleans Artist Cottages
5:00pm
 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

For the interactive version, please visit
For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar
https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Jun 21 to THU - Jun 28
Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Jun 21 to THU - Jun 28

Community Leaders Recognized At Hockomock Area YMCA Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Hockomock Area YMCA was held on May 15 at Lake Pearl in Wrentham. After the business meeting, several members of the community received awards in recognition of their service and commitment to the Y and their communities. Award winners included Donna Spigarolo, SAFE Coalition, Blair Deeney, Madison Jankowski, Tanner Cross, Sam Melo, Jay Barrows, and CVS Health.

CVS Health received this year’s Chair’s Award. This award recognizes outstanding leadership, dedication, and passion working with the Hockomock Area YMCA and to enrich the quality of life in the community. The company, based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, has had a major impact on the communities in its area. 
 
CVS Health
CVS Health

Faith Weiner, senior director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, spoke on behalf of CVS Health and said, “Through the Y’s support we have been meeting with leaders across the region and delivering programs that really drive impact across the state. We believe in helping people on their path to better health. We believe in building healthier communities. We can’t think of anyone we would rather partner with than the Hockomock Area YMCA.”

SAFE Coalition Inc. was the recipient of the Franklin Branch Red Triangle Award. SAFE Coalition Inc. is an organization based in Franklin that focuses on supporting families and individuals in their community that have been effected by the opioid crisis and other substance abuse related disorders. 
 
SAFE Coalition
SAFE Coalition

Upon accepting the award, SAFE Coalition President, Jennifer Levine, commented on their partnership with the YMCA and said, “The YMCA gave us a space for all of these programs to exist when the majority of folks in the community had a really challenging time saying, ‘Yes we support the opioid crisis.’ I cannot stress enough how supportive and how many opportunities the partnership with the YMCA has created for those in our communities to be in recovery, to sustain recovery, to learn about recovery, and to gain the skills and opportunities to be successful members of our community.”

Tanner Cross
Tanner Cross
Tanner Cross was the recipient of the Bernon Family Branch in Franklin Youth of the Year Award. Tanner, a Bellingham resident, is a staff member in the gymnastics department. Tanner shared, “The best thing about the YMCA is that everyone is welcome. Diversity helps us all to understand one another; it enriches our community.”

Jay Barrows, a Massachusetts State Representative and Mansfield resident, was the recipient of the Character Counts Award. This award recognizes an individual with outstanding efforts in the community while instilling the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. 

Board of Director Greg Spier presented the award to Jay and said, “He is our state representative but really so much more. He is a man of compassion, a man of principle, a man of values, a man dedicated to the community, and a man dedicated to this Hockomock Area YMCA.” Jay Barrows says, “I marvel at the Y’s initiatives. They go hand in hand with building community. As a state representative, you represent everyone in the community, and so does the Y. There is no litmus test at the Y. The subtle way we care is remarkable – no boasting, just helping.”
Lillian Kimball
Lillian Kimball

Lillian Kimball, a resident of Mendon, was this year’s recipient of the Dean College YMCA Scholarship Award. This full tuition scholarship is given to one high school senior who will be attending Dean College in the fall. 

Lillian commented on her award saying, “My involvement in the YMCA Leaders group throughout high school has made a significant impact on my life and character. It has helped me prepare for my next chapter at Dean College. I am sure Dean is the right place for me and I am very eager to make the YMCA, Dean College, and my family proud of how I will represent them and myself at Dean.”

About Hockomock Area YMCA:
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

In the News: Demonstration returns Saturday; Supreme Court rules on Census question

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

"As campaign activity ahead of the 2020 presidential election begins to build, the Franklin Democratic Town Committee is ramping up efforts to express dissatisfaction with the current administration and to make a plea for change.

The committee is mounting a demonstration on Saturday “against the behavior of the Trump administration” from 10 a.m. to noon in downtown Franklin on the sidewalk in front of the Rome Restaurant, 4 East Central St.

It will be the group’s second protest held this month. The first was held June 15 and drew participants from Franklin and many neighboring towns, organizers said.

“We are part of a great effort across the country with several activist organizations, including moveon.org and indivisible.org,” said Sue Cass, a member of the Democratic Town Committee."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190627/franklin-democrats-plan-demonstration-make-plea-for-change/1

demonstration on Saturday, June 15 (courtesy photo)
demonstration on Saturday, June 15 (courtesy photo)

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling halting the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census was cheered Thursday by state officials and advocates who said such a question could jeopardize an accurate count in Massachusetts.

