EPA "has a long history of failing to act"

Via the Environmental Working Group:

"This week the House voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act, which President Trump has threatened to veto.

The bill would set deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce ongoing releases of toxic fluorinated chemicals, known as PFAS, and to set a drinking water standard for two notorious PFAS chemicals.

“It’s never been clearer that it’s time for Congress to set tough deadlines to reduce PFAS releases into the air and water, set PFAS drinking water standards, and clean up legacy PFAS pollution,” said EWG Senior Vice President for Government Affairs Scott Faber. “If the Trump administration won’t take the necessary steps to protect the public from PFAS, it’s up to Congress to act."

In other news about the PFAS Action Act, EWG broke down EPA’s history of inaction when it comes regulating PFAS and told the story of a military firefighter pushing for Congress to act on the PFAS crisis."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2020/01/ewg-news-roundup-110-trump-threatens-derail-pfas-action-california-fails

Related links

H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act
https://www.ewg.org/release/ewg-applauds-historic-bipartisan-pfas-vote

Trump threatens veto
https://www.ewg.org/release/trump-threatens-veto-after-missing-key-pfas-drinking-water-deadline

EPA's history of inaction on PFAS
https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2020/01/it-s-time-end-epa-s-long-history-failing-act-forever-chemicals

Environmental Working Group

In the News: college closure rules "a watershed moment"; Polar Park construction estimates rise

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

"State higher education officials on Friday approved a new set of regulations that will govern how they screen colleges and universities for financial risks and potential closures.

Education Secretary James Peyser said the Board of Higher Education’s vote marked a “watershed moment.”

“On the one hand, it’s an incremental shift,” Peyser said. “On the other hand, it’s really a major change in the nature of our relationship as a board and as a state in terms of our responsibility for ensuring the health of our higher education system writ large, not just the public system.”

The sudden 2018 closure of Mount Ida College in Newton drew new attention to the challenges faced by small, private colleges grappling with enrollment declines and other demographic trends, and sparked calls to protect current and prospective students from being blindsided by a closure."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200110/college-closure-rules-called-watershed-moment

In the News: college closure rules "a milestone"

"Construction costs for Polar Park have increased by $9.5 million over initial estimates, while costs to acquire the properties needed for the ballpark, relocate businesses and prepare the site for development have run roughly $20 million more than what was anticipated.

That has prompted city officials to negotiate changes to the agreements with the ballclub that will be playing at Polar Park starting in 2021 and for the private development that will be built as part of the overall $240 million redevelopment of the Kelley Square/Canal District area.

Those revisions, which are detailed in an 11-page report to the City Council for its meeting Tuesday night, primarily deal with actions to generate more revenue to cover those additional costs.

It also includes a bigger private development program that will be brought online and generate new tax revenues sooner."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200110/polar-park-costs-increase---adjustments-made-to-cover-added-expenses

Franklin Public Schools: An Important Message from the Superintendent

January 10, 2020

Dear Franklin Families,

The e-mail that follows this brief message was sent earlier today to high school families and we feel it is important to share it with all Franklin parents/guardians. The video to which we refer may also be circulating among students at other grade levels.

We wish to take the opportunity to emphasize the District's core value of inclusivity and our emphasis and commitment to making our schools safe and welcoming for all.

Counselors, administrators and trusted adults are available to support all students. Additionally, we ask for your help in discussing appropriate use of social media with your children.  Please read the message below.

Regards,
Sara Ahern
Superintendent

----------------

January 10, 2020

Dear Franklin High School Families,

We are writing to make you aware of a concerning video that has been circulating among students on social media.  This video contains statements that are profoundly offensive based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.  We condemn such statements; they violate our core value of inclusivity and threaten the safe and welcoming environment we have committed to provide for each student, family, and our faculty/staff.

The administration promptly initiated an investigation based on our protocol of responding to incidents of hate and bias. Please know that a big part of our response is ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff.  Counselors, administrators, and other trusted adults are available to anyone who feels they need support.

We ask families to talk with their children regarding the appropriate use of social media and if your child has received a copy of the video, to delete it, as continued sharing perpetuates deep hurt across the community.

If you would like a resource to assist you in talking with your child, these links may help:

Free Library of Philadelphia -- Resources for Responding to Hate
https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/3031

American Psychological Association "Talking to Kids about Discrimination" https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/kids-discrimination

Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Paul Peri                Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D.
Principal                Superintendent of Schools

Franklin Public Schools: An Important Message from the Superintendent

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Jan 10 to THU - Jan 16

Friday, January 10

10:00am

 Knitting Group

10:30am

 Happy Feet!

8:00pm

 Zajac Brothers Band and Grab Brothers Band

Saturday, January 11

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

10:00am

 Technology Help

10:30am

 Drive-In Movie!

1:00pm

 Girls Who Code!

3:00pm

 Cookbook Club

8:00pm

 No Static

Sunday, January 12

8:00am

 All You Can Eat Breakfast

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:10pm

 Second Sunday Speaker Series

Monday, January 13

10:30am

 Move Along

3:30pm

 D&D for Kids

Tuesday, January 14

9:30am

 Cool Cruisers

10:30am

 Get Ready for Kindergarten

4:00pm

 Toe-Tapping Tuesdays!

6:00pm

 School Committee - Budget Workshop

6:30pm

 Documentary Film Night

7:00pm

 School Committee meeting

7:30pm

 Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting

7:30pm

 Let's Laugh Today

Wednesday, January 15

10:30am

 Terrific Toddlers

3:30pm

 Creation Station!

6:00pm

 RAD Storytellers Club!

Thursday, January 16

8:30am

 Town Council Office Hours

9:00am

 Ben Franklin Readathon!

