In the News: "the Senate passed a redrafted version of to-go cocktail legislation"

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

"Both branches of the state Legislature have now signed off on allowing Massachusetts restaurants to sell to-go cocktails. 

The Senate on Friday passed a bill that would allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks in sealed containers alongside takeout and delivery food orders, a measure some bar and restaurant owners have been advocating for as a way to attract customers during the COVID-19 crisis that has hurt the restaurant sector. 

Unlike the broader restaurant relief bill the House passed unanimously five weeks ago -- which also included a cap on third-party delivery fees and waived penalties and interest for late meals tax payments -- the Senate’s bill (S 2812) speaks only to the issue of takeout cocktails. 

The two branches would need to agree on an approach before they could send a bill to Baker, who said last month that he supported the House’s restaurant bill. The House was not in session on Friday and meets next on Monday."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200710/senate-restaurant-aid-bill-limited-to-to-go-cocktails/1

WGBH introduces "Internet Expert" on voting

#Election2020 is only 117 days away. And today, @wgbhnews launched Internet Expert, a fast, fun game show about America’s least trivial subject: our democracy. I’m very proud of this project . 

Take a look at Episode 1 here:

https://youtu.be/T6qW0XfS5L0



Franklin radar picked up via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/lisawilliams/status/1281362249962184714?s=09

Franklin Residents: Finance Committee Vacancy

The Franklin Finance Committee is now accepting applications for a new member. The position is for a 3-year term.

Finance Committee meetings are typically held on the 1st Tuesday of every month. As a committee member, you will be involved in the finances and financial procedures of the Town of Franklin and make recommendations as a committee to the Town Council on all financial matters.

For more information on the Finance Committee visit: https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee

To apply visit: http://franklinmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php


Note: I would add this position provides great insights into the entire operations of the Town of Franklin and could be considered a 'must' as preparation for any further elected role (especially Town Council or School Committee) that one might consider.

Franklin Residents: Finance Committee Vacancy

State Rep Jeff Roy: "We made a bipartisan appeal to the President"

State Rep Jeff Roy tweets:

"We made a bipartisan appeal to the President to reconsider and rescind the new rules barring international students from the US if their school goes online. The policy is punitive, threatens safety, and will negatively affect our economy and university system."

The letter appealing to the President:

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to respectfully request that you reconsider and rescind the new temporary final rules announced on Monday which prohibits international students from staying in the United States if they are enrolled in an American college or university that implements an online-only platform for instruction. We understand that the guidance also applies to an institution that moves to exclusively online mid-semester in response to rising COVID-19 cases

on campus, and to students who are living on campuses that are open, but offering classes online­ only to protect the health and safety of their faculty and campus community.

As you know, since March our colleges and universities have been in furious upheaval , navigating an unprecedented pandemic and formulating strategies to continue teaching students without putting them, faculty and staff at risk. Our institutions have sought to balance concerns for public health with their academic mission of teaching and scholarship. This work has been both difficult and costly, and the new rules will add more uncertainty and disruption. Moreover, the new rules leave international students with the choice of either transferring to another institution that provides in person or hybrid instruction , or to depart the country and risk not being able to return. Students who fail to comply with this guidance may face deportation.

We also note that the new rules were introduced without notice, without an opportunity for public comment, and put undo pressure on campuses to stay open when it is unsafe to do so. This comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections , with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1. And the policy effectively reverses course from the spring and summer, when ICE temporarily suspended pre­pandemic rules banning international students from residing in the U.S. and taking online-only courses.

More than a million international students come to the US every year to earn a degree that will help them land better jobs, and many remain in the US after graduation. They contribute to the cultural diversity of our campuses and many pay full tuition, which helps our institutions, especially in these times of economic difficulty and uncertainty. In Massachusetts there are 77,000 international students with active US study visas and another 32,000 in the rest of New England. Our state ranks fourth nationwide for its number of international students, and Northeastern University, with 16,000, ranks third in the country. Nationwide, international students contribute a $41 billion economic impact that supports more than 450,000 jobs. As one of our University Presidents observed, no public good is served by these efforts to deprive international students from continuing to make valuable and necessary contributions to the prosperity of the nation and the impact on the economic interests will be negative and potentially irreversible.

