"Worcester is first in state to build modular micro-units for chronically homeless"

From the Mass Municipal Assoc, we share this housing for the homeless article: 

"The city of Worcester and the Worcester Housing Authority received funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development to help build the state’s first modular micro-unit housing for the chronically homeless.

The project, estimated to cost $3 million, was approved by the state for $2.2 million in funding. An additional $200,000 is being contributed by the city, and the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance is providing $100,000. The remaining cost will be covered by a mortgage held by the housing authority.

The project is one of many actions that resulted from 26 recommendations made by the city’s Task Force for Sustaining Housing First Solutions, convened two years ago. The task force was charged with reenergizing the city’s “housing first” focus for the chronically homeless, with an emphasis on sustainability and resources to maintain supportive housing over the long term."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/worcester-is-first-in-state-to-build-modular-micro-units-for-chronically-homeless/

A rendering depicts the modular micro-units housing being developed by the Worcester Housing Authority for the chronically homeless. (Photo courtesy Worcester Housing Authority)

1, 2, 3 videos to help you stop unwanted calls

1, 2, 3 videos to help you stop unwanted calls by Jabari Cook - Intern, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC It can be frustrating to deal with a bunch of unwanted calls. If you answer them, you might hear a recorded message of someone trying to sell you something. Or it could be a real person hoping to scare you into paying a debt you don't owe.These kinds of unwanted calls are often scams. Taking steps to stop them can help save you time and unnecessary stress — and maybe some money, too. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/08/1-2-3-videos-help-you-stop-unwanted-calls? This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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Video 1

   

 

Video 2

   

 

Video 3

 

Franklin, MA: School Committee Workshop - Aug 11, 2020 - 4:00 PM

School Committee Workshop

Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda)

LOCATION:   The Committee will meet in Town Council Chambers and remotely on Zoom. Members of the public may participate remotely via:

Join Zoom Meeting           https://zoom.us/j/96025691272?pwd=aXVwelBjTUdQTERKcWRKVWY5UUtIZz09

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

 

Call to Order

• Team Building Exercise
• School Committee Operating Protocols, Goals, and Self-Evaluation 
• Anti-Racism Discussion
• Plan 2020-2021 School Committee meeting presentations and workshops 
• Adjournment

Read more

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/_sc_workshop_agenda_8-11-20.pdf

Franklin, MA: School Committee Workshop - Aug 11, 2020 - 4:00 PM

New FHS video update from Mr Hanna

Video update for this week: https://youtu.be/yl9dWAQC3wc

In case you missed the "radio gang" interview with Mr Hanna, you can catch up to it here:  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-323-welcome-fhs-josh-hanna-80420.html

 

Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast 8-7-2020

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and staying active and well!  What programs would you like to see and join?  We love feedback and want to hear from you all.  

Staying Connected

Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

Link to the Senior Center Calendar -https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/day/2020-07-07

Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/

Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/

August Events

Wed., Aug. 19: FIVE WISHES is a legally binding, advanced directive (living will), that lets you control your personal, emotional and spiritual wishes. This presentation is on Zoom at 1:00 p.m. If you aren't able to access Zoom our Nurse can call you to discuss the info one- on-one. To sign up, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov or call 508 520-4945. 

Mon., Aug.24: MEMORY CAFÉ at 3:00 p.m. on ZOOM, features the beautiful and engaging music of violinist, Lynn Canavan. To sign up, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov 

Thurs., Aug.27: FASHIONS OF HOLLYWOOD on ZOOM with Karen (Ren) Antonowicz of Spirits of Fashion at 1:00 p.m. Ren presents this fascinating look at the glamorous fashions of the silver screen during the '30s, '40s, '50s. Join us as we travel through the decades to enjoy a glimpse into the glamorous world of fashion. To sign up, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov 

Mon., Aug. 31: STEVE SHERLOCK - Talk Franklin Matters at 2:00 p.m. for all the latest Franklin news. To join us, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov 

Don't forget our very own Curbside Cafe! - Open M-F featuring the delicious culinary renderings of Chef Paul!   https://www.franklinma.gov/Curb  The first 5 people to call and order lunch from the Curbside Cafe and mention "Ariel's email" will win a prize!!   

