Family Reopening Survey Forms and virtual chat opportunities

July 26, 2020

Dear Franklin Families:

We invite you to complete an important survey about reopening schools, which can be accessed via this link: https://forms.gle/XWcNUqnPu6rSvzZv7

Your family's intentions about the fall will be instrumental in our planning efforts.

As mentioned in the last update, there will be two optional Family Virtual “Chats” early this week: 

• Monday, July 27, 2020 from 6:00 -- 7:00 PM and 
• Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 7:30 -- 8:30 AM. 

These presentations are most appropriate for parents of students in grades K-12, however PreK families are also invited to attend.

As space is limited, we will ask you to pre-register for a session. If more than 1000 families sign up for a session, additional dates will be added. Additionally, we will aim to Livestream the chat via the district’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

Chat Links:
Monday 7/27/2020 from 6-7 PM
Topic: Family "Chat" about Preliminary Reopening of School Planning
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6DdK0AIbTieymLdtfImC1A

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Tuesday 7/28/2020 from 7:30-8:30 AM
Topic: Family "Chat" about Preliminary Reopening of School Plan
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y3cWtqBXQVyZUmdtmANlNQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The “chats” will also be recorded and shared.

We look forward to sharing information about the health and safety practices you can expect to be in place for the return to school as well as the district's on-going planning efforts. The three different instructional models being considered will be described. The presentation may be helpful to you as you complete the survey. For your convenience, the links is also available below:

K-12 Family Survey about Fall Intentions: https://forms.gle/XWcNUqnPu6rSvzZv7

We look forward to hosting these sessions.

Kind regards,

Sara Ahern, Superintendent of Schools

Please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 508-553-4819 with any questions. Please leave a voicemail. All voicemails are sent to email and will be responded to in a timely fashion.

Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/news/reopening-survey-and-family-chats

State Rep Jeff Roy: "Police reform bill passes House"

State Rep Jeff Roy wrote a blog post to put together his reasoning for his vote on the police reform legislation that the MA House passed on Friday night. It is a long explanation as the legislation covered multiple aspects so you can find the intro here and the link to his full text below. 

The MA Senate also passed their version earlier in the week. The differences will need to be reconciled in conference committee before the legislation goes to Governor Baker.

"On Friday evening (7/24/2020), I joined 92 of my House colleagues in voting for a bill (H.4860) that will create a more modern, transparent and accountable system for law enforcement credentialing and training. Forty-six states in America certify their police officers. Massachusetts is one of the four that does not. 

This certification and licensing process will make our system stronger and bias free. And it will make it a better atmosphere for those who serve proudly and honorably.  

I very much support the police. My vote reflects my desire, along with that of the many officers and chiefs I spoke with in considering the bill, to get rid of the bad apples. They are a stain on the 99% who do a great job. 

We spent 35 hours over three days deliberating the bill, held public hearings on many of the components of the bill over the last year, and had another public hearing last week. We considered 217 amendments and the over 800 pieces of testimony that were submitted. I personally met with and spoke with several officers about the bill and listened to their concerns. In addition, I did a great deal of research on my own, incorporating my 34 years of experience as a trial attorney in Massachusetts. Moreover, I listened to and consulted with many of my colleagues in the House, one who happens to be a retired Massachusetts Police Chief."

Continue reading State Rep Roy's explanation of his vote on this legislation
https://jeffreyroy.com/2020/07/26/police-reform-bill-passes-house/

State Rep Jeff Roy: "Police reform bill passes House"

"Many other barriers also have yet to be broken"

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

"There are about 56,000 people living in Massachusetts nursing homes, but about 10,000 to 20,000 of them could be living in their own homes. 

That’s according to Paul Spooner, director of the MetroWest Center for Independent Living, who said finding a place to live at home with care - and affording it - remains a problem for people with disabilities 30 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed on July 26, 1990. 

The act doesn’t guarantee private housing, but nine years after it was passed, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Olmstead v. L.C. decision because of it. 

The decision was made on June 22, 1999, and ruled that the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination because it violates the ADA, and that individuals have a right to live in their community when appropriate instead of in an institution. But how people with disabilities can afford to live on their own outside living with others - like in institutions and nursing homes - remains a question."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200726/looking-at-americans-with-disabilities-act-30-years-later--and-during-global-pandemic?rssfeed=true

handicap parking was added to the Town Common (High st shown) and Unions St just last year

Frank Falvey was the one who asked the question and ended up getting handicap parking at the Town Common. We recorded a radio show (podcast)episode) to capture the event and how it developed.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/fm-197-frank-falvey-handicap-access-on.html

“What we are seeing is that there are more families in need because of job losses”

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

“We’re unsure what’s going to happen at the end of the month, when that extra money runs out,” Franklin Food Pantry’s Lynn Calling said, of federal benefits set to expire at the end of July. “That’s something a lot of pantries are talking about. .... We don’t know what it will look like. This is nothing we can plan for.” 