In a 5-4 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Commerce from asking Census respondents about their citizenship status, finding “a significant mismatch between” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ decision to add the question “and the rationale he provided.”

The court sent the matter back to the Commerce Department, seeking a new explanation.

Secretary of State William Galvin, who oversees the Census count in Massachusetts, and Attorney General Maura Healey, one of 18 attorneys general who sued the Commerce Department over the question, both urged the department to accept the court’s decision and prepare for a Census that does not ask about citizenship status."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190627/citizenship-question-foes-cheer-court-ruling

Learn more about the 2020 Census
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census.html


learn more about the 2020 Census
learn more about the 2020 Census

HMEA's incredABLE Day 2019 is in the Books

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To review the full set of contents use this link:
http://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation?permalink_uri=2NcYSet&image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlsvc01



HMEA's incredABLE Day 2019 is in the Books
HMEA's 18th Annual incredABLE Day
Celebrates the ABLE in All of Us!
HMEA's incredABLE Day 2019 is in the Books
May 19, 2019 marked HMEA's 18th Annual incredABLE Day, our largest community event and biggest fundraiser of the year. While the day came with some clouds, wind, and a touch of rain, it also brought together hundreds of walkers, runners, volunteers, and HMEA families, dozens of community organizations and generous sponsors, and too many smiles to count! 
 
This year, through the efforts of families supported by HMEA, our staff, and the people and organizations who donated time or valuable sponsorships, over $180,000 was raised. That's incredABLE! One hundred percent of the net proceeds will be returned directly to our programs, for each to determine how to best support the agency's mission and their program's goals, including funding regular art, horticulture, and music therapy sessions, recreational and educational community outings, assistive devices and technology, such as iPads, Amazon Echos and Dots, which help to increase independence for people with disabilities, and so much more. 
 
Beyond the 5K race and community stroll, incredABLE Day included entertainment for the whole family. The Wellness Area featured vendors focused on physical, emotional, and financial health for those of all abilities. Entertainment for the day included a photo booth, Maggie and Clarity the clowns, a DJ playing crowd favorites and keeping the energy high, and mascots-galore, from the Cardi's Brothers, to the Massachusetts Pirates, to the New England Revolution, the Worcester Bravehearts, Nibbles Woodaway from the Big Blue Bug, and Urbie from Urban Air Bellingham. 

Wally and Tessie joined the festivities and held down the fort at the Red Sox Showcase, which allowed attendees to try their best to steal second base and swing for the Green Monster in batting practice; it's always a crowd favorite! In the Kids' Corner, kids of all ages enjoyed getting their faces painted, planting seedlings, playing table games, running in the Kids' Fun Run, riding the mini train, and trying their luck at winning one of more than 70 raffle prizes.

Winners in the 50/50, Elite, and Dream raffles took home more than 100 great prizes, from gift baskets and gift cards, to concert and event tickets, and even a one-week vacation to anywhere in the world! Donuts, coffee, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, cotton candy, popcorn, and an ice cream truck kept our incredABLE participants well-fed and energized throughout the day. 
 
On behalf of HMEA and the nearly-5,000 families we support throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we extend a sincere THANK YOU to all of the supporters of incredABLE Day! The success of this event depends on the strength of our community. The positive impacts these efforts have on the lives of the individuals and families supported by HMEA cannot be understated and, because of you, are celebrated! 
 
Save the date for the 19th Annual incredABLE Day.
We hope to see you again on Sunday, May 17, 2020! 
We're always looking to improve incredABLE Day, and we want to hear your ideas! Click the button below to take a brief, six-question survey and let us know how you think the 19th Annual incredABLE Day, in May 2020, can be the best walk, run, and day of family fun yet!

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Brewing a Cure 4 ALS - Aug 10

All proceeds raised at the event will be donated in honor of Denis Ceruti, a local businessman, originally from Medway. “Brewing a Cure 4 ALS” (https://fundraise.als.net/brewingacure4als), a craft beer and wine festival being held on August, 10th in Cambridge, MA, with the critical mission of raising funds to help find a cure for the devastating disease, ALS.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Once ALS starts, it almost always progresses, eventually taking away the ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow, and breathe, and shortening the life span. How fast and in what order this occurs is very different from person to person. While the average survival time is three years, about 20 percent of people with ALS live five years, 10 percent will survive 10 years and 5 percent will live 20 years or longer.