Tips

Low Impact Aerobics with Paul Eugene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibqvCDaviD0

Lung exercises to expand your breathing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIrAUL_VmiU

Music

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Andrews Sisters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8of3uhG1tCI

Soft Jazz piano music

https://youtu.be/prtmoOfk28w

Back to the 50's - over an hour of rocking music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fznknLKU44

Just for Fun

The restoration of an Emma Gaggiotti Portrait

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziybNY7Pxsc

 

3 generations of Russian gymnasts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-afLjHA3zI

The tiniest baby bird - a story of rescue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-iFgDK_D5s

13 beautiful National parks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOHZ1mcAK8s

Unusual places and tourist attractions.  Would you visit any of these?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wAwOSd0VHg

Ten of the most dangerous tourist destinations in the world.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPEvkaHYrSQ

Humor

Nathan Bockstahler the youngest comedian ever on America's Got Talent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyM3avsv-IM

Pierce County Police Department Dance Off - our men and women in blue show off their moves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFDsMWny6oI

Hysterical animals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEkSYw3o5is

10 funny Pepsi videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVVOTXg-ROs

Kindness Matters

Troops come home and surprise their families - Thank you for your service!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnEnhmrOHwk

Advice from a toddler.  We could all learn a lesson from this little girl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y62veCinCvc

Attached you will find:

1. Paint/color by number mushrooms https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sO1vk-d9CTDJOFJPggexlg3dqRykhWv2/view?usp=sharing

2. Donna's fun packed "for the birds" activity pages https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t_cuaAKOUDtNqmJ6dRAsd1DykJOwGv0A/view?usp=sharing

3. Curbside Cafe menu https://drive.google.com/file/d/11OBeyu3MUQnLUn3Npr9gcvscohgsHhdm/view?usp=sharing

Love, virtual hugs and good health to you all!  We are still here for you!  Please feel free to email Donna and I with questions, concerns or just to check in!

Ariel & Donna

Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy it.  If you want me to add someone to the email blast list just send me a message with their email in it. 

REMEMBER:

When searching for information about the Coronavirus, COVID-19 please use caution!  Unfortunately there are many false sites that contain viruses and malware that can threaten your computer.  Many look like real sites.  Your best bet is to go directly to the CDC, WHO or your local government page (links below).   

https://www.cdc.gov/ 

https://www.who.int/

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/coronavirus-information-portal-updates-here

MEMORY CAFE!

For those of you who attend our Memory Cafe events I invite you to learn more about attending a VIRTUAL Memory Cafe through Zoom!  There are many options to choose from.

https://www.memorycafedirectory.com/cafe-connect/

--

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small

Senior Center Email Blast

State Rep Jeff Roy: Joe Kennedy is coming to Franklin on Sunday Aug 9

View this email in your browser KENNEDY VISIT TO FRANKLIN Sunday, August 9, 2020 in Franklin from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Small Business Walk and Standout REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE https://www.mobilize.us/kennedyforma/event/296071/ We have a big weekend planned for Franklin, and I'm excited to let you know that my friend Joe Kennedy will be stopping by on Sunday to meet with small business owners, our Franklin firefighters, and residents. Joe will be touring La Cantina Winery, Simon's Furniture, and the Franklin Fire Department before heading on over to the Town Common to address the crowd, meet residents, and share his vision for Massachusetts. We ask that you please wear a mask and maintain social distancing to be safe. I hope you will be able to join us on Sunday, August 9 at 1 pm and meet our next United States Senator. I've had the pleasure of working with him over the last 8 years, and appreciate his compassion, empathy and commitment. Please take a peak at the video below which speaks to Joe's character and tells you why I and five of our Franklin Town Councilors have endorsed him in this race. Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Please view my video endorsement of Joe video Sign up for the Kennedy Visit Here Our mailing address is: State Rep Jeff Roy State House Room 43 Boston, MA 02133

New climate legislation on Beacon Hill: The Climate Minute (podcast)

"Climate legislation moved forward in the Massachusetts legislature recently. Both the House and the Senate have passed slightly different versions of a bill. We talk about what is included and left out of these bills with Tim Cronin of Climate XChange."

 

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter

https://twitter.com/TedMcIntyre100/status/1291726465709625345?s=09

New climate legislation on Beacon Hill: The Climate Minute

In the News: "Last-ditch virus aid talks collapse; no help for jobless now"

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

"A last-ditch effort by Democrats to revive Capitol Hill talks on vital COVID-19 rescue money collapsed in disappointment Friday, making it increasingly likely that Washington gridlock will mean more hardship for millions of people who are losing enhanced jobless benefits and further damage for an economy pummeled by the still-raging coronavirus.

“It was a disappointing meeting,” declared top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, saying the White House had rejected an offer by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to curb Democratic demands by about $1 trillion. He urged the White House to “negotiate with Democrats and meet us in the middle. Don’t say it’s your way or no way.”

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, “Unfortunately we did not make any progress today.” Republicans said Pelosi was relying on budget maneuvers to curb costs and contended she has overplayed her hand.

Often an impasse in Washington is of little consequence for the public — not so this time. It means longer and perhaps permanent expiration of a $600 per-week bonus pandemic jobless benefit that’s kept millions of people from falling into poverty. It denies more than $100 billion to help schools reopen this fall. It blocks additional funding for virus testing as cases are surging this summer. And it denies billions of dollars to state and local governments considering furloughs as their revenue craters."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200807/last-ditch-virus-aid-talks-collapse-no-help-for-jobless-now?rssfeed=true 

"We also want to keep this virus out of our communities"

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

"Gov. Charlie Baker is indefinitely postponing the next step of the state’s reopening in response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases that Massachusetts has seen in recent weeks.