Closing in on four months into statewide shutdowns driven by the global pandemic, the region’s food pantries are settling into a “new normal” of more clients, longer hours, and fewer volunteers. 

“I hate to use that term (but) I think really it’s the only expression that’s accurate,” United Way of Tri-County President and CEO Paul Mina said. “I think during this time frame, people have come to trust that we’re going to be there when we say we’re going to be there, and there’s going to be food.” 

The United Way of Tri-County oversees three pantries – Pearl Street Community Cupboard and Café in Framingham, Marlborough Community Cupboard, and WHEAT Community Cupboard and Café in Clinton."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200726/months-after-shutdown-due-to-coronavirus-food-pantries-find-new-normal-as-they-feed-hungry-in-metrowest-and-milford-area?rssfeed=true

You can donate directly to the Franklin Food Pantry via their secure online donation link. You can set up for a one time donation or recurring, from a bank account or a credit card.  http://weblink.donorperfect.com/Donation2FoodPantry  or go the the Food Pantry page and select "Donate"  https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Note: I was honored to lead the  Board of Directors for the Food Pantry for several years and will be helping them with the capital campaign to fund the purchase and buildout of their new building on East Central St.

Franklin Food Pantry

Register O’Donnell Advises Homeowners of Need to File Mortgage Discharges

Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell today reminded Norfolk County homeowners about the importance of filing a mortgage discharge after their mortgage has been paid off.

The Register stated, “When a mortgage has been paid off, a mortgage discharge document needs to be recorded with the Registry of Deeds to clear a homeowner’s property title relative to that loan. This is particularly important in light of the many homeowners currently taking advantage of historically low interest rates to refinance their mortgages. Please note a discharge is a document (typically one-two pages) issued by the lender, usually with a title such as “Discharge of Mortgage” or “Satisfaction of Mortgage.”

“There are instances,” noted the Register, “where discharges are filed directly by banks or settlement closing attorneys with the Registry as part of a property sale or as a result of a refinancing transaction. In other cases, the mortgage discharge is sent to the property owner who then becomes responsible for making sure the document is recorded. Whether or not a discharge is recorded by the lending institution or the individual property owner, it is important that the property owner makes sure all necessary documents have been recorded at the Registry of Deeds.”

“To check on their title,” noted O’Donnell, “Norfolk County homeowners can access the Registry’s online records at www.norfolkdeeds.org and verify if all mortgages associated with the property have been discharged. Please remember not having a mortgage discharged will result in a title issue and thereby impact the process of selling one’s home.”

The Register further noted that there have been cases where no discharge has been recorded against a long paid off mortgage. “Unfortunately, some of the lending institutions that provided funds for these mortgages are no longer in existence. In other cases, financial entities have merged with another lending institution.”

If a property owner needs to retrieve an original discharge of a mortgage and is unclear which lending institution is now responsible for providing the document, an option is to contact the Massachusetts Division of Banks at 1-800-495-2265 x-1 and then x-61501. Another option is to access the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation website www.fdic.gov. Then find the BankFind tab approximately half way down the home page, put in the lending institution in question, then click on the lending institution link and you will be able to determine who has responsibility for the mortgage.

When recording a discharge, the original document is required. The Registry of Deeds does not accept photo copies or faxed copies of documents. The filing fee, set by state statute, is $106.00.

In conclusion, Register O’Donnell stated, “After paying off all the mortgages on their property, homeowners want to have peace of mind that they have clear title to their property, especially if they are contemplating selling. Being on top of what is required will go a long way in giving the homeowner assurances that they have clear title to their property. I strongly urge homeowners to make sure their mortgage discharge has been filed with the Registry of Deeds once their mortgage has been paid off.”

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is staffed with a team of customer service representatives who can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM at 781-461-6101. These representatives have been trained in researching documents and are well versed on the subject of mortgage discharges and what, if necessary, needs to be done to clear title to a property.

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

Register O’Donnell Advises Homeowners of Need to File Mortgage Discharges

Talking the Blues - new episode

Talking the Blues (@TalkingtheBlue2) tweeted at 9:29 AM on Sun, Jul 26, 2020:

New Episode - 2020 Blues Blast Music Awards show! Talking the Blues | https://t.co/Ch5pBX2ymR @FranklinMatters @tmonjar @BillyBranch1003
(https://twitter.com/TalkingtheBlue2/status/1287379617754624000?s=03)

Voices of Franklin: Pandemic Poetry by Faith Flaherty

Here is a couple of acrostic, pandemic poetry. An acrostic poem is a poem where certain letters in each line spell out a word.

Faith

Contrary to fear, let’s relish our family time.
Ours to do what we always wanted:
Rest, read, do whatever enters our mind,
Only walk wherever our feet led.
No one to impress, no one to care.
Alone. We can go most anywhere!

***********************************************************

Can I throw kisses
Over fences and through doors,
Very heartfelt messages?
Isolated and alone, catch them,
Destined to outlast a virus.

"Voices of Franklin" is open to all residents and reader of Franklin Matters. Details can be found  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html