"Discover how the railroad and small businesses helped to create the Depot Plaza area by the downtown Franklin "Franklin Dean" train station"
Video link = https://youtu.be/y48J4375SIc
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
"Discover how the railroad and small businesses helped to create the Depot Plaza area by the downtown Franklin "Franklin Dean" train station"
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"Voices Against Violence, a local organization working to end sexual and domestic violence, has new resources that could make it easier for people now forced to stay home with abusive partners to get help.
Because people might not be able to find a safe place within their homes to call the organization’s usual help lines without being monitored or overheard, Voices Against Violence has created a chat service that allows victims to communicate with domestic violence advocates by typing in an internet browser.
The chat service, which can be reached by typing rc.chat/voices into an internet browser, is monitored by staff between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday."
"MetroWest and Milford area residents are among the record-breaking 10 million Americans to file unemployment claims the past two weeks.
A record-breaking 10 million Americans have filed unemployment claims in the past two weeks, including 6.6 million last week alone, amid the coronavirus crisis.
Workers in the region have not been immune to the surge in layoffs and furloughs. A record 181,062 Massachusetts residents filed initial claims during the week ending March 28, about a 22% increase over the prior week, according to advance non-seasonally adjusted data the Department of Labor published Thursday.
That new level immediately breaks the record set just one week earlier. During the week ending March 21, 148,452 residents submitted initial claims, roughly 20 times as many as the 7,449 who submitted claims the week earlier."
The mammoth US unemployment claims in their historical context. pic.twitter.com/UNDwhBMpZt— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) April 2, 2020
the “Rally ‘round the Restaurants” page on Facebook |
MA Legislature Passes Bill to Provide Immediate Relief to Municipalities and Others During the Ongoing COVID-19 Crisis |
Eamon McCarthy Earls and Joe Landry talk about the days "Long before big box stores or the opening of the first supermarkets, Franklin residents turned to small grocery stores in downtown to get their food"Video link = https://youtu.be/Mq1oQkglsZk
"All coastal beach reservation parking areas managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation will be closed to reduce groups of people from gathering during the coronavirus outbreak......
Gov. Charlie Baker issued the emergency order that goes into effect Friday at noon.
DCR will open select state parks early and expand access to other parks to provide additional open space opportunities for residents, the governor said. DCR will also be limiting the amount of parking spaces available at certain high-visitation state parks.
DCR’s ice rinks, visitor centers, campgrounds, playgrounds, fitness areas, athletic fields, athletic courts, golf courses and bathroom facilities will remain closed until May 4"Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Hiking in MA State Parks |
"With the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), being informed about your Medicare coverage is more important than ever.Continue reading the article online
Medicare recently expanded its coverage of telehealth services. Telehealth enables beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. It also helps frontline clinicians stay safe themselves while treating people.
If your doctor orders a COVID-19 test for you, Medicare covers all of the costs. You should not have any co-pay, no matter what Medicare plan you’re enrolled in. There’s no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time, but when one becomes available, Medicare will cover it."
Medicare and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know |
Coronavirus Tax Relief (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus) page on IRS.gov |
https://www.franklinps.net/district/pages/franklin-public-schools-covid-19-closure-information-portal |
Please join us in support local small businesses by participating in the Great American Gift Card Purchase
https://www.facebook.com/events/628613174537145/
Franklin Fire Dept Station 1 - downtown at night |
In these times of uncertainty we know one thing clearly, that love never has to be rationed or quarantined. The truth is, we all need each other more than ever right now. We need each other in so many ways, both big and small. We need to rely and lean on one another and to be compassionate, understanding, and patient with one another. We need to focus on being there for one another in the best and safest way we can.Please read on to see how you can help whether it be from your home or in the community.
