**Please note the Pantry will be closed the week of June 29 – July 3 and will reopen on Tuesday, July 7 at 9:30 for our drive up service. **Please do not leave items in the drop off location this week
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| Food Pantry - closed this week, re-opens July 7 |
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| https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ |
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| FM #310 Town Council Meeting - 6/24/20 (audio) |
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| https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/coronavirus-information-portal |
"Nearly every library has needed to similarly adapt to changing demands - particularly in children’s departments.
Summer reading and summer programming helps serve as vital educational supplements to maintain learning out of school, Caleigh Keating, youth services librarian at the Franklin Town Library, said. Children’s departments are often one of the busiest sections of the library and serve a vital role in the community.
As a result, Franklin has begun offering more virtual events than ever before, such as storytime sessions, book clubs, and “Dungeons and Dragons” sessions, and has started promoting novel software, such as Beanstack, to track reading logs. Additionally, the Franklin Town Library has sent weekly packets with activities including arts and crafts and STEAM projects so children can continue learning at home.
Though she misses seeing her patrons, Keating said offering more online events has helped the library better fit parent schedules, encouraging increased family participation."Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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| Franklin Public Library has a resource page |
It's amazing how much good one little mask can do! Check out how a normal, everyday mask keeps respiratory droplets from spreading outside your body, potentially sharing viruses. pic.twitter.com/zeXyemJwO8— Providence Eastern WA (@providence_phc) June 26, 2020
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| https://twitter.com/richdavisphd/status/1276629366789697536/photo/1 |
- Virtual Coffee session with Brutus on Tues, June 30, 9:00 AM
- Closing FY 2020, Starting FY 2021
And close with some comments about Concerts on the Common opening Friday, July 24. Farmers Market will be there in the afternoon. Plans for a movie and a band, with space for the audience appropriately socially distanced on the common. Reinforcing the need for Social distance, face coverings, hand washing, etc to keep re-opening gradually
- Restaurants, July 4 weekend
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| Jamie on the FHS field for the Town Council budget hearings |
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| FHS Graduation 2020 - Video downloads available for limited time |
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| FM #307 Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Statement - 6/23/20 (audio) |
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| FM #306 School Committee Meeting - 6/23/20 |
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| Temple Etz Chaim: Virtual 3K Fun Run FUNdraiser |
"As the COVID-19 pandemic reaches new levels driven largely by surges of cases in southern and southwestern states that had resumed economic and social activities, Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday that Massachusetts can avoid a similar fate if people continue to wear face coverings, remain socially distant and stay home when sick.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
“It’s been working. It’s worked well for the people in Massachusetts and we all need to keep it up. COVID-19 will not be taking a summer vacation,” he said. “As many people have seen, other states have suffered massive spikes in new cases and hospitalizations, and we urge every resident in Massachusetts to continue to be vigilant and mindful during their daily activities that we can contain this insidious virus, but it’s critically important for everybody to do their part.”
Florida reported a record high of more than 8,900 new coronavirus cases Friday and the governor suspended alcohol sales at the state’s bars. On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he did not plan on moving to the next phase of the Sunshine State’s reopening as initially scheduled. In early June, Florida had allowed bars to reopen at 50% capacity indoors and at full capacity outside, and also allowed movie theaters to reopen."
"A proposed question to allow more stores to sell beer and wine will not appear on the ballot this fall and its backers will instead work to put the question before voters in 2022.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
Cumberland Farms, the Westborough-based convenience store giant that was leading the ballot initiative campaign, said Friday night that it is dropping its effort due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on the retail sector and the company’s corresponding need to focus more on the health and safety of its workers and customers.
“They deserve our undivided attention as we fulfill our ongoing commitment to safely providing essential services in cities and towns across Massachusetts. To that end, it’s become clear that leading an eight-figure ballot measure campaign is not a prudent course of action at this particular moment in history,” said Matt Durand, chairman of the ballot question committee and head of public policy at Cumberland Farms. “Make no mistake: The issue of safe and fair competition in the beverage alcohol marketplace remains a top legislative priority for Cumberland Farms and other food stores, just as it remains an important question of public policy for this commonwealth. As we’ve said from the beginning, we’re prepared to take this effort all the way to the voters if necessary. That position has not changed, and I look forward to the next biennial election cycle.”
The proposed question, according to the attorney general’s summary, would “create a license allowing food stores to sell wine and beer for off-premises consumption, progressively increase and then eliminate the limit on the number of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages consumed off-premises that any one retailer could own or control.”
"For a moment, Congress had a chance to act on a policing overhaul, mobilized by a national trauma and overwhelming public support. Those efforts have stalled now and seem unlikely to be revived in an election year.Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
It’s the latest example of how partisanship and polarization on Capitol Hill have hamstrung Congress’ ability to meet the moment and respond meaningfully to public opinion.
Major changes in policing policy appear likely to join gun control and immigration as social issues where even with Americans’ overwhelming support, their elected representatives are unable or unwilling to go along, especially when President Donald Trump is indifferent or opposed.
“In this moment, as it was with gun violence and immigration reform, we don’t know where the president really is,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who weeks ago was expressing skepticism weeks ago about a breakthrough. “If this were the first time we were in this situation, I’d be more hopeful,” he said then."
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| Senior Center: Virtual events for July 2020 |
