The math behind social distancing

"As we wait for scientists and healthcare professionals to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, there is another, more readily available tool at our disposal.

Social distancing, defined as measures taken to reduce physical contact, is the first line of defense for containing an infectious disease like COVID-19. That’s because these infections spread when people cough, sneeze, or touch surfaces on which the virus resides.

To help us grasp the impact these measures can actually have, today’s infographic illustrates how a reduction in social exposure can theoretically contain the spread of infection."

Continue reading online
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-math-behind-social-distancing/

 The math behind social distancing

Franklin Community Garden Status

Good Morning,

The Town of Franklin and Franklin School Department have taken serious measures to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We have temporarily closed all public buildings, parks and playgrounds through May 3rd. We hope to resume all activities and open facilities on Monday, May 4th. 

We understand how important the Community Garden is for mental health, physical exercise and access to fresh food. But, given the current situation and the guidance from public health officials on social distancing, we are postponing the opening of the gardens until May 4th. 

We want to limit in-person social interactions and avoiding spaces where people congregate in close quarters. We are particularly concerned about the spread of the virus through hard surfaces and shared equipment. I understand this will make folks anxious and irritable, but we ask that you please be patient with us as we fight through this difficult time.

We have already taken steps to close facilities, including:
· Locking permanent fencing gates or installing temporary fencing
· Posting signage
· Wrapping equipment in caution tape

We will continue to use social media (facebook and twitter) and our website to keep folks up to date on parks and playgrounds. You can also follow the Town of Franklin COVID-19 portal.

We are keeping trails open as they provide fresh air and exercise for residents. Please remember to practice social distancing and keep a minimum of 6 feet apart. These trails will remain open for the public to use in responsible ways that protect public health and safety. For information on trails in Franklin, please visit the Recreation Department's Fields/Playgrounds website.

If members of the garden are not comfortable with these rules, we are happy to issue refunds at anytime. We understand these are unusal circumstances.

Sincerely,


Ryan Jette
Director of Recreation
Franklin Recreation Department
275 Beaver Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Office: (508) 613-1667
Email:  rjette@franklinma.gov

My last visit to the garden was a walk by in December 2019

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Settles with FTC, Agrees to Stop Making Overly Broad and Misleading ‘Made in USA’ Claims about Houseware and Furniture Products

"Home products and kitchen wares company Williams-Sonoma Inc. has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims that all of its Goldtouch Bakeware products, its Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are all or virtually all made in the United States.

As part of the proposed settlement, Williams-Sonoma is required to pay $1 million to the FTC.

"Many of us want to buy products that are made in the USA, and we trust companies like Williams-Sonoma to tell us the truth," said Andrew Smith, the Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "When a company falls short, we will hold it accountable."

The San Francisco-based company, also doing business as Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Rejuvenation, Outward, and Mark & Graham, markets its products throughout the United States, in stores and on its websites and social media platforms.

According to the FTC's complaint, Williams-Sonoma deceptively claimed in advertisements and promotional materials that certain categories of its products were all or virtually all made in the United States.

In 2018, the Commission received reports that Williams-Sonoma claimed in ads and promotional materials for Pottery Barn Teen organic mattress pads that those products were "Crafted in America from local and imported materials." When consumers purchased the mattress pads, they discovered that the pads, in fact, were made in China, according to the complaint. Williams-Sonoma quickly corrected the country-of-origin information for the mattress pads, and agreed to comply with the FTC's requirement that it undertake a larger review of its country-of-origin verification process. Consequently, on June 13, 2018, the FTC staff issued a letter closing the investigation.

The FTC alleges that since the closing letter was issued, Williams-Sonoma has made misleading claims that all Goldtouch Bakeware, Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products, including raw materials and subcomponents, were all or virtually all made in the United States. These claims include:

• Goldtouch Bakeware is made in America or in the USA. This claim appeared on the company's website and in its catalogue.
• On the company website and in emails, Rejuvenation-branded products are made in America or in the USA
• In a company video, Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture is made in America or in the USA.

In fact, according to the complaint, numerous Goldtouch Bakeware products, Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are wholly imported, or contain significant imported materials or components. Therefore, Williams-Sonoma allegedly deceived consumers with its broad claims that all items in these product lines are all or virtually all made in in the United States.

Under the terms of the proposed order, Williams-Sonoma is prohibited from making unqualified U.S.-origin claims for any product, unless it can show that the product's final assembly or processing—and all significant processing—takes place in the United States, and that all or virtually all components of the product are made and sourced in the United States. 

