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Wednesday, September 23, 2020
FTC Consumer Alerts: Heard about the “waiting package” phishing scam?
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
NY Times Magazine: "How Climate Migration Will Reshape America"
This article, the second in a series on global climate migration, is a partnership between ProPublica and The New York Times Magazine, with support from the Pulitzer Center. Read Part 1:
"August besieged California with a heat unseen in generations. A surge in air-conditioning broke the state’s electrical grid, leaving a population already ravaged by the coronavirus to work remotely by the dim light of their cellphones. By midmonth, the state had recorded possibly the hottest temperature ever measured on earth — 130 degrees in Death Valley — and an otherworldly storm of lightning had cracked open the sky. From Santa Cruz to Lake Tahoe, thousands of bolts of electricity exploded down onto withered grasslands and forests, some of them already hollowed out by climate-driven infestations of beetles and kiln-dried by the worst five-year drought on record. Soon, California was on fire.
Over the next two weeks, 900 blazes incinerated six times as much land as all the state’s 2019 wildfires combined, forcing 100,000 people from their homes. Three of the largest fires in history burned simultaneously in a ring around the San Francisco Bay Area. Another fire burned just 12 miles from my home in Marin County. I watched as towering plumes of smoke billowed from distant hills in all directions and air tankers crisscrossed the skies. Like many Californians, I spent those weeks worrying about what might happen next, wondering how long it would be before an inferno of 60-foot flames swept up the steep, grassy hillside on its way toward my own house, rehearsing in my mind what my family would do to escape.
But I also had a longer-term question, about what would happen once this unprecedented fire season ended. Was it finally time to leave for good?"
Continue reading the article online
Franklin Public Schools: "Comprehensive Personnel Update"
It may not be fair, but in all the private sector companies I worked for over the years the employee count a manager was responsible for was a key piece of data. You could not make a mistake with that. Budget, payroll, never mind the service you were delivering all depended upon it.
To see the following footnote:
"Numbers do not equal 104 as some staff members received notices appointing them to similar positions that were vacated in the district"
leaves me with a problem. If you notify 104 folks they don't have work, and then for a variety of reasons some do, and some don't, it still has to add up to 104.
The personnel update can be found
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| Franklin Public Schools: "Comprehensive Personnel Update" |
Remote Learning Support Sessions for Parents & Guardians
Remote Learning Support Sessions for Parents & Guardians
September 22nd - 24th
The FPS Digital Learning Integrationists will be holding Parent/Guardian support sessions throughout the year.
Our first session, "Navigating the Remote Learning Environment", will focus on the basics of navigating Google Classroom and Google Meetings.
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| Remote Learning Support Sessions for Parents & Guardians |
@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
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| 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
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| 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!
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| 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!
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| 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
The Franklin Public Schools Reopening website can be found
“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)
Town of Franklin fact sheet on the CPA ballot question
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| 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
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Monday, September 21, 2020
St. Vincent de Paul Announces Friends of the Poor Walk - Sept. 26
St. Vincent de Paul Announces
Friends of the Poor Walk
Saturday Sept. 26, 2020
Each year, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary’s Church walks to bring awareness to the Franklin Community of the struggles some residents experience that impact their life. For 30 years, we have been there to help people in need in Franklin. We work closely with many charitable and government organizations.
We are all volunteers and assist people in a number of ways to help them retain their dignity and return to become self-sustaining.
• Guide them to other resources, both state and charitable
• Provide clothing and furniture through our SVDP Thrift Stores
• Supply non-perishable food and paper products from our pantry to supplement other food resources
• Assist financially during an unexpected crisis helping pay rent, medical, car repairs etc.
Last year we helped Franklin Families 186 times for $65,000
This year due to COVID 19 we have had to change our format to operate a safe event. Only SVPD members and their families will be walking at assigned times at the Franklin Common on Saturday 9/26/20 from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. However, we are looking for community support.
If you would like to support our mission of helping residents of Franklin in need, you may make a financial donation in either of two ways.
1. Send a check to: SVDP 1 Church Square Franklin, MA 02038 Or
2. Online to the SVDP team at:
https://www.fopwalk.org/eventlisting/eventdetail/donate/?eventid=2507
If you have any questions please call SVDP 508-918-2291. All donations stay in Franklin and all information is kept confidential.
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| St. Vincent de Paul Announces Friends of the Poor Walk - Sept. 26 |
Franklin Dog Park: Volunteers needed Oct 3
Hello dog lovers,
The furry Friends of the Franklin Dog Park volunteer Committee are in need of volunteers to help spread wood chips at Franklin Dog Park on Saturday, October 3 at 8 AM, rain date is Sunday, October 4 at 8 AM.
Also students who need credits for community service, please bring your forms. We need wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels. We will have refreshments.
Thank you,
Gennarino D'Onofrio
Franklin Dog Park: Volunteers needed Oct 3
Register to participate in the Food4Vets Service on Oct 3
Franklin Post 3402 is participating in the VFW Day of Service on Oct 3. The State VFW is teaming up with the Mass Military Support Foundation. The food boxes will be similar to what was distributed at Gillette Stadium and other points in Western Mass earlier this year.
This is open to all vets, but we will require proof of service (vet org ID card, VA ID card, DD-214, etc). They'll need to register in advance (link is coming).
Registration link: https://secure.lglforms.
If they don't have internet access I'll be happy to take their info and get them in the system. We'll need name, branch of service, and family size.
Anyone with questions or issues registering once the link is shared can reach me at post3402@vfwma.org or 508-533-2377. E-mail preferred.
Pick up will be at the VFW Post (Pond St) on Oct 3 from 10 AM - 1 PM.
Get your copy of the information flyer here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11clmfF_YnJsNh_LBCvYF8EMmvf11siyd/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11clmfF_YnJsNh_LBCvYF8EMmvf11siyd/view?usp=sharing
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| Franklin Post 3402 is participating in the Food4Vets Service on Oct 3 |
Franklin Matters: You ask, we answer - Sep 22
Talk about Franklin Matters with our favorite Franklinite, Steve Sherlock. Discuss Franklin and what
is going on in our town.
Via zoom, email adoggett@franklinma.gov for
the link to attend.
Tuesday Sept. 22 at 10 AM
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| Franklin Matters: You ask, we answer - Sep 22 |
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