This policy is not only punitive to these international students, it also threatens the safety of other students and the communities surrounding college campuses. Additionally, transporting international students who may have been exposed to the coronavirus to other campuses or to airports to fly back to their home countries poses a myriad of health risks.

Finally, we understand that both Harvard University and MIT filed suit seeking a preliminary injunction this morning and I am sure others will follow. This litigation will be costly, will take time, and will waste precious judicial resources at a time when we should be focusing on rebuilding our nation.

Accordingly, we request that, in the best interest of our nation, you reconsider and rescind the temporary rules to help preserve our higher education system which is, indeed, the envy of the world.


Most respectfully,

Robert A. DeLeo 
Speaker of the House


Karen Spilka
Senate President

Jeffrey N. Roy 
House Chair, Committee on Higher Education

Anne Gobi
Senate Chair, Committee on Higher Education

Claire Cronin
House Chair, Committee on Judiciary

Paul McMurtry 
House Chair, Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development

Patricia A. Haddad 
Speaker Pro Tempore

Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 
House Minority Leader 20th Middlesex District

Alice H. Peisch 
House Chair, Committee on Education

Joanne M. Comerford
Senate Chair, Committee on Public Health

William H. Straus
House Chair, Committee on Transportation


Find the full PDF copy of this document
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NJGsarPjRlHNP6A5bLFVAAhP2Y5A95l5/view?usp=sharing

Register for the FHS High School Experience in August

"Heading to @FranklinHS in the Fall? Join us at the High School Experience to tour the building, get your schedule, make new friends, & so much more! 

Sign Up Now: https://tinyurl.com/FHS-HSE2024"

Meant for rising 9th graders

• Each student will attend the program for a single day between August 11th and August 13th (8:30 am-12:30 pm). Days will be assigned by HSE staff and communicated on or before August 5th.
• Students will be divided into small teams (based on state and local regulations) that they will get to collaborate with and build relationships with. All activities will be completed within this small team.
• Students and staff will be required to complete a health screening upon arrival at the program and will be required to wear a cloth face covering throughout the program. Students are asked to provide their own face covering.
• Activities will be designed to encourage distancing and limit the sharing of materials. Hand washing/sanitization breaks will be built into the day.
• Due to significant budgetary impacts, there will not be an HSE t-shirt this year.

The Franklin radar found this on Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/HseFranklin/status/1281278140388708353?s=09

Register for the FHS High School Experience in August

Joint Statement from Senate President Spilka, Senator Brownsberger and Senator Chang-Díaz on Today’s Actions

The following is a joint statement from Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Senator Sonia Chang- Díaz, and Senator William Brownsberger:

"The Senate is going to stay focused on what we set out to do with this bill: protect the lives of our Black and brown residents from systemic racism and institutionalized violence. We know that these conversations are difficult, and the actions we're called to take will not be easy, but it is our responsibility to begin to respond to the voices who have called on us to make these changes. 

We welcome further discussion on the very important provisions of this bill—and the right way to do that is to proceed with debate on the bill and its amendments. We hold fast to our commitment to respond to calls for greater equity, justice and fairness—now, with the Reform, Shift + Build Act, and in the future with subsequent legislation."

The press release and fact sheet for the Reform, Shift + Build Act released earlier this week

• press release

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1179Pej1JZPAZQmWiX4iCIMuFy7Q8cPZd/view?usp=sharing

• fact sheet

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16YyJdQLp5kQDXUcZZh5YB-jMwY0B32ec/view?usp=sharing

Lifelong Learning: Dedicate some time to yourself this month

Check out our online courses today!

