Saturday, September 12, 2020

Election recap: Statewide in MA 47 percent of voters voted by mail

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:
"Faced with a historic number of voters, the Sept. 1 Massachusetts primary avoided the weeks-long delays that beset some New York elections. Officials said there is no apparent rash of potential fraud, as officials in Georgia are investigating. “Very positive” is how the state’s top elections officer described the experience.

It was also, in effect, a test run.

With less than eight weeks until the Nov. 3 general election, the scramble to distribute millions of vote-by-mail applications is beginning anew, and local clerks — some of whom struggled with the deluge of primary ballots — are girding for a turnout that could be double, if not more, than the record-setting 1.7 million ballots cast in the primary.

That expected flood is partially the result of the newly expanded option to vote by mail, a route nearly 813,000, or roughly 47 percent of voters, took for the Sept. 1 primary, according to data provided by state officials. And about 1.4 million people have already requested mail-in ballots for the general election, and Secretary of State William F. Galvin’s office expects that number to grow as additional mailings asking if voters want a ballot begin to go out."
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Election recap: Statewide in MA 47 percent of voters voted by mail
Election recap: Statewide in MA 47 percent of voters voted by mail

In the News: studies show children can spread COVID-19, small gatherings are also sources

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

"Children who caught the coronavirus at day cares and a day camp spread it to their relatives, according to a new report that underscores that kids can bring the germ home and infect others.

Scientists already know children can spread the virus. But the study published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “definitively indicates — in a way that previous studies have struggled to do — the potential for transmission to family members,” said William Hanage, a Harvard University infectious diseases researcher.

The findings don’t mean that schools and child-care programs need to close, but it does confirm that the virus can spread within those places and then be brought home by kids. So, masks, disinfection and social distancing are needed. And people who work in such facilities have to be careful and get tested if they think they may be infected, experts said."


"Relatively small social gatherings continue to drive infections in Framingham, according to Wong.

Over and over, residents who have tested positive tell Framingham’s contact tracing team they recently got together with friends or family.

“We have not seen any one single gathering or a couple large gatherings that generated multiple cases,” Wong said. “That’s not happening at this point. But that is also telling us that there’s a lot of smaller gatherings going on.”

Over the past few weeks, younger residents have accounted for most new COVID-19 infections in Framingham. The median age of those newly diagnosed with the coronavirus between Aug. 23 and Sept. 5 was 40, according to the Framingham Health Department’s weekly data release."

Friday, September 11, 2020

Franklin's weekend - Sep 11-12

Friday, Sep 11 - Two shows with outdoor seating at THE BLACK BOX
The Peacheatersat 6:30 and 8:30 PM. 

Saturday, Sep 12 - Cub Scout Join Day
from 12-3 PM at the Franklin Historical Museum

Franklin's weekend - Sep 11-12
Franklin's weekend - Sep 11-12 


Franklin Police take positive steps to help people in a mental health crisis

Franklin Police (@franklinpolice) tweeted at 5:58 PM on Thu, Sep 10, 2020:

"Thank you to @wbz's @LouisaMoller  (https://twitter.com/LouisaMollerfor showing the positive steps that policing is taking to help people in a mental health crisis."

Direct video link (if embedded video below doesn't work)     https://cbsloc.al/2ZtCmBI

 

Also a video link = https://t.co/UxsNzvk1An

Plenty to listen to on Saturday on WFPR.FM

Saturday's schedule on WFPR, Franklin's Public Radio station. You can find it anywhere you are with your internet browser at wfpr.fm or on the FM dial at 102.9 in the greater Franklin area.


9:00 AM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock  (should be Easy Walks with Marjorie Turner Hollman)  Franklin and its local government, services and events 

10:00 AM Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey
Frank explores a range of music genres and artists 

11:00 AM Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey
An hour of uplifting music for all

1:00 PM The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone 
All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points

2:00 PM Chapters – Jim Derick
Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews 

3:00 PM        Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock (should be the Board of Health meeting Sep 2, 2020)  Franklin and its local government, services and events 

4:00 PM Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group
Original short stories presented by the authors 

5:00 PM Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick
Exploring the music of the great Blues tradition. 

Plenty to listen to on Saturday on WFPR.FM
Plenty to listen to on Saturday on WFPR.FM


Mask requirements - Franklin Public Schools, MA

Hello FPS!   
Please make note of our mask guidelines as posted on our Reopening Website! 

Mask requirements - Franklin Public Schools, MA
Mask requirements - Franklin Public Schools, MA

More info on the Reopening web site https://t.co/av14MmSQep #staysafe  #DosandDonts

Shared from Twitter:  https://t.co/K0y3aDkuDs

Franklin students feature in WBUR story on reopening schools

WBUR (@WBUR) tweeted at 5:15 AM on Thu, Sep 10, 2020:
"As students get ready for a pandemic school year, WBUR checked in with a few about how they are feeling and what they want:  
Virginia and Henry Bernstein, rising seventh- and fifth-graders in Franklin Public Schools"
 
   
Virginia and Henry Bernstein, rising seventh- and fifth-graders in Franklin Public Schools
Henry and Virginia Bernstein. (Photo Courtesy Camille Bernstein)