Franklin Matters

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

FM #199 - Student Services Workshop - Jan 28, 2020

FM #199

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 199 in the series, that we are now developing in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This shares the Student Services Workshop conducted by the Franklin (MA) School Committee on Tuesday, Jan 28, 2020.

What is Student Services?
Student services covers the special education program: what are the requirements; what is an IEP; what can be done about addressing the rising costs of special education; all these topics and more, are discussed in this workshop.

The presentation document used is linked here so you can follow along
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/student-services-workshop-jan-28-2020

Student Services Workshop - Jan 28, 2020 from Franklin Matters

Without further ado, here is the recording for the meeting approx 55 minutes

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HZrf40PX

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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?
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.
I 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!

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

FM #199 - Student Services Workshop - Jan 28, 2020

Hockomock Area YMCA to Raise Awareness Of Heart Health in February

Blood Pressure Self Monitoring Program classes begin in March

The Hockomock Area YMCA is proud to announce it will be supporting Heart Health in February with blood pressure education and awareness.

These efforts will kick off on National Wear Red Day, February 7th. Launched by the American Heart Association in 2003 to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women, National Wear Red Day is celebrated on the first Friday of February. Members, staff, volunteers are encouraged to wear red.

Many forms of heart disease, including hypertension, are highly preventable. Under new Blood Pressure Guidelines, it was announced in 2017 that that roughly 30 million more Americans than previously thought are now considered to have high blood pressure (hypertension), a leading risk factor for stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and dementia. This includes 4 out of 5 people ages 65 and older.

The Hockomock Area YMCA encourages the community to learn their risk for heart disease by getting a blood pressure reading and take action to reduce your risk throughout the month. Visit https://www.hockymca.org/heart-health-month to learn more about free blood pressure screenings as well as strategies and education about blood pressure management.

The YMCA is a provider of the Blood Pressure Self Monitoring program which supports individuals with hypertension lower their blood pressure by following an evidence-based program that combines blood pressure self-monitoring, nutrition education and personalized support. Classes will begin at the North Attleboro and Foxboro YMCAs in March.

“The Hockomock Area YMCA is proud to continue to offer the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program,” Caitlin Gibbs, Senior Director of Health Innovation. “The Y is committed to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities by delivering new programs and initiatives.”

The North Attleboro Branch will offer the program March 3-April 28 on Tuesdays at 11:30am-12:30pm. The Foxboro Branch will run the program about both 12:00pm-1:30pm and 6:00pm-7:30pm on Thursdays, March 5 – April 30.

People who enroll in February for the March program will receive 50% off the program, a blood pressure monitor (valued at $40), heart healthy recipes and education. This special February offer is $80 for YMCA members and $125 for non-members.

As part of the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program, participants will measure their blood pressure using correct techniques and tips, a minimum of eight times, record their blood pressure readings in a self-selected tracking tool and meet weekly in a small group setting. A nutrition education component will encourage the participants to practice healthier eating habits, including reducing sodium in their diet.

The program is facilitated by Healthy Heart Ambassadors, appointed and trained by the Y, who will show participants how to use a blood pressure cuff, encourage self-monitoring and facilitate monthly nutrition education seminars.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is looking for adults with high blood pressure to take part in this program. For a small investment of time and minimal fee, participants receive:

A simple, evidence-based program that may lower blood pressure
Personalized support from a Y Healthy Heart Ambassador
Tips for maintaining cardiovascular health
Easy-to-use, portable self-tracking tool
Heart healthy nutrition education seminars
Blood pressure monitoring cuff if participant does not own one

Participants must meet the following criteria to participate in the program:

Must be at least 18 years old
Must be diagnosed with high blood pressure
Must not have experienced a recent cardiac event
Must not have atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias
Must not be at risk for lymphedema

For more information or to enroll in the program, visit https://www.hockymca.org/heart-health-month, email kellyd@hockymca.org or call 508-772-1310.

Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program

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.

IRS launches Identity Theft Central

IRS launches Identity Theft Central
Focuses on needs of taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses

The Internal Revenue Service today launched Identity Theft Central, designed to improve online access to information on identity theft and data security protection for taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses.

Located on IRS.gov, Identity Theft Central is available 24/7 at irs.gov/identitytheft. It is a resource on how to report identity theft, how taxpayers can protect themselves against phishing, online scams and more.

Improving awareness and outreach are hallmarks of initiatives to combat identity theft coordinated by the IRS, state tax agencies and the nation's tax industry, all working in partnership under the Security Summit banner.

Since 2015, the Security Summit partners have made substantial progress in the fight against tax-related identity theft. But thieves are still constantly looking for ways to steal the identities of individuals, tax professionals and businesses in order to file fraudulent tax returns for refunds.

The partnership has taken a number of steps to help educate and improve protections for taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses. As part of this effort, the IRS has redesigned the information into a new, streamlined page − Identity Theft Central − to help people get information they need on ID theft, scams and schemes.