The governor said the second step of Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan will be put on hold and the outdoor gathering limit will decrease from 100 to 50, effective Tuesday. He said he was authorizing all state and local police to enforce the orders, and that people who host events — even on private property — that exceed gathering limits will be subject to fines.

Amid reports of large parties and unauthorized gatherings, Baker said “some residents feel a bit too relaxed about the seriousness of this virus.”

He also announced the creation of a COVID Enforcement and Intervention Team that will ramp up enforcement efforts and coordinate intervention efforts in yet-to-be-named high-risk communities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200807/baker-orders-new-enforcement-gathering-size-limit-to-fight-virus-spread/1?rssfeed=true

Video link = https://youtu.be/kCGEj58c2hM

Franklin's weekend entertainment options

Concerts on the Common - after the Farmers Market on the Town Common  (Friday)

• Purple Heart Recognition at 5:45 pm, 
• Matt Zajac Duo 6:00 - 8:00 pm, 
• FSPA lmprov (on High Street) 8:00 - 9:15 pm

THE BLACK BOX presents Diane Blue in outdoor seating (Saturday)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/the-black-box-summer-concert-series_6.html

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse presents Peter Yarrow in a virtual concert to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry (Saturday)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/circle-of-friends-coffeehouse-peter.html

Franklin's weekend entertainment options

Senator Rausch: Maternal Health Victories in the MA Senate

This newsletter was shortened for publication here, to view the full contents visit  https://mailchi.mp/1e181e7c2f10/covid19-update-12618212?e=0c2c9810fe

Last week was a great one in Massachusetts for maternal health justice.

View this email in your browser Dear friends, Last week was a great one in Massachusetts for maternal health justice. My Senate colleagues and I passed four (4!) bills that support reproductive health and justice for everyone in the Commonwealth. I filed and led the charge on two of those bills, both of which were passed by unanimous, bipartisan votes.   One bill, An Act to reduce racial disparities in maternal health (S.2865 - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2865), creates a special commission to examine and make legislative recommendations to eliminate racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity in the Commonwealth. It is unconscionable that people giving birth today are more likely to suffer injury, illness, or death than our mothers and grandmothers who delivered in the previous century, and birthing people of color face these heartbreaking results in gross disproportion.  Among the developed nations of the world, only the U.S. continues to allow people giving birth to die in increasing numbers, evidenced by a 238% increase in maternal death (https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternal-mortality/pregnancy-mortality-surveillance-system.htm) between 1987 and 2015. These outcomes are staggeringly worse for people of color. From 2011-2016, there were 42.4 deaths per 100,000 births for non-Hispanic Black women, compared to 13.0 for non-Hispanic white women. These disparities persist, even when controlled for factors such as income, age, and prenatal care. Massachusetts is not immune to this structural racism in our maternal health care. Black people giving birth in our Commonwealth are *twice* as likely to die as white people due to complications from pregnancy or labor.            In my floor speech above, I shared some of the many stories from a recent COVID-19 maternal equity town hall that I co-hosted with state and federal legislative colleagues, spearheaded by the MA COVID-19 Maternal Equity Coalition. Centering the voices of Black and brown patients and healthcare providers is especially important on the floor of the Senate since it is a predominately white body, with no Black members. I encourage you to listen and hear their stories.   My second bill to pass the Senate unanimously, An Act relative to out-of-hospital birth access and safety (S.2683 - https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2863), will create formal licensure for certified professional midwives to make homebirth care more accessible, affordable, and safe in our Commonwealth. While I filed the bill long before the pandemic, COVID-19 made passing this bill ever so much more pressing. Watch my floor speech to learn about why this bill is not only a health care access and cost reduction bill, but also a maternal justice bill:              Now more than ever, we must affirm our commitment to reproductive justice to ensure that people are empowered to self-determine whether, when, and how they parent. That includes the ability to make safe, informed choices about birth care, and ensuring our dedicated midwives have the professional and legal support and recognition they deserve.    As a reminder, the Department of Public Health issues a comprehensive daily dashboard of data, including a breakdown of coronavirus cases by county and other demographic distinctions. Town and city level data is updated weekly. I am deeply concerned about the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. I encourage everyone to continue to follow physical distancing guidelines and wear a mask whenever you are unable to distance, especially indoors.     If you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen on hard times during this public health crisis and need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. My team and I are hard at work connecting constituents with resources they need, whether it is collecting unemployment benefits, accessing food stamps, reaching state agencies, or otherwise. My office line is 617-722-1555 and my email is becca.rausch@masenate.gov. We are here to help.    Wishing you and your families strength, health, and resilience.     Yours in service, Senator Becca Rausch Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 218 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133