Franklin Cultural Council: Town Wide Art Contest - week of March 16, 2020

The Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) is announcing a town-wide ONLINE ART CONTEST the week of March 16 geared towards elementary and middle school students! 

There will be two winners per day; one elementary school student and one middle school student. Prizes will be hand delivered to your mailbox!

• Monday, Make Art with Nature
• Tuesday, Create Art with Paint
• Wednesday, Create Art with Recycles
• Thursday, Create a Collage of your Pet
• Friday, Create Sculpture Art

Photo examples will be available at the beginning of each day! 

Photo of your child's artwork should be submitted on the "post of the day" on the Franklin Cultural Council Facebook page with their name (or alias) and grade. 

Find the "post of the day" at  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCulturalCouncil/


One entry per student. 
Entries must be posted by 5pm each day.
Winners will be announced at 7pm each day!

Franklin Cultural Council: Town Wide Art Contest - week of March 16, 2020

Shared from the FCC Facebook posting
https://www.facebook.com/FranklinCulturalCouncil/posts/1105816116438881?

Franklin Food Pantry Will Be Open Next Week (March 17 - 20)

Important Update From The Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry will be open regular hours next week, March 17 - March 20. We will be open to our current neighbors and anyone who needs us including families who count on the breakfast and lunch options provided by the Franklin area schools. We will provide a prepackaged bag full of nonperishable items to help you through this time. You can visit us daily if needed. We will reopen on March 24 with our regular shopping hours and procedures.

How can you help?

We are so grateful to our community and have received many questions on how you can help us during these uncertain times. If you are able, the best way to support The Pantry is through a monetary donation. Monetary donations allow us to purchase the items we need at a cheaper price through the Greater Boston Food Bank. If you are interested in donating items, please visit our current needs list. https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/give-help/donate-food/current-needs-list/

Please check back regularly as we update frequently. Thank you for your continued support of the Franklin Food Pantry.

Please stay safe and reach out if we can help in any way: 508-528-3115

Thank you! 

 

Franklin Food Pantry Will Be Open Next Week (March 17 - 20)

To Attendees and Volunteers: Music4Kids Benefit Concert 2020 - COVID-19 Precautions

Please be advised that in the interest of public safety, and according to recommendations from the CDC and the Governor's Office regarding COVID-19, we have decided to postpone the Sugar Ray and Mike Welch, Veronica Lewis, Nolan Leite Experience benefit concert.  

We will honor all tickets purchased for the new concert date.  We will be in touch as soon as we have the new date confirmed. 

For information about  the COVID-19 recommended precautions, please visit the following links:

https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19  

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html  

Thank you for your understanding.  We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Warmest regards, 

--

Joshua Silver

Joshua Silver

Founder and  CEO

Music4Kids Inc

412 Gatehouse Lane, Franklin, MA 02038

(508) 381-9052

outreach@music4kids.org

www.music4kids.org

Music4Kids Inc

Franklin Public Library Closure for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Franklin Public Library Closure

Due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, the Franklin Public Library will be closed to all patrons indefinitely, until further notice. 

The staff will be required to work a full schedule and will continue to operate business via online services and will be available by phone during modified business hours at 508-520-4941. Modified business hours will be 9AM to 5PM Monday through Saturday where staff will be available by phone. 

All programs at the Library, including the Book Sale, are cancelled for this duration. Any late fines will be waived through at least March 27th. Items that are checked out will have their due date extended to April 30th. 

The Library's book return will remain open twenty-four hours a day. No book or media donations will be accepted until further notice.


If you currently have items on the holdshelf, the Library will offer "curbside pickup". 

Please drive to the Library parking lot or 5 minute parking spots, call the Library with your name and Library card number ready, and a staff person will check out your items and bring them to your car. This service is available during the modified business hours of Monday through Saturday, 9AM to 5PM.

Franklin Public Library Closure for coronavirus (COVID-19)

Franklin Public Schools: School Closure Update - Notification and Information

March 13, 2020

Dear Franklin Families,


This letter serves as a follow up to the Town of Franklin Coronavirus Update Letter shared earlier today. Franklin Public Schools, beginning today, Friday, March 13, 2020, are closed for two weeks (through March 27, 2020), planning to resume operations March 30th. We will have to make up 5 days for the year. Our last day of school is now planned for June 24, 2020.

The purpose of this closure is preventative and is to provide social distancing within the school community, as this practice has been promoted as a way to curb the spread of the virus. It is not a direct reaction to a specific situation or individual; the Board of Health reports there are no confirmed cases impacting us at this time.

School events are also cancelled and may be postponed. This includes the Leap into Kindergarten (3/17), Incoming 9th Grade Special Education Transition Night (3/18), and Parent/Guardian Homework Information Evening (3/18). MCAS testing at FHS for sophomores will be postponed (3/24 and 3/25). The School Committee meeting/budget hearing is scheduled to continue (3/24).