From this special page, people can get specific information including:

Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft, including what to do if someone becomes a victim of identity theft
Identity Theft Information for Tax Professionals, including knowing responsibilities under the law
Identity Theft Information for Businesses, including how to recognize the signs of identity theft
The page also features videos on key topics that can be used by taxpayers or partner groups. The new page includes a video message from IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig, warning signs for phishing email scams – a common tactic used for identity theft – and steps for people to protect their computer and phone.

Tax professionals and others may want to bookmark Identity Theft Central and check their specific guidance periodically for updates.

This is part of an ongoing effort by the IRS to share identity theft-related information with the public. The IRS continues to look for ways to raise awareness and improve education and products related to identity theft for taxpayers and the tax professional community.

IRS launches Identity Theft Central

Monday, February 3, 2020

Franklin Downtown Partnership: General Meeting - Feb 6

FDP General Meeting in February

The next general meeting of the Franklin Downtown Partnership will be held on Thursday, February 6 at 8:30 AM at the Dean College Campus Center. See details about our guest speaker below and see the agenda below. We look forward to seeing you!

What's Next for the Former Clark-Cutler-McDermott Property?

Please join the Franklin Downtown Partnership at our next general meeting at 8:30 AM on February 6 for a long awaited discussion on the future of the Former Clark-Cutler-McDermott (CCMcD) Property. Rick Kaplan, president of RE/MAX Executive Realty's Commercial Division, will provide a short presentation on preliminary plans for the property.

Downtown Partnership meeting agenda
https://files.constantcontact.com/ceff47be401/2ce056b2-7816-4d4a-bc9c-b5204617070c.pdf

Franklin Downtown Partnership: General Meeting - Feb 6

The scale booth at the former Clark-Cutler-McDermott (CCMcD) property

FM #198 - Jeff StGermain On "How I Read" - The Word Experiences Tour (audio)

FM #198

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 198 in the series, we are now collaborating on with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

Jeff St Germain, author and resident of Franklin sat with me recently at the Franklin studio. He talks about his new children’s book “How I Read” and the background research driving him to develop ‘word experiences’ for young children.

Listen to our conversation, approximately 24 minutes

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HrD7VxrX

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Visit https://howtoreadbooks.com/about-talsd.html to learn why the focus of each event is "word experiences" for the participants.

Follow Jeff on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/howtoreadbook/

“The Early Catastrophe” by Hart-Risley https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/periodicals/TheEarlyCatastrophe.pdf

Related link to the Hart-Risley study mentioned
http://www.wvearlychildhood.org/resources/C-13_Handout_1.pdf

Link to NPR audio report updating the study with new info
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/06/01/615188051/lets-stop-talking-about-the-30-million-word-gap

Betty Hart’s wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Hart
Todd Risley interview on YouTube https://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/experts/todd-risley

For the inquiring minds: the book that had my attention so deeply that I almost missed getting off the train, not once but twice with the same book: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman http://philip-pullman.com/hdm

Jeff and Klondike at the Franklin Public Library

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

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?

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"

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Tuesday, February 11

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Tuesday, February 11 and is now FREE !

Laugh "for the health of it" at Let's Laugh Today on Tuesday, February 11 from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin!

Laugh "for the health of it

Laughter Yoga is a body/mind practice for well-being that involves deep breathing and a few stretches, playful laughter exercises (no jokes or comedy), clapping and deep relaxation. It has many benefits besides the joy of laughter. It can strengthen the immune system, combat the negative effects of stress, and is a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety.

LET'S LAUGH TODAY

Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! You can sit or stand.There are no poses.They laugh together on every second Tuesday of each month.

Please bring your water bottle because laughing can be dehydrating. Led by Certified Master Trainers, Bill and Linda Hamaker.

See www.letslaughtoday.com for opportunities to laugh in other towns. If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com.

New laughers are always welcomed! THERE WILL BE FREE CHOCOLATE TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY!

FHS gymnastics performances = meet Friday, Jan 31, 2020

Catching up to the Twitter stream of the FHS gymnastics performances from their meet this past Friday.

You can check each individual link or use one to get to the FHS Gymnastics profile and then review them one at time (or pick and choose) from there. Enjoy!

Nice win girls 💙🤸🏼‍♀️ plus some birthday cheer 🎈🎉 @FHSSports @FranklinHS @FHSPantherbook @FranklinMatters @HockomockSports @MetroWestSports pic.twitter.com/Rg0mr2eGvg
— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) February 1, 2020

celebrating birthdays

Franklin Matters

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

FM #199 - Student Services Workshop - Jan 28, 2020

Hockomock Area YMCA to Raise Awareness Of Heart Health in February

IRS launches Identity Theft Central

Monday, February 3, 2020

Franklin Downtown Partnership: General Meeting - Feb 6

FM #198 - Jeff StGermain On "How I Read" - The Word Experiences Tour (audio)

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Tuesday, February 11

FHS gymnastics performances = meet Friday, Jan 31, 2020

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