Challenge for all VolunteersHere is a FUN family project. Who's up for a Letter Writing Challenge! All you have to do is wash your hands and put your love on. If we can't thank, visit a sick person or give gratitude in person, we can do it in a personal note. The list is endless on who you can send a note to. Here are some ideas of people/neighbors we can offer hope, kindness and a smile to:
- a neighbor you have not seen or you know can use a positive note
- those who are bereaved or supporting the bereaved
- those who are anxious or feeling afraid
- people alone and isolated
- those working at risk jobs and essential workers
- a teacher
- the local food pantry
- a medical professional
- our fire and police
The challenge is to send two notes within two days to the people of your choice. One could be to say hello/thinking of you and another could be a thank-you/gratitude note. We have 173 active volunteers. Let's see if we can get at least half of our volunteers to participate. If you accept the challenge please let us know by signing-up through the volunteer system. Happy Writing!Important NEW Volunteer Requirements due to COVID-19While we wait for our services to be called upon from location organizations such as senior center, food pantry, police, fire, and of course our neighbors in need please make sure you have met the NEW volunteer requirements. They include reading the NB Handbook, Food Handler Training, COVID-19 Preparedness, and have a current CORI check on file. You can check to see if you met this criteria by logging into your account and clicking on Profile on the top right heading and selecting Qualifications. It should look like the highlighted areas below. If it doesn't then you will need to complete those tasks by clicking on the information button circled in red and following the instructions. If you have any questions or need help accessing your account please feel free to reach out.
Franklin Neighbor Brigade Update
Community OpportunitiesYMCA - Growing demand for families in need of food is happening. Drop off box at YMCA is outside from 9am-6pm daily. Recommended following food items: oatmeal cups/packets, macaroni & cheese boxes/cups, granola bars (nut free whole grain preferred), applesauce or mandarin orange cups (no added sugar), whole grain crackers, tuna pouches in water (low sodium), Progresso chicken soup (low sodium), rice boxes/cups, Barilla Ready Pasta and pasta boxes.
Franklin Food Pantry needed wish list items can be ordered on Amazon using the following link https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SIL7UR08ZZUC?ref_=wl_share
Tri Valley Meals on Wheels is in need of temporary volunteers to drive meals to residents in Franklin, Medway and Bellingham. They have a volunteer sign up time from 11:00-12:30 Monday-Friday at the Grace Baptist church on Beaver street. You will need to bring your license and front page of your car insurance with line 5 highlighted. Any questions, call Gail Hamilton 508-520-1422.Linda Gagnon and Cheryl Ferri
Stay home when you can, find joy in the small moments and spread kindness when it's needed greatly!
Franklin MA Neighbor Brigade Chapter Co-Leaders
FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org
www.neighborbrigade.org
Beaver Street Recycling Center - re-opening with restrictions |
"Recently, you should have received a census form. The US Census determines both State & Federal funding based on the information collected! Be counted! The census is quick, easy, and important, and all of your answers are confidential.We are currently (as of March 31) at 49.3%
Visit http://my2020census.gov today!"
Let's beat our 2010 Census rate this time around |
"Jamie Barrett asked folks to give him one word each and around 100 (+/-) participated to create this song. Jamie created the music to go with the words that were given to him. He also arranged the words. Hope you like...?"
"Franklin senior Brayden Sullivan has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year for the 2019-2020 season, the ninth year the award has been given out. Sullivan is the third straight Panther to win the award and fifth overall.
Sullivan was a pest defensively, not just on the ball but off of it too. His ability to deny players the ball was a real strength for the Panthers defensively, who allowed a league-low 52.8 points per game this season. Night in and night out, he matched up with the top players in the league and from around the state. This season, he held 14 of the 16 Hockomock players he defended under their scoring average.
“Brayden has been a force in the defensive end all season,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He always got the toughest assignments and was ready for the challenge. We won so many games because of a late game block, steal or charge forced by Brayden.”
Brayden Sullivan has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year |
"We created a Facebook page -> United Regional’s Rally ’round the Restaurants for any and all restaurants in the region to share their operating hours, menus, specials, etc. This is open to the public, members and non-members, to post their favorite take out spots or pictures of their favorite dishes. Anything that can help the local restaurants during these crazy times.
The United Regional Chamber of Commerce (http://www.unitedregionalchamber.org/) created this page as a platform for our community, which includes 16 towns, to promote area restaurants. During this Coronavirus pandemic, our restaurants are struggling. Some, thankfully, are still open for take-out orders.
If you own, or have a favorite restaurant, please post about it here. Let us know if you’re open for take-out, and the hours. We encourage our community to promote their favorite restaurants on this page, including your pictures and positive comments.
The purpose of this page is to support our restaurants, so please only post positive content. Negative comments or reviews will be deleted. Now is the time for our community to pull together and support one another. We are all in this together. Let’s show our restaurants how much we appreciate them!"
United Regional’s Rally ’round the Restaurants |