"Third, how about we rethink smartphones at school?"

Via PsychologyToday - although from Jan 2018, it is as relevant (if not more so) today!

"My inbox has been inundated with reports that our kids are literally dying because of excessive cell phone use. From an editorial in the Lancet to my local radio station, the news is alarming. In many cases, I’m told, our children are on their phones eight or more hours a day, with experts saying it should be limited to just two.

Jean Twenge’s new book iGen has been front and center, insisting that we do something and do it quickly. Kids are using their cell phones way too much and putting their mental health at terrible risk. National surveys are showing that kids today are more anxious than ever before, with spiking rates of depression and suicide. Twenge suspects that this uptick in problems (which every mental health professional knows is happening) occurred at just about the same time as cell phones became a common accessory for most teens. Correlation doesn’t imply causation, but in this case, one has to wonder if the very real increase in emergency room visits for mood disorders and self-reported anxiety among teens isn’t a byproduct of more accessible technology that both connects and isolates at the same time."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-resilience/201801/teens-and-dangerous-levels-cell-phone-use

Hat tip to CoachCJNeely who shared the link via Twitter
https://twitter.com/CoachCJNeely/status/1216050605690707970


PsychologyToday has a current article on teen sexting with guidelines for parents
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/protecting-children-sexual-abuse/202001/teen-sexting-guidelines-parents

"Third, how about we rethink smartphones at school?"

Town Council recap Jan 8 meeting: 67 Degree pouring license approved, goals discussed, plastic bag restriction moves closer to reality

The agenda was completed but not in the order as published due to the time requirements. This is not unusual for the Council especially when there is a scheduled hearing for 7:10 PM and they don't have enough to do before that time runs around. In this case, they skipped ahead to cover an 'easy' item, the reintroduction of the snow removal bylaw (which turned out to be lease than 'easy.')

The discussion on the snow removal bylaw could have been straight forward. The Council had given a sense of the state for the reintroduction. The prior wording was reviewed by Town Administrator and Legal Counsel to bring the new version forward addressing the major problem from the prior - lack of enforcement.

During the discussion, it was revealed that none of the businesses, nor the Downtown Partnership, had been given a heads up on the proposal. The item was withdrawn from consideration by the Council and referred to the Economic Development Subcommittee for further discussion and review. It will likely come back to the Council but as the next EDC meeting is scheduled for Feb 5, it won't be likely to provide any relief for this winter season.

The Council turned to the 7:10 hearing and approval for the pouring license for Franklin Brewing Company doing business as 67 Degrees. They are working toward opening at 158 Grove St. They still have some final approvals and work to complete before opening but the pouring license is now approved.

The plastic bag reduction or prohibition (as opposed to ban) came up for discussion and was moved to a second reading. The FHS students will be invited to the next meeting (apparently had a school event conflict with this meeting) to be on hand for eventual approval.

The storm water bylaw moved forward to become a reality. The subcommittee to work out the details for the fee structure still needs to be named. The work to change the quarterly billing statement to add this line item to the current water/sewer and trash/recycling is also underway.

After completing the legislation for action, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen reminded the Council that they had not covered the goals and objectives. The Council then dug into that document as Jamie went through section by section. Multiple additions or clarifications were made along the way.

The Actions Taken document has not yet been published. A link to that will be added when available.

Additional details from the meeting may be found in my notes recorded live during the meeting.

• Live reporting: TA report to Closing

 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/live-reporting-ta-report-to-closing.html

• Live reporting: License Transaction - Presentation...

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/live-reporting-license-transaction.html

• Live reporting: Legislation for Action (updated)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

• Live reporting: Town Council - Jan 8, 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/live-reporting-town-council-jan-8-2020.html

Town Council agenda links
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-8.html

storm water fee mock-up (from a recent bill for my household, the actual one may look different)

Empty Bowls community event - Jan 25 - Register now - only 25 spots open

"Registration is open for our 1st Empty Bowls community event.

Join us 1/25 to help make ceramic bowls to prepare for the 5th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner on 5/7.

This event is only open to the 1st 25 people who register, so sign up today!"

