"It is up to the Legislature to once again lead where Governor Baker has failed“

From CommonWealth Magazine:

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER vetoed the Legislature’s abortion bill on Thursday, forcing lawmakers to override his veto if they want to insist on lowering from 18 to 16 the age at which a woman can obtain an abortion without the approval of a parent or judge.

Baker previously offered an amendment to the Legislature’s abortion proposal doing away with the provisions he disliked, but both branches rejected the amendment and returned the legislation to the governor as originally crafted.

After days of hemming and hawing at State House press conferences about what he intended to do with the abortion language, Baker’s office issued a statement just before 2 p.m. saying he was returning the bill unsigned, which a spokeswoman said was the equivalent of a veto."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-vetoes-abortion-bill/

"More than half of Massachusetts’ communities are at high risk for COVID-19"

The Boston Globe has the following:

The state releases a map on a weekly basis that uses coronavirus case counts to show which Massachusetts communities are at high, moderate, and low risk for COVID-19 infection. The state’s latest report lists a total of 188 Massachusetts communities now considered high risk for the spread of COVID-19.

The statewide average daily rate of infection per 100,000 residents was at 63.2, slight down from 65.1 last week, and Boston’s average daily rate was at 59.1, slightly down from 61.9 last week.

Governor Charlie Baker introduced the map on Aug. 11 and it initially outlined each town’s average daily increase in cases per 100,000 people over the most recent two-week period. In November, Baker announced the state had changed its metrics for determining the level of risk for COVID-19 transmission in communities.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/18/nation/see-which-massachusetts-communities-are-high-risk-covid-19/

From CommonWealth Magazine:

"THE STATE’S weekly COVID-19 report suggests Massachusetts has hit a plateau, as the number of communities considered high-risk for the virus held steady and cases declined slightly. Deaths, however, continued to rise.

After weeks of steady and sometimes dramatic increases, the number of high-risk, or red, communities in Massachusetts rose to 158, an increase of just one compared to last week’s report. On a percentage basis, the number of red communities in the state held steady at 53 percent."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/mass-hits-a-covid-19-plateau/

 

 

 

FHS Gymnastics: How do you Flip into your Christmas? (video)

"How do you Flip into your Christmas? 🎄💙@FHSSports @BostonHeraldHS @HockomockSports @MetroWestSports @FranklinMatters"

 

Shared from Twitter:  https://t.co/VRgZvfu1E1

 

 

How do you Flip into your Christmas? 🎄💙@FHSSports @BostonHeraldHS @HockomockSports @MetroWestSports @FranklinMatters pic.twitter.com/VRgZvfu1E1

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) December 25, 2020

Franklin, MA: 1910 to 1919 (video)

Joe Landry provides this video about the history of Franklin, MA from 1910 to 1919. 

 

Direct video link: https://youtu.be/rPvh7OszN6A

 

BerkShares are an early version of #thinkfranklinfirst gift cards

The Boston Globe has the following:

"Last spring, shortly after it became clear that COVID-19 was more than just a little flu and that local shops would be down and out for more than just a little while, America got to wondering: How can we save small businesses?

Many commentators demanded quick federal relief. Some consumers went on gift card shopping sprees. And 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang tweeted a proposal combining the two — government-issued debit cards redeemable only at locally owned small businesses.

The Twitterati mostly condemned Yang’s idea as “stupid,” “impractical,” and “useless.” And the debit cards never came to pass; consumers got stimulus checks and small businesses got Paycheck Protection Program loans instead.

But a piece of his idea — a currency that could only be spent at local businesses — has been a fixture of life in Massachusetts’ southern Berkshires since 2006."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/24/opinion/when-money-is-running-short-print-your-own/

The most important element of a good gathering

Hint: You're probably forgetting it

View this email in your browser Dear friends,   The single biggest mistake we make when trying to gather — whether physically or virtually — is assuming we already know its purpose.  Even in our physically-together-normal-circumstances-gatherings, we assume the purpose is obvious. In these Corona times, as physical gatherings are fumbling into virtual ones, purpose becomes even more crucial. We now have a unique opportunity to investigate why we are gathering. Let me give you an example. Over the past few months, millions of teachers have been scrambling to figure out how to teach their courses remotely. My mother-in-law, Nandini, is one of them.   She's a ceramics teacher at an all-girls school who now has to teach remotely. Without a kiln. Without clay. Without a way to squeeze a hand to show the right amount of pressure to apply when burnishing a vessel. It's hard to imagine a more physically-dependent gathering.   So without any of the tools she would normally have to teach, Nandini was forced to ask herself a set of questions: Why do I teach this course? How do I want my students to be different because of this experience? What is the purpose of my class? She realized she wanted her students to be confident problem-solvers, to be risk-takers, and to be able to create something from nothing. Ceramics was the medium but not the actual purpose.    Nandini wanted them to keep using their hands, and to limit screen time. She wanted to keep them working in 3-D. She wanted them to be resourceful and use only materials they already had in their homes.   My mother-in-law changes the class from ceramics to papermâché. She gave the project a new name: "Dinnerware with Paper". And she allowed for some creative freedom: they could make anything that could be put on a table. She also promised that she would still display their work at the school, once it reopened. She told me, "We will still honor their work."     One of the biggest mistakes we make when converting a physical gathering into a virtual one is assuming it will look the same, just online. As you are thinking about hosting virtual gatherings, don't confuse your assumed activity with the gathering's purpose. Your planning should always begin by asking first: What is the purpose now?  Here are some questions to help you get clear on your gathering's purpose: What is the desired outcome?  Who is this gathering for (primarily)? If all goes well, how might the guests be different because of this gathering? How do you want people to feel when they walk away?  If your virtual gathering is replacing an in-person one, has the purpose changed? Is it the same as we originally intended, or has the need changed?  What is the role of the host, and what is the role of guests? If this was helpful for you, I invite you to share this newsletter with a friend, one whom you feel always makes your gatherings a little bit brighter.  Warmest,  Priya  P.S. For a deeper dive, check out my book, The Art of Gathering.

Happy Holidays from the Becca Bunch!

December 24, 2020

 
Dear friends, 

From my family to yours, I wish you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season. None of us imagined the immense difficulties we would face in 2020, and I hope you take time to find some peace and rejuvenation this December.

As this year comes to an end, so does my first term in office! I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get back to work with all of you for the 2021-2022 legislative session. Below is a review of just some of the things I accomplished with my colleagues over the last two years, including a robust COVID-19 response, billions of dollars invested into our Commonwealth's communities, and broad-spectrum reforms in education, elections, and reproductive justice. 

As always, if you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen on hard times during this pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office via phone (617-722-1555) or email (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. 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. I wish you and your family strength, health, and resilience for 2021.

Yours in service,  

   Senator Becca Rausch  

Office Hours

Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here.    (https://www.beccarauschma.com/office-