@BostonDotCom: "Question 2: What to know about the debate over the Massachusetts ranked choice voting ballot measure"

What to know about the debate over Question 2, the ranked choice voting ballot measure.

"Massachusetts could change the way the state votes this fall. And while skeptics argue that ranked choice voting has overlooked flaws, supporters say it's still a needed improvement to the current system"

Continue reading the article online

https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/09/21/massachusetts-ballot-question-2-ranked-choice-voting

Question 2: What to know about the debate over the Massachusetts ranked choice voting ballot measure

What to know about the debate over Question 2, the ranked choice voting ballot measurehttps://t.co/PKOsd4TrNo pic.twitter.com/PVmnIgSjXn

— Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) September 22, 2020

Recycling reminder: The box=YES! The Pizza=NO!

Recycling reminder: The box=YES!  The Pizza=NO! 

 

Don't forget to add those empty pizza boxes to your recycling bins!  

 

• Shared from Twitter:https://t.co/ZcMur2WsRM

 

For the recycling guide https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/franklin_program_guide_2020-2021.pdf

 

For additional info on what to or not to recycle, visit the Solid Waste page at the Town of Franklin   https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste

 

 

Recycling reminder: The box=YES!  The Pizza=NO!

2020 Library of Congress National Book Festival: Celebrating American Ingenuity

The 2020 Library of Congress National Book Festival will celebrate its 20th birthday this year! And, for the first time in its history, the event will be completely virtual. Join us next weekend for an interactive, online celebration of American Ingenuity featuring more than 120 authors, poets and illustrators. The festivities will culminate with a PBS television special “The Library of Congress National Book Festival: Celebrating American Ingenuity,” hosted by Hoda Kotb on Sunday, Sept. 27, 6-8 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings).

Register Today! 

2020 Library of Congress National Book Festival

Create your FREE account now at loc.gov/bookfest to access on-demand videos, live author chats and discussions during the Festival weekend, Sept. 25 – 27. You’ll have options to personalize your own festival journey with timely topics, and to explore book buying possibilities through the festival’s official bookseller, Politics & Prose.

Check Out the Author Lineup

Collage image of authors participating in the 2020 National Book Festival

More than 120 renowned authors, poets and illustrators are taking part in our virtual festival! Connect with your favorite writers across all genres at our virtual “stages” including, Children, Teens, Family, Food & Field, Fiction, Genre Fiction, History & Biography sponsored by Wells Fargo, Poetry & Prose sponsored by National Endowment for the Arts, Science and Understanding Our World.

View the full author lineup: loc.gov/events/2020-national-book-festival/authors/ 

October 2020 VIRTUAL Coffee Social - Oct 7

October 2020 VIRTUAL Coffee Social

Join us Wednesday, October 7 at 10:00 a.m.

HELLO VETERANS!

We hope you all had a wonderful summer despite restrictions caused by the pandemic. It's hard to believe autumn officially begins tomorrow, September 22!

We hope you and your families are remaining healthy and safe by wearing face coverings and observing social distancing guidelines when out in public.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after going to the store or appointments. Keeping hand sanitizer in your car is a good idea too!

 

We will be hosting our monthly coffee social via Zoom on Wednesday, October 7 at 10:00 AM.

 

We hope you can join us for veterans' updates and conversation with fellow veterans! Feel free to extend the invitation to other veterans who may not be on our contact list.

 

If you have not participated in a Zoom call yet, you'll need to download the Zoom app on your device before joining us.

 

Here is the log-in information for the October meeting only:

Join Zoom via URL:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87590054730

 

Call in number: 1-929-205-6099

Enter Meeting ID: 875 9005 4730 and press #

 

For more information, contact the Veterans Services Office at: (508) 613-1315.

We look forward to chatting with you at the October Coffee Social!

 

 

October 2020 VIRTUAL Coffee Social - Oct 7

"We have to look at not just where our students live, but the impact that the surrounding communities have on us”"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:  

"MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Jeff Riley is escalating his push to convince school districts to bring students back in person, asking 16 districts for more information about their plans – and threatening them with a potential audit of their efforts to provide in-person education.

Riley wrote to 16 districts that have consistently ranked green or gray on the state’s color-coded map, which indicate low rates of COVID–19, that chose to start school remotely.

“Given your community’s designation of green or gray, I am concerned that the school committee has voted to keep most students learning remotely for the start of the 2020-21 school year,” Riley wrote, pointing to state guidance that recommends these districts bring students back in person.

“In light of the stark discrepancy between local public health data and your reopening plan, I am requesting a timeline by which you anticipate providing in-person instruction for the majority of your students including in-person instruction for vulnerable populations,” Riley continued. He wrote that their responses “may trigger an audit to assess overall efforts to provide in-person instruction” and to ensure their remote learning program is consistent with state guidelines."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/riley-presses-districts-that-are-starting-year-with-remote-learning/

 

The Franklin Public Schools Reopening website can be found

https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home

 

 

The Franklin Public Schools Reopening web site

“When you go to a town with CPA, the difference is amazing”

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

"With over $2.35 billion having been raised for community preservation funding in the past 20 years, some municipalities that have lost out by not having adopted the Community Preservation Act now want a piece of the pie.

Community Preservation Act, signed into law in 2000 by the late Gov. Paul Cellucci, provides state matching money to communities that have levied property tax surcharges up to 3% for funding of open space protection and outdoor recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing. Over 12,000 projects have been approved locally.

To date, 177 cities and towns in the state have adopted CPA. Only about a dozen are in Worcester County, a much larger number is in Middlesex County. Nine municipalities have CPA on the Nov. 3 ballot, including Shrewsbury, Hopedale, Lancaster, Franklin, and Framingham.

Chase Mack, communications director for the Community Preservation Coalition, said, with the pandemic, it’s been a tough year for campaigning to get communities to adopt CPA.

“I’m still impressed that nine communities still prioritized it with everything going on,” Mack said. “Everyone who has adopted CPA doesn’t want to give it up. It’s been very successful.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200921/residents-in-local-communities-will-decide-whether-to-support-new-local-tax-on-nov-3-voters-are-being-asked-to-support-community-preservation-act?rssfeed=true

 

Town of Franklin fact sheet on the CPA ballot question

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/cpa_fact_sheet_4.pdf

 

 

The Old South Meeting House is one historic property that would benefit from CPA funds

Tips to help you prepare for — and recover from — natural disasters

Tips to help you prepare for — and recover from — natural disasters by Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC More than 85 large wildfires are ripping across the West Coast, from California to Oregon and Washington. In the Southeast, people are just beginning to recover from Hurricane Sally, while more storms are brewing in the Atlantic. And the Midwest continues to recover from the recent derecho. Severe weather and natural disasters can occur anywhere — sometimes with little warning. The FTC's site, Dealing with Weather Emergencies, has practical tips to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from a weather emergency. It's mobile-friendly, so easy to get to when and where you need it. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/09/tips-help-you-prepare-and-recover-natural-disasters This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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