Under the order, any qualified Made in USA claims must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure about the extent to which the product contains foreign parts, components, and/or processing. To claim that a product is assembled in the United States, Williams-Sonoma must ensure that it is last substantially transformed in the United States, its principal assembly takes place in the United States, and United States assembly operations are substantial.

The order also prohibits Williams-Sonoma, its officers, and any other company representatives from making untrue, misleading, or unsubstantiated country-of-origin claims in their marketing materials about any product or service.

The FTC's Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims provides further guidance on making non-deceptive "Made in USA" claims.

The Commission vote to issue the complaint and accept the proposed consent order for public comment was 5-0. The FTC will publish the consent agreement package in the Federal Register shortly. Instructions for filing comments appear in the published notice. Comments must be received 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Once processed, comments will be posted on Regulations.gov."

NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has "reason to believe" that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $43,280.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Settles with FTC

Veteran's Memorial Walkway Update

The spring brick installation on the Veterans Memorial Walkway will be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please stay tuned for updates

"50+ Job-seeker" sessions go virtual

Hi, most of you know me, but given how many people have been laid off recently, many of you probably do not.

To members of the Acton Networkers Group (ANG):

My name is Ed Lawrence; long-time ANG member; laid off 5 times during my hi-tech career. I've presented at ANG; worked for a State career center, and at the Boston University Center for Career Development. I'm currently a group leader (Hopkinton; Franklin) for the 50+ Job-seeker Program that was offered in 17 towns.

A short while ago, I shared the message from our director explaining how the 50+ program is going virtual. This is a great (and FREE) program with a proven track-record of success helping job-seekers.

I'm writing to promote the virtual program and suggest that you sign up.

I've attached a promo for you to share or print, but since Yahoo seems to drop attachments these days, I'm going to point out some info we need you to know:

1. Money drives everything. If you've been laid off recently, you totally understand. So, I need to point out how in order for the MCOA to keep this program going, it needs to show the State (and maybe Feds) that people are attending---SO WE NEED YOU TO REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM.

Register at: https://50plusjobseekers.org/outreach/registration/

2. Once you register, we add you to a list. For example, I keep a spreadsheet that I use for mailings to people who attend Hopkinton and Franklin sessions. Those mailings include the meeting dates and topics and invitations to join online sessions. You don't pre-register; you don't receive the info for the sessions.

3. Once you've registered for the program, you can register for any of the online sessions. Please understand, this two-step process is our attempt to prevent the general public and strangers from joining the meetings.

4. We have some participant guidelines for the online sessions; they boil down to simple courtesy.

I have the honor of facilitating the first virtual session --- Hopkinton virtual session is:  1pm - 4pm Monday April 6th (Franklin on 4/10 will be 9 am - Noon)
Three hours may seem like a long-time, but our in-person sessions were 3-hours (check-in and network for a half-hour; two-hour presentation; half-hour post-session-networking). And I think we will keep you entertained. (And will we even need three hours? You'll let us know!)

I have two special guests lined up for Monday:
1. Diane Darling, a nationally known networking and social networking expert.
2. Kara Cohen, of the AARP, who will talk about how AARP can help you.

In addition, we plan to take advantage of Zoom features, such as breakout rooms, to enable networking in small virtual groups.

Please note---Every participating town Group Leader will offer virtual sessions. So, if you have a favorite group leader or friends you used to meet at the in-person sessions, you can sign up to see them (virtually) again.

I hope this note explained what you need to know, without boring you.
Best wishes to you all. Be safe.


Ed Lawrence
Group Leader, Hopkinton and Franklin
www.50plusjobseekers.org

Hopkinton session flyer

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Ff2vuNxXmz6udj4HU3GCiV716M8Kcga/view?usp=sharing

Participant guideline

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qPWG-jftNhPcsjVgy1wKFeK1ji7Df-YI/view?usp=sharing

Monday April 6th "50+ Job-seeker" session

Wake Up With Mr. Barrett - 8 AM

Wake Up With Mr. Barrett TOMORROW morning- TuNesday! - @ 8:00 a.m.!

Click HERE for the concert: https://youtu.be/sgGotObCGF0

Hope to see you there!!! 

Wake Up With Mr. Barrett - 8 AM

FM #231 Franklin (MA) DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi 3/26/20 (audio)

FM #231 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 231 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin (MA) DPW Director Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi. We did a conference all to adhere to the ‘social distance’ requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brutus reviews with us how his department had adjusted operations to maintain services during this COVID-19 pandemic period.

The conversation runs about 14 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Brutus.  https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H6fpNgMX




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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We 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 something here, 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"

construction alert for King St and Washington St intersection