There is currently no cure for ALS. This urgent unmet medical need for effective treatments for this devastating and fatal disease is the basis for the research and drug development effort at the nonprofit biotech organization, ALS Therapy Development Institute https://www.als.net/. Located in Cambridge, MA, ALS TDI is the world’s first and largest nonprofit biotech focused 100 percent on ALS research. ALSTDI is a 501 (C)3 organization. 87% of all funds raised by the organization go directly to ALS Research.

The organizers of “Brewing a Cure 4 ALS” are proud to be partnered with ALS TDI for this event. All proceeds raised will be donated to the ALS TDI in honor of our dear friend, Dennis Ceruti, a hardworking small business owner, a loving husband, and father of 4 amazing girls, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. We believe that ALS is not an incurable disease. It is an underfunded one.

At the moment, our greatest need is with ticket sales as well as table sponsorships. Tickets range from a $100 VIP early access ticket to a $60 general admission ticket. Table Sponsorships are $750. Whether it is sponsoring a table, purchasing tickets, or simply helping publicize the event to other interested businesses, brewers or beer enthusiasts, any support one could provide, big or small, would be appreciated.

Brewing a Cure 4 ALS - Aug 10
Brewing a Cure 4 ALS - Aug 10

"recent evidence suggests that the impact of the opioid epidemic is moderating”

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

"The rate of opioid-related hospital visits in Massachusetts dropped slightly between 2016 and 2017, the first decline since those numbers were first tracked in 2010, according to a new analysis.

The analysis, released Wednesday by the Health Policy Commission, found that rates of substance exposure in newborns also decreased by 6 percent from 2016 to 2017, along with the 2.3 percent drop in hospital visits.

The number of people dying of opioid overdoses was also on the decline over that time period, falling from 2,100 to an estimated 2,050, according to Department of Public Health data. The commission, in its report, notes that the drop came while the national opioid mortality rate climbed 11 percent, but that the rate in Massachusetts nonetheless remained high compared to other states, at nearly twice the national average."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190626/mass-opioid-hospital-visits-decline

For resources from the SAFE Coalition
http://www.safecoalitionma.org/safe-resource-manual/

one of the resources the SAFE Coalition developed is the "What do we do now? pamphlet
one of the resources the SAFE Coalition developed is the "What do we do now? pamphlet

Haba selected as MVP, FHS reps for baseball and softball Hockomock League All Stars

Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Baseball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

** Hockomock League MVP
Alex Haba, Franklin

** Hockomock League All Stars
Scott Elliott, Franklin
Alex Haba, Franklin
Jake Macchi, Franklin
Brennan Rivera, Franklin
Liam Dailey, Franklin


Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Softball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

** Hockomock League MVP
Kelsey White, Taunton

** Hockomock League All Stars
Jackie Cherry, Franklin
Ally Shea, Franklin
Anna Balkus, Franklin


For the other selections to baseball All Stars around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-league-baseball-all-stars/

For the other selections to softball All Stars around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-league-softball-all-stars/

Haba selected as MVP, FHS reps for baseball and softball Hockomock League All Stars
Haba selected as MVP, FHS reps for baseball and softball Hockomock League All Stars
 

FTC - Consumer Alerts: Are You Getting Unwanted Calls?


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

Are you getting unwanted calls? It could be scammers calling.

Scammers can use the internet to make calls from all over the world. They don't care if you're on the National Do Not Call Registry. That's why your best defense against unwanted calls is call blocking. Learn how to block unwanted calls at ftc.gov/calls.
Stop Unwanted Calls on a Mobile Phone
Stop Unwanted Calls on a Landline
Stop Unwanted Calls If You Use VOIP

Operation Call It Quits
Tired of robocalls? So are we. Find out what the FTC is doing to go after robocallers.


SAFE Coalition: July 2 meeting - Canceled

Hi All

Our SAFE Community Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, has been cancelled. 

Please join us on August 7 at the Franklin Municipal Building, 3rd floor at 7 PM for our next forum!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!


Steve Spiewakowski

Secretary
SAFE Coalition

SAFE Coalition: July 2 meeting - Canceled
SAFE Coalition: July 2 meeting - Canceled