We know that school plays an important role in the daily life of children. The routine of school, in particular, is a comfort during times of stress. We are keenly aware of this and have been actively planning to support both families and students and to maintain some structure and connection. 

This includes:
● Developmentally appropriate resources for the continuity of learning and “keeping the learning alive”
● Continuation of breakfast and lunch for Franklin children
● Counseling supports
● Rescheduled dates of selected activities and events (e.g. SATs, MCAS, parent/guardian information evenings) 

We will address the details of these and other matters in future communications.

We anticipate that your child may need items left at school such as instruments, books, Chromebooks, and personal items. Your child’s school will soon communicate specific days and times.

This is an anxiety-producing time for all. The following resources may assist you in answering questions and facilitating conversations with your children:

• How to Talk to Children about the Coronavirus

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-coronavirus-2020030719111

• Talking to Kids about Covid-19 

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-%28coronavirus%29-a-parent-resource
 

• Talking to Teen/Tweens about Coronavirus

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html

• Coronavirus: Latest Updates and Tips

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/coronavirus-latest-updates?utm_source=Understood+for+All&utm_campaign=87b667c2b5-02192020_familiesNL_highengagement_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_45fc52ce3d-87b667c2b5-337092907


We know there are many remaining questions. We aim to address these in the coming days and we appreciate your patience as we navigate this unchartered territory together as a community.

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools: School Closure Update - Notification and Information

The School message is also delivered in multiple languages
https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent/pages/messages-superintendent-regarding-coronavirus
 

THE BLACK BOX: Legally Blonde Performances Postponed

To the FPAC Community and patrons of THE BLACK BOX,

Due to the evolving situation with the Coronavirus outbreak, the Franklin Performing Arts Company will postpone our production of Legally Blonde scheduled this weekend and next. We look forward to presenting the show for six performances this spring and tickets purchased in advance will be honored at that time. The box office will communicate first with current ticket holders when our new dates are announced.

A production the magnitude of Legally Blonde – with New York guest artist contracts, William Berloni's Theatrical Animals, original Broadway choreography and professional orchestra, as well as the expenses of sets, props and costumes, rights, royalties and creative team, is an enormous financial undertaking. We are facing a frightening burden with the theater closed even for a short period of time. 

This would be a great time to help our company and show your support for THE BLACK BOX with a one-time donation or membership in an FPAC Annual Circle. We need your help now in order to be in a healthy position to reopen when safe to do so. You might also consider donating to FPAC your current Legally Blonde ticket purchases and then repurchase when the box office opens for our new dates.

The FPAC Board of Directors, Creatives, and Artists realize how the arts provide an important opportunity to gather, share, and be inspired in challenging times. We look forward to seeing you at THE BLACK BOX as soon as it is possible! We thank you for your understanding and hope for your support.

Support page for FPAC
https://www.fpaconline.com/pages.php?pname=fpac_support_us

THE BLACK BOX: Legally Blonde Performances Postponed

Hockomock YMCA: Health Preparedness Update (COVID-19)

MEMBER UPDATE HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AT OUR Y  Dear Franklin, As a follow-up to our communication on Wednesday, our YMCA continues to closely monitor the current public health updates regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. The CDC and our local boards of health continue to advise businesses and institutions that taking steps to slow the spread of the Coronavirus will contribute to the public health response to the outbreak.    Updates: We are promoting social distancing: Following the strong recommendations from the CDC and state and local agencies we are putting social distancing protocols in place in our fitness centers with select fitness equipment.  Limited group exercise attendance: Group fitness classes will be limited to 20 per class. Group cycle classes will be limited to 10 per class. You may reserve your spot in class 24 hours in advance by calling your branch's Member Service Desk.  Our Prescription for a Healthy Lifestyle programs such as LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, MS Wellness and Diabetes Prevention Program will be postponed until further notice. Pool or party rental reservations will be suspended until further notice. All Y events with 100 people or more will be cancelled or re-scheduled until further notice. Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting continues to be our focus every day to protect the health and safety of our community. Program and classes are running as scheduled. This is a fast-moving situation and one that we continue to assess daily. We pledge to share information with members and staff as information and decisions are made. Facility signage has increased throughout our facilities and program areas, encouraging people to wash hands, clean equipment and not enter our facilities if experiencing respiratory or flu like symptoms. Branch access is limited: Until further notice no guest passes will be sold. For further information, we encourage you to visit the following websites: Center for Disease Control & Prevention Mass.gov State Information YMCA Health Preparedness We continue to monitor this rapidly evolving health crisis and will continue to update you as more information, resources or guidance becomes available. We appreciate everyone's support as we strive to protect the health & safety of our YMCA community and work together in the days ahead. Sincerely, Ed Hurley President HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA ed@hockymca.org 508-643-5230 hockymca.org HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA | Foxboro, Franklin, North Attleboro, Mansfield, MA