Lifelong Community Learning This is a great time to learn something new! In partnership with Ed2Go, we offer online courses on a wide variety of topics. So take some time to gain business or personal skills from home. New sessions begin July 15th OR many courses also have a self-paced option that you can start anytime. We have a few suggestions below, or you can review the full array of career training and/or professional development courses using the links at the bottom of this email. Understanding Adolescents Uncover the secrets of the adolescent mind. This course provides valuable information on how adolescents feel, how their identities develop, and how you can best meet their needs. https://www.ed2go.com/franklined/online-courses/understanding-adolescents/ Introduction to Guitar Learn to play guitar, and become the musician you've always wanted to be! In these fun and informative lessons, you'll build basic guitar skills step-by-step with the help of hands-on exercises, audio and video recordings, and detailed illustrations.  https://www.ed2go.com/franklined/online-courses/guitar-introduction/ Introduction to Natural Health and Healing Would you like to learn more about natural health but don't know where to start? In this course, you'll learn about the various stages of health and illness and discover that true health means wholeness of the mind, body, and spirit. https://www.ed2go.com/franklined/online-courses/natural-health-and-healing-introduction/ Want to Learn Something Else? Career Training Programs Professional Development

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools   218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

In the News: West Nile virus detected in mosquitoes; plastic bag prohibition delayed for Franklin

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

"About 15 minutes after the House of Representatives voted unanimously to give the executive branch new powers to run a statewide mosquito control response when the threat of mosquito-related diseases is high, public health officials announced that West Nile virus has been found in a Massachusetts mosquito for the first time this year. 

Two mosquitoes collected Tuesday in Belmont tested positive for West Nile virus, the Department of Public Health said, and no human or animal cases have been identified. 

There were five human cases of West Nile virus last year and 49 in 2018, the greatest number of cases Massachusetts has ever seen in a single year. 

West Nile can infect people of all ages, but people over age 50 and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for severe disease, according to the state."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200709/west-nile-detected-as-house-passes-mosquito-control-bill

"Earlier this year, town officials put the word out that Franklin would be banning the use of thin-film, single-use plastic shopping bags at local stores, starting in July. That was before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The town’s plastic bag ban has now been temporarily shelved. 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said the delayed start of the ban is because of Gov. Charlie Baker’s late March order prohibiting the use of carry-in, reusable shopping bags while the pandemic is ongoing, to prevent the spread of the virus. All existing local bans on plastic bags were also lifted statewide. 

“Our local bylaw was to go into effect July 1, but with the governor’s order, we cannot implement the new bylaw yet,” Hellen said Tuesday. “Once he rescinds that order, we will allow for a certain time of compliance after that. That said, the bylaw is active, but is trumped by the state executive order.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200709/franklin-delays-start-of-plastic-bags-ban

In the News: MassDOT webinar released on i495/i90 interchange project

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

"Plans for the long-awaited reconstruction of the Interstate 495-Mass Pike interchange eliminate weaving movements that have caused the junction to be susceptible to crashes and congestion for years. 

State transportation leaders and project officials posted a webinar Thursday outlining the 25% design details of the project, which includes seven new direct and semi-direct ramps connecting the two interstates. The designated ramps and lanes for each traffic maneuver will make getting off the highway and merging much safer, project officials said. 

“The reason for the project is that the I-90/495 interchange is identified as a high-crash and high-congestion location,” Ryan McNeill, a state Department of Transportation project manager, said during the webinar. “The enhancements that are discussed in this presentation will improve the safety and operational efficiency at the system interchange and address chronically deficient traffic conditions for the movement of people and goods within the project area.” 

