This Thursday: Mental Health During COVID-19 Event

 Friends,

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, please join me and representatives from Massachusetts Samaritans for a Facebook Live conversation this Thursday, September 24 from 4-5 PM about mental health, suicide prevention, and the ways in which we can best help ourselves and our loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Come join the conversation! The Samaritans team and I will answer audience questions about mental health and supporting those around us.

Click here to RSVP to the Facebook Live 

https://www.facebook.com/events/957203728090449/

For over 40 years, Samaritans have provided life-saving suicide prevention services and nonjudgmental support throughout Massachusetts. Samaritans evolved from one small Helpline to having answered over 2.6 million calls, chats and text messages.

As always, if you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen on hard times during this public health crisis, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. My office line is 617-722-1555 and my email is becca.rausch@masenate.gov. We are here to help. You can also find robust resources to help you navigate through COVID-19 on my website.

Wishing you and your families strength, health, and resilience.  

Yours in service,

Senator Becca Rausch

THIS THURSDAY: Mental Health During COVID-19 Event

Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting - Sep 30

Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Sep 30 -  5:00 PM

 

Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda)

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_subcom_9.30.2020.pdf 

 

 

 

 

Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting - Sep 30

 

Washington Post: "Meet the Cal cross-country runner who wants to dismantle the NCAA"

From The Washington Post, an article of interest for Franklin:

"In spring 2019, Andrew Cooper and some other Pac-12 athletes arrived at a high-end resort in Phoenix. Ten pools and a golf course surrounded them on the scenic property. Cooper, a cross-country runner from Washington State, attended this event during which administrators were supposed to listen to athletes.

During one session, Kate Fagan, the author of a book about a college runner who died by suicide, addressed mental health and how colleges could better serve athletes. The year prior, Cooper watched how quarterback Tyler Hilinski’s death by suicide rocked his campus community. Cooper called Fagan’s discussion “one of the most powerful mental health talks I’ve ever witnessed.” But he remembers the stark juxtaposition in the room. Athletes cried while some administrators continued working on their laptops.

“It just made me realize they don't care,” Cooper said. “They don't actually care about us. This is only going to change from the outside.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/22/andrew-cooper-dismantle-ncaa/

Andrew Cooper, who ran cross-country for Washington State and California Berkeley, has become an advocate for college athlete rights. (Mitch Hechsel)

Boston Globe video: Mail-in voting explained

The Boston Globe has a brief video explaining the differences on mail in voting emphasizing the MA process and reiterating that there is no evidence of fraud with this process.  

 

Link to video 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/video/2020/09/19/nation/politics/mail-in-voting-explained/?event

Boston Globe video: Mail-in voting explained

MA.gov: Information For Voters for 2020

Dd you get the election information booklet in the mail from the Secretary of the Commonwealth?  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm

You can get your copy at the ma.gov page  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/IFV_2020.pdf 

or with this Google doc copy:

 

 

MA.gov: Information For Voters for 2020

 

In the News: "The letter states that the numbers printed do not equal 104"

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

"In June, 104 employees – many of them teachers – at Franklin Public Schools received pink slips. This fall, 87 of them are returning, according to a recent comprehensive personnel update released by the district.

Only 15 positions of the 104 threatened with the chopping block back in June wound up being cut, according to a letter from the district signed by Superintendent Sara Ahern and Director of Human Resources Lisa O’Keefe-Trainor on Friday. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200922/layoffs-in-franklin-schools-fewer-than-expected?rssfeed=true

Editor's note: Other than the quote from Superintendent Ahern, there is no new information in this article and the numbers still don't add up. This is elementary math and if turned in as a school report by a fourth or fifth grade student, it would be really interesting to see what the rubric would provide as a score. Lots of numbers, lots of info but it doesn't add up. They can start with either people or positions, there is a difference between them, I get that. But 104 (or 103) got notified, what happened to them? It should be as easy as 87 came back and 17 (or 16) didn't. There can be a variety of other categories, that really doesn't matter. Tallying to the total (either 104 or 103) does.

In the News: "The letter states that the numbers printed do not equal 104"

 

 

 

Boston Globe: Norfolk County ranked as a healthy community by US News & World Report

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Call Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket home? US News & World Report just ranked these two island communities the healthiest in the state.

In its third annual “500 Healthiest Communities” rankings, US News listed three Massachusetts counties in the top 100, taking into account economic, educational, and environmental factors, as well as other social determinants of health.

Dukes County, which represents six towns on Martha’s Vineyard and one on the Elizabeth Islands, was ranked 39th, followed by Nantucket County, which placed 62d. A little further down the list was Norfolk County, ranked 75th. The five communities that topped the list were Los Alamos County in New Mexico, Douglas County in Colorado, Falls Church city in Virginia, and Broomfield and Routt counties in Colorado.

.....

Norfolk County, with a much bigger population of 670,850, received an overall score of 75, with population health, education, and economy scoring the highest, and equity scoring the lowest."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/22/lifestyle/three-mass-communities-were-ranked-among-healthiest-nation-by-us-news-world-report/