"these programs are really a win, win, win"

Via Commonwealth Magazine, we find that the State is suspending the HIP program as of Feb 24. The Farmers Market today in Franklin is not affected but the next markets in Mar and Apr will be.

"AT A MONTHLY WINTER FARMERS market run by Roots Rising in Pittsfield, shoppers can buy apples, canned tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onions, and winter squash. A shopper using SNAP benefits can spend $1 to buy $2 of produce under the state’s Healthy Incentives Program, or HIP.

But as of Feb. 24, shoppers on public benefits will no longer get that extra money. The state is suspending HIP for the winter, with plans to restore it May 15. State officials say the program – which doubles the impact of SNAP benefits when produce is bought from a participating farm – is a victim of its own success and has outgrown its budget.

Without a temporary suspension of the program, state officials say its $6.5 million state appropriation would run out quickly and no money would be left during the busier buying and growing season this summer.

Advocates for farmers and low-income individuals say the loss of HIP will hurt shoppers and sellers. Recently, 89 legislators wrote to Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Amy Kershaw protesting the suspension, and the lack of notice."

Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/state-suspending-farm-food-benefits-program/

Winter Farmers Market

When: Sat, February 15, 10am – 2pm

Where: Fairmount Fruit Farm, 887 Lincoln St, Franklin, MA 02038, USA (map)

Description: A winter farmers market where local farms and crafters/vendors can gather together to sell products and network within their community

 

 

"these programs are really a win, win, win"

Reminder: Shuttle bus for Franklin Line this weekend

• South Station – Forge Park/495 - bus shuttle on weekends through March

Shuttle buses will replace Franklin Line service between Forge Park/495 and Readville Stations while we upgrade the signal system as part of Positive Train Control (PTC) work. Also during this work, connecting train service between Readville and South Station will be on the Fairmount Line. There will be no Franklin Line service at Ruggles or Back Bay.

• Learn about Positive Train Control

https://www.mbta.com/projects/commuter-rail-positive-train-control-ptc?

• See all Franklin Line service changes

https://www.mbta.com/diversions/franklin-line?

MBTA - Franklin Line - Reminder: shuttle bus service on weekends through March 2020

• Saturday schedule for President's Day

The Commuter Rail will operate on a normal Saturday schedule on Monday, February 17, for President's Day. There will be no disruption on the Lowell, Fitchburg and Franklin line.

For more information: https://mbta.com/holidays

Last Updated: Feb 10 2020 10:59 AM

Senator Rausch Office Hours Schedule

Come meet with Senator Rausch in person at Office Hours!

View this email in your browser https://mailchi.mp/b8c323022b08/senator-rausch-state-house-briefing-2019-year-in-review-12204769?  Greetings from Beacon Hill! My team and I finalized my in-district office hours schedule through April 2020, and I wanted you to be the first to know! Here's the scoop: We host in-district office hours every month, rotating through the northern, central, and southern regions of the district. Residents of any part of the district are welcome to attend office hours in any region. Office hours typically run for 2 hours: the first 90 minutes is reserved for 15-minute sign-up appointments, and the last 30 minutes is open for drop-in conversations. Constituents may reserve a 15-minute slot in advance at beccarauschma.com/office-hours. Constituents without a reserved slot are encouraged to come during the final half hour for a shorter walk-in meetings, held on a first come, first served basis. Office hours will alternative between Fridays during the day and on Monday evenings to best accommodate all schedules. The next three office hours will be: SOUTHERN REGION - Attleboro: Monday, February 24, 2020, evening hours from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Tech Lab at the Attleboro Public Library. Sign up here!  https://calendly.com/senrauschofficehours CENTRAL REGION - Millis: Friday, March 27, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Local History Room at the Millis Public Library. NORTHERN REGION - Wayland: Monday, April 13, evening hours from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Raytheon Room at the Wayland Public Library. Last year, I held office hours in every city and town in my district. I look forward to see you at an upcoming office hours session! As always, please follow along on Twitter and Facebook, and don't hesitate to call our office at 617-722-1555 or stop by Room 218 at the State House. Yours in service, Senator Becca Rausch Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 218 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Feb 14 to THU - Feb 20

Friday, February 14

 Valentine's Day

9:00am

 Library-Baby-Wearing Dance Party- Ages 0-12mo

10:00am

 Knitting Group

1:00pm

 Book sale

8:00pm

 The Love Dogs

Saturday, February 15

9:00am

 Book Sale

10:00am

 Winter Farmers Market

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

1:00pm

 Bag Sale

2:00pm

 Everly Brothers Experience

Sunday, February 16

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

3:00pm

 Young Virtuosi Ilana Zaks, violin Eric Zaks, cello with Dina Vainshtein, piano

Monday, February 17

 Library Closed

 Presidents' Day (regional holiday)

Tuesday, February 18

 Library-The Amazing Race: Library Edition- Whole Family

9:30am

 Library- Cool Cruisers- 8mo-18mo

4:00pm

 Library-Toe-Tapping Tuesdays-Ages 2-4!