New ramps will be widened to include shoulders and will have designated speeds of 45 mph, 10 mph faster than the existing ramps. The radius of the ramps will not be as tight. Tractor-trailers currently are required to go very slow entering Interstate 495 southbound due to the tight radius of the off-ramp."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200709/i-90495-reconstruction-aims-to-ease-traffic-reduce-bottlenecks-crashes

Additional info and to provide comments during this period
https://www.mass.gov/event/hopkintonwestborough-design-public-hearing-webinar-and-comment-period-2020-07-09t000000-0400


YouTube link = https://youtu.be/xJN9_LHpzi8

Leave it to Bill Nye

Leave it to Bill Nye, The Science Guy, to make a simple and effective explanation on why to wear a facial covering (mask).

bill nye be spittin fax pic.twitter.com/5SNVd6Htct

— ErickHBMC #RIPFckYouTubersBro (@ErickHBMC) July 9, 2020

From the Franklin radar via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ReignOfApril/status/1281206861442801664?s=09

For more about Bill Nye visit his web page  https://billnye.com/

https://twitter.com/ErickHBMC/status/1281129712320839680

IRS.gov has answers about filing, paying and July 15 due date

As the July due date for filing a tax return draws closer, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers about the many resources available on IRS.gov. Whether on home computers or mobile devices, the number of taxpayers visiting IRS.gov continues to grow year after year.

Easy-to-use tools, available 24 hours a day on the IRS website, have been used more than 1.2 billion times this year.

IRS.gov is home to IRS Free File, "Where's My Refund?", the Tax Withholding Estimator and a host of other convenient applications. Additional help is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, available on IRS.gov. Publication 17 is also available as an eBook.

Taxpayers who have yet to file their tax returns should file electronically now and choose direct deposit if they’re getting a refund. Taxpayers who owe for tax year 2019 can pay anytime up to the July 15 due date.

File electronically for free

Taxpayers whose income was $69,000 or less last year are eligible to use the IRS Free File software to do their taxes. Also, regardless of income, any taxpayer who is comfortable preparing their own taxes can use Free File Fillable Forms. Taxpayers can use these electronic versions of IRS tax forms to complete their taxes and file them online. Free File options are available at IRS.gov/freefile.

Get answers to tax questions

Taxpayers can find answers to many of their questions using the Interactive Tax Assistant. It’s a tax law resource that uses a series of questions and responses to help. IRS.gov also has answers to Frequently Asked Questions on a variety of topics. The IRS website also has tax information in: Spanish (Español); Chinese (中文); Korean (한국어); Russian (Pусский); Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt); and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen).

"Where's My Refund?"

Taxpayers can easily find the most up-to-date information about their tax refund using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov and on the IRS mobile app, IRS2Go. Within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an electronically filed return, taxpayers can start checking on the status of their refund.

Schedule a payment

Taxpayers can file now and schedule their federal tax payments up to the July 15 due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their mobile device and the IRS2Go app. When paying federal taxes electronically, taxpayers should remember:

• Electronic payment options are the best way to make a tax payment.
• They can pay when they e-file by using tax software online.
• If using a tax preparer, taxpayers should ask the preparer to make the tax payment through an electronic funds withdrawal from a bank account.
• IRS Direct Pay allows taxpayers to pay online directly from a checking or savings account for free.
• Taxpayers can choose to pay with a credit card, debit card or digital wallet option through a payment processor. No fees go to the IRS.
• The IRS2Go app provides mobile-friendly payment options, including Direct Pay and payment processors on mobile devices.
• Taxpayers may also enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System and pay online or by phone.
• They can pay with cash at a retail partner. New locations available.
• Taxpayers can go to IRS.gov/account to securely access information about their federal tax account. They can view the amount they owe, access their tax records online, review their payment history and view key information for the most recent tax return as originally filed.

Not required to file a tax return? Non-Filers tool available to register for Economic Impact Payments

People who are not normally required to file a tax return and don’t plan to do so can use the Non-Filers tool to get an Economic Impact Payment. The only way they can get this payment is to register with the IRS by using this free tool. Available in both English and Spanish, the tool was developed jointly by the IRS and the Free File Alliance. The registration deadline is Oct. 15, 2020.

More information

IRS.gov/COVIDtaxdeadlines
IRS.gov/payments
IRS.gov/account
IRS.gov/ITA
IRS.gov/estimatedtaxes

Shared from the IRS page

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irsgov-has-answers-about-filing-paying-and-july-15-due-date