9:30am

 Baby Tummy Time

10:30am

 Story Xplorers

4:00pm

 Chess Club for Kids

4:00pm

 Bookworm Bounce Storytime!

6:00pm

 Volunteens

For the interactive version, please visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

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

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/links/submit-event

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Jan 10 to THU - Jan 16

Special Announcement from HMEA

Happy New Year! We've got some great news to share with you as we kick off 2020 here at HMEA!

The first piece of news is that starting on July 1, 2020, Jule will become the new President and Chief Executive Officer - CEO - at HMEA. We are really excited to share this news with you.

Jule Gomes Noack

We have been working closely over the past five years planning for Jule to take over the CEO role. As many of you know, she's already doing most of the job and doing it really well. So, this transition will be easy.

And by the way…for those of you who don't know…Jule has been with HMEA for 32 years! She joined HMEA in 1987 as the agency's first clinical coordinator and has worked directly in or managed nearly every program, service, and administrative role within the organization. For the past 13 years, she has been a key member of HMEA's executive leadership team and has served as President/COO for the past six years, so she knows the organization pretty well by now!

As part of this planned transition, Mike will be moving into a new role here at HMEA as Executive Vice President for Government and Community Relations. In this role, he will continue to be an advocate and statewide leader on issues that matter to all of us, such as better pay and benefits for all staff.

All of us here at HMEA have benefited from Mike's incredible leadership over the past 20 years. During this time, he has led and overseen a tremendous amount of growth and positive change at HMEA. When Mike took over as CEO from HMEA's founder Susan Darnell, we were an organization serving 550 people. Today, we serve more than 5000 people.

Mike Moloney

Now, as Jule prepares to become only the third CEO in the history of the organization, she sees many opportunities to grow and improve the services we provide, to use technology to make all of our lives easier and more productive, and to ensure that our diversity work guarantees that this agency is a respectful and safe place for everyone we serve and all who work here. Jule also sees incredible opportunities to continue to develop partnerships that will allow us to build upon our many accomplishments and to ensure a long and bright future for this organization.

We look forward to continuing to work together with you to advance HMEA's mission to teach, support and empower people with developmental disabilities and their families to live meaningful lives of their choice.

We encourage you to reach out to either of us with any questions you might have. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Mike Moloney, CEO mmoloney@hmea.org

Jule Gomes Noack, President and COO jnoack@hmea.org


Video link: https://youtu.be/iE8sjtJnI9w

Special Announcement from HMEA

Learn more about HEMA at their web page https://www.hmea.org/

Note: I am proud to be part of the group supporting their annual road race for over a dozen years. The road race is part of their key fund raisers incredABLE 5K.

FM #189 - Board of Health meeting Jan 8, 2020 (audio)

FM #189

This internet radio show or podcast is number 189 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health meeting held on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 in the Room 106 at the Municipal Building at 5:00 PM.

Board of Health Agenda
1) Reading and acceptance of December 4, 2019 minutes

2) OLD BUSINESSA. Keeping of Animals Regulations
Chairman opens the floor for any other old business 

3) NEW BUSINESSA. Shiva MarketB. Tobacco legislatureC. Site Plan Modification-122 Chestnut StreetD. Local Upgrade Approval-416 Maple Street 

4) HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Chairman opens the floor for any other new business 

5) CITIZENS COMMENTARY
6) ADJOURNMENT

Next Board of Health meeting will be Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm in Room 106

The meeting runs about 40 minutes, so without further ado here is the Board of Health meeting of Jan 8, 2020.


Audio link -> https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HBpSm17X

Town of Franklin  = Health Dept or Board of Health 
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department




-------------


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FHS gymnastics team tops OA for first time

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Thursday.


Girls Gymnastics = Franklin, 137.2 @ Oliver Ames, 135.4 – Final
– Franklin took the top two spots in the all-around, earning a season-high score and its first ever win over Oliver Ames. Kate Rudolph (35.5) and Emma Nelson (33.7) finished first and second, respectively, in the all-around.

Franklin results:
Vault – Kate Rudolph 8.8 | Lexi Lupien 8.6 | Caroline Woelfel 8.4 | Emma Nelson 8.1
Bars – K. Rudolph 8.8 | E. Nelson 8.6 | Elizabeth Schirduan 8.2 | C. Woelfel 7.8
Beam – K. Rudolph 9.0 | Ashley Hammann 8.8 | E. Nelson 8.6 | E. Schirduan 8.5
Floo – C. Woelfel 9.0 | K. Rudolph 8.9 | A. Hammann 8.6 | L. Lupien 8.5

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-09-20/

And via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports

TEAM - Train, Encourage, Achieve, & Motivate! When I coach this group of girls these are the words I hold myself and them too... come see what this amazing group is all about!! @FHSSports @HockomockSports @FranklinMatters @MetroWestSports @FranklinHS @FHSPantherbook pic.twitter.com/mOnqw6DDCn

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) January 9, 2020

FHS makes history tonight. 1st time since the gymnastics program started back up 4 years ago we beat a very strong OA! FHS 137.2 OA 135.4. These girls were amazing tonight. Also highest score we have ever put up!! Highlights to follow @FHSSports @HockomockSports @FHSPantherbook pic.twitter.com/wXtJkMPeby

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) January 10, 2020

Great job tonight so proud of this group!! Highlights below!! 💙🤸🏼‍♂️ @FHSSports @FHSPantherbook @HockomockSports @MetroWestSports @FranklinMatters @FranklinHS pic.twitter.com/kbGxh2tJFR

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) January 10, 2020

FHS makes history tonight. 1st time since the gymnastics program started back up 4 years ago we beat a very strong OA