Register here:
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/help-us-make-empty-bowls-to-fight-hunger/

Empty Bowls community event - Jan 25 - Register now - only 25 spots open (Franklin Food Pantry photo)

 
Shared from the Food Pantry tweet
https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1215332661402787840

FHS boys hockey tie with Foxboro

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

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 1 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final
– Franklin senior Tom Tasker scored in the third period to help the Panthers overcome Foxboro goalie Espen Reager and earn a point on the road. Tasker scored just under five minutes into the third to bring the Panthers level, the only time Franklin could solve Reager (54 saves). Sophomore Jack Watts put the hosts in front with a goal in the first period.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 2 @ Dedham, 5 – Final


For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-11-20/

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

FHS boys hockey tie with Foxboro

Huge day for the Franklin boys today! Smr (Flaherty, Ellis, Harrington, Brogan) win the Northeast Invite in 3:37.18 (school record by 18 seconds) and qualify for New Balance Nationals🔥🔥

Dmr (Sieczkiewicz, Hanley, Zielinski, Calitri) takes 4th overall all with strong splits‼️

— FHS Boys XC+TF (@FHSPanthersTF) January 11, 2020

Boys Sprint Medley Relay takes first at the Northeast Invite today with a 3:37. That mark is also a school record by 18 seconds!

— Coach Bailey (@FranklinHSXC) January 11, 2020

The Franklin Girls Track Team competed at the Northeast Invitational held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Lindsey Morse had an outstanding meet finishing 3rd in the high jump. The Franklin Panthers also scored in the 4x400 and 4x800 Relays

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) January 12, 2020

The Franklin Girls Track Team competed at the Northeast Invitational held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Lindsey Morse had an outstanding meet finishing 3rd in the high jump. The Franklin Panthers also scored in the 4x400 and 4x800 Relays.

— Coach Bailey (@FranklinHSXC) January 12, 2020

Why am I not surprised? Go Kirshe! https://t.co/pl1IZ4ePKi

— leightoj (@coachleighto) January 12, 2020

School Committee Budget Workshop - Agenda - Jan 14, 2020

School Committee Budget Workshop

Municipal Building - 3rd floor Training Room

6:00 PM

This meeting will not be recorded*

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

• Call to Order 
• Budget Workshop
• Feedback – Legislative Forum Planning 
• Adjournment

* unless prohibited from recording, I will be recording this meeting for audio replay. It is a room not prepared for video recording or broadcast.

You can download a copy of the agenda from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/scagenda_1-14-20-budgetwkshop_0.pdf

For reference:
the 2018 legislative forum is available for video replay
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=535
 
Notes from the 2019 forum were posted here (unfortunately, the technical quality of the audio was not worthy of sharing)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/02/notes-from-legislative-forum-feb-5-2019.html

Left to Right: Rep Jeff Roy, Senator Karen Spilka, and MASC Exec Dir Glenn Koocher at the 2019 Legislative Forum

 

"addressing food waste in a new and innovative way"

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

"Call it a shopper’s dilemma.

A supermarket bin is down to its last banana or head of lettuce, and the food looks a little tired. There’s a slight bruise, or the color isn’t quite right, and you can’t decide if it’s worth the risk to shell out money for something that could turn out to be a dud.

Harsha Prakki, 19, of Franklin, might be on her way to developing a product that could solve such a problem, and could even put $1 million in her bank account if she wins an upcoming international competition.

Prakki’s invention, which is still in the design stage, is a “sticker” placed on fruits and vegetables to indicate their freshness level. She said many consumers throw away food by the manufacturer’s listed sell-by dates, believing it’s no longer fresh. However, many foods can still be eaten safely, and her sticker is designed to guarantee how long food remains fresh enough to eat."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200111/franklin-problem-solver-focused-on-worldwide-problem

if the sticker is in any shade of blue, then the item is still within its freshness period, and good to eat

Middle School Glee Starts Feb. 3 - Register now

Lifelong Music Academy = Middle School Glee Starts Feb. 3rd!

Middle school singers and performers, spend an hour with friends singing and dancing to Pop music, Broadway music, and movie soundtracks!

· Mondays from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Franklin High School.
· Class begins Monday, February 3, 2020.
· Concert Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 6:00 PM.
· Tuition for the 13-week program is $160.00.


Register Online: www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

Choose “Lifelong Music Academy” then “Chorus School”.

Middle School Glee Starts Feb. 3 - Register now