6:00pm

 Library - Adults - Drop-In ESL Conversation Class

6:30pm

 Avoiding Age Discrimination: A Workbook for Baby Boomers

Wednesday, February 19

 Library-The Amazing Race: Library Edition- Whole Family

10:30am

 Library - Animal World Experience - Ages 4+

3:30pm

 Library- Creation Station!- Ages 4+

6:00pm

 Library-RAD Storytellers Club!-Grades K+

Thursday, February 20

 Library-The Amazing Race: Library Edition- Whole Family

8:30am

 Town Council Office Hours

9:30am

 Library- Tummy Time- Ages 0-12mo (pre-walkers)

10:30am

 Library-Story Xplorers- Ages 0-5

1:00pm

 Library - Miss Mac author visit! - Ages 4+

4:00pm

 Library- Bookworm Bounce Storytime!- Ages 0-5

6:00pm

 Library-Volunteens-Teens (13+)

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 - Feb 14 to THU - Feb 20

“We have significantly more hearts than last year"

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

"Acts of kindness are a lot like exponents in a mathematical expression. Once they are applied, they only expand in greater quantity.

That is the essential quality about kindness that students in the town’s school system are adeptly demonstrating with their Hearts of Kindness project - an endeavor to spread words of kindness and inspire kind acts.

For the past couple of weeks, children in grades K through 12 from 11 schools have been decorating hearts cut from foam board and writing notes containing references to kindness and kind acts. It fits in perfectly with Valentine’s Day, but is at its heart a recognition of Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 17-20, and an expression of a growing movement to encourage more kindness and connectedness in everyday social interactions.

On Wednesday, a crew of student volunteers descended on the town common to hang the messages for all to share, using clothespins to secure them to lines strung between the trees by the Department of Public Works."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200213/heartfelt-endeavor-franklin-students-hang-words-of-kindess-on-town-common/1


Photo album with "Hearts of Kindness" hung in Feb 2018, Feb 2019, and this year, Feb 2020:

FHS girls post win vs. Attleboro

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

Girls Basketball = Attleboro, 26 @ Franklin, 64 – Final 

"Franklin jumped out to a 39-10 lead at halftime behind a dominant performance from Ali Brigham and rolled to a big win that completes a perfect run through the Hockomock League. Brigham scored 23 of her game-high 28 points in the first half and added 15 rebounds and blocked five shots in the final league game of her career. She scored 10 points in the first quarter and 13 in the second, including a corner three. 

Olivia Quinn scored seven of her nine points in the second quarter, as the Panthers outscored Attleboro 22-3 in the frame. Meghan O’Connell scored seven points, Erin Quaile scored six, and Elizabeth Wilson added five in the win. Nyah Thomas had all of Attleboro’s seven points in the first and finished with 10 points and five rebounds to pace the Bombardiers. Meghan Gordon scored five and Lillian Froio added four. Attleboro heads into its final game against North Attleboro needing a win to secure a postseason berth."

For a Photo Gallery from this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-Attleboro-Girls-Basketball-2-13-20/


Boys Basketball = Franklin, 56 @ Attleboro, 62 – Final

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the recap:

"Attleboro High School had 1,000 point fever, and the only prescription was more ‘Q.’

‘Q’ being senior Qualeem Charles, the 6’5, 290-pound center and four-year starter for the Bombardiers, who went a perfect 11-for-11 from the floor, the last bucket giving him his 1,000th career point. Charles is the second Bombardier to reach the milestone in the past nine days, joining classmate Bryant Ciccio.

Behind Charles’ 27 points, 18 coming in the second half, Attleboro grinded out a 62-56 win over a hot-shooting Franklin squad, giving the Bombardiers a season sweep of the Panthers for the first time since joining the Hockomock League.

“I was aiming for 15 in the first half, but I wasn’t mad it didn’t happen, it was a close game and Franklin is a tough team,” Charles said. “I came out hot in the third quarter and the team kept feeding me. I’ve been a pass-first guy but all of my teammates keep rooting me on to shoot it, even if I miss, they want me to keep shooting. My teammates were patient in getting me the ball."

Continue reading the game recap
https://hockomocksports.com/qualeem-charles-1000-attleboro-boys-basketball-beats-franklin/

For a photo gallery from this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Attleboro-Franklin-Boys-Basketball-02-13-20/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-13-20/

FHS Erin Quaile playing defense (HockomockSports.com photo)

FHS Indoor Track Performances at MIAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships

FHS Indoor Track Performances

MIAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships - 2/12/2020          

Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center   

                  

Complete Results                                   

http://miaa.ezstream.com/index.cfm?ChnID=314&SubID=-1&chncd=314,-1&itemid=8386&parid=-1&Org=MIAA&CFID=55965363&CFTOKEN=82834395

Girls 300 Meter Dash

===============================================================

Meet Qualifying:  44.24

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals H# Points

===============================================================

 1 Jolene Murphy             11 Peabody Vet. 40.50      39.70 5 10  

 4 Jillian Fenerty               10 Franklin 42.48     42.39 5 5  

17 Lauren Jackson            12 Franklin 45.38      45.16 2

Girls 600 Meter Run

==============================================================

Meet Qualifying:  1:44.24

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals H# Points

============================================================

 1 Amyah Santana             12 Wachusett 1:37.66    1:36.00 4 10  

 13 Samantha Powderly         12 Franklin 1:44.53    1:42.74 2

Girls 1000 Meter Run

===============================================================

Meet Qualifying:  3:16.24

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals H# Points

==========================================================

 1 Sonja Nagle               11 Brookline 2:56.38    2:59.27 2 10  

10 Sydney Hawkins            11 Franklin 3:14.29    3:11.07 1

Girls 55 Meter Hurdles

=====================================================

Meet Qualifying:  9.84

   Name                    Year School     Seed Prelims H#

===================================================

Preliminaries

 1 Jamie Chamberlain         11 Brookline 8.32       8.27q 1

 16 Lindsey Morse             11 Franklin 9.54       9.42 4

Girls 4x200 Meter Relay

============================================================

Meet Qualifying:  1:56.64

   School                                               Seed Finals H# Points

===========================================================

 1 Peabody Vet. Mem.                                 1:49.31 1:44.76 6 10  

    1) Savanna Vargas 9                2) Mckayla Fisher 10             

    3) Lindsey Wilson 9                4) Ava D'Ambrosio 10             

20 Franklin                                          1:51.14 1:55.08 5

    1) Jillian Fenerty 10              2) Lindsey Morse 11              

    3) Ava Fraulo 10                   4) Riley Fitzpatrick 10          

Girls 4x400 Meter Relay

========================================================

Meet Qualifying:  4:36.44

   School                                               Seed Finals H# Points

============================================================

 1 Newton North                                      4:03.99 4:03.22 3 10  

    1) Lorna Arcese 10                 2) Olivia Doherty 10             

    3) Tessa Bostwick 12               4) Charlotte Kouroriez 10        

 6 Franklin                                          4:16.35 4:14.33 2 3  

    1) Samantha Powderly 12            2) Jillian Fenerty 10            

    3) Lauren Jackson 12               4) Riley Fitzpatrick 10          

Girls 4x800 Meter Relay

===========================================================

Meet Qualifying:  10:30.24

   School                                               Seed Finals H# Points

============================================================

 1 Newton South                                      9:26.95 9:29.32 2 10  

    1) Lily Bulczynski 10              2) Amelia Everett 9              

    3) Lottie McLeod 11                4) Lucy Jenks 12                 

10 Franklin                                         10:35.20 10:21.83 1

    1) Sydney Hawkins 11               2) Samantha Powderly 12          

    3) Carly Alston 12                 4) Ruth Ann Mulvey 9             

Girls High Jump

===========================================================

Meet Qualifying:  4-08.00

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals Points

==========================================================

 1 Sophie Albright           11 Framingham 5-08.00    5-06.00 10  

 3 Lindsey Morse             11 Franklin 5-04.00    5-02.00 6  

 4 Ava Fraulo                10 Franklin 5-02.00    5-00.00 5  

Girls Shot Put

============================================================

Meet Qualifying:  30-00.00

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals Points

==============================================================

 1 Kennedy Johnson           11 New Bedford 37-11.00   37-11.50 10  

 13 Danielle McDonnell        12 Franklin 29-08.50   29-11.00 

Boys 600 Meter Run

============================================================

Meet Qualifying:  1:28.44

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals H# Points

=============================================================

 1 Joshua Backert            12 Lexington 1:22.17    1:21.16 3 10  

  9 Camden Harrington         12 Franklin 1:25.17    1:25.33 2

Boys 1000 Meter Run

==========================================================

Meet Qualifying:  2:44.24

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals H# Points

=============================================================

 1 Myles Liss-Riordan        11 Brookline 2:34.05    2:33.67 2 10  

 5 Nicholas Calitri          11 Franklin 2:34.18    2:35.74 2 4  

Boys 1 Mile Run

================================================================

Meet Qualifying:  4:38.24

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals H# Points

==============================================================

 1 Stephen Jackson           12 Saint John's 4:23.12    4:18.05 2 10  

 2 Tyler Brogan              12 Franklin 4:18.95    4:21.22 2 8  

Boys 4x200 Meter Relay

================================================================

Meet Qualifying:  1:37.24

   School                                               Seed Finals H# Points

===============================================================

 1 Lowell                                            1:30.66 1:30.41 6 10  

    1) Chigozie Adigwe 11              2) Samuel Mutiso 12              

    3) Aaron Morris 10                 4) Richmond Kwaateng 12          

 20 Franklin                                          1:34.50 1:37.16 3

    1) Grady Ellis 11                  2) Daniel Hammann 11             

    3) Justin Flaherty 12              4) Jacob Cummings 12             

Boys 4x800 Meter Relay

======================================================================

Meet Qualifying:  8:29.44

   School                                               Seed Finals H# Points

======================================================================

 1 Franklin                                          8:13.53 8:07.81 2 10  

    1) Tyler Brogan 12                 2) Nicholas Calitri 11           

        

Boys Long Jump

======================================================================

Meet Qualifying:  19-05.00

   Name                    Year School     Seed Finals Points

======================================================================

 1 Richmond Kwaateng         12 Lowell 23-04.00   23-00.25 10  

 16 Jacob Cummings            12 Franklin 20-10.50   19-02.25 

          MIAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships - 2/12/2020          

                    Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center                     

                      Team Rankings - Through Event 33                       

                             Female Team Scores                              

           Place School                                          Points

      ================================================================

               1 Brookline                          BROO 62 

               2 Lexington                          LEXI 60.12

               3 Newton North                       NNOR 55.2

               4 Wachusett                          WACH 42 

               5 Peabody Vet. Mem.                  PEAB 37 

               6 Newton South                       NSOU 33.5

               7 Brockton                           BROC 31 

               8 Andover                            ANDO 25.2

               9 Boston Latin School                LATI 21 

              10 Franklin                           FRAN 19 

              11 Taunton                            TAUN 14 

              12 Acton-Boxborough                   ACTO 12.12

              13 Cambridge Rindge & Latin           CAMB 11.12

              14 New Bedford                        NEWB 10.12

              15 Framingham                         FRAM 10 

              16 Lowell                             LOWE 9 

              17 Shrewsbury                         SHRE 8 

              17 Durfee                             DURF 8 

              19 Needham                            NEED 7.5

              20 Haverhill                          HAVE 7 

              21 Lynn English                       LENG 6 

              22 Attleboro                          ATTL 5 

              22 Everett                            EVER 5 

              24 Westford Academy                   WEST 4 

              25 Methuen                            METH 2 

              26 Malden                             MALD 1 

              26 North Quincy                       NQUI 1 

                              Male Team Scores                               

           Place School                                          Points

      ================================================================

               1 Lowell                             LOWE 84 

               2 Newton North                       NNOR 64 

               3 Acton-Boxborough                   ACTO 44 

               4 Lexington                          LEXI 43 

               5 Saint John's Prep                  PREP 30 

               6 Lawrence                           LAWR 28 

               7 Brockton                           BROC 24 

               8 Xaverian Brothers                  XAVE 22 

               8 Franklin                           FRAN 22 

               8 Brookline                          BROO 22 

              11 Shrewsbury                         SHRE 14 

              12 Methuen                            METH 13 

              13 Newton South                       NSOU 12 

              13 Andover                            ANDO 12 

              15 Needham                            NEED 10 

              16 Westford Academy                   WEST 9 

              16 Boston College High                BCHI 9 

              18 Peabody Vet. Mem.                  PEAB 8 

              19 Leominster                         LEOM 6 

              19 Weymouth                           WEYM 6 

              19 Wachusett                          WACH 6 

              22 Haverhill                          HAVE 5 

              23 Cambridge Rindge & Latin           CAMB 3 

              23 Framingham                         FRAM 3 

              23 Attleboro                          ATTL 3 

              26 New Bedford                        NEWB 2 

              26 Springfield Central                SPRI 2 

              28 Saint John's                       SJON 1 

FHS Indoor Track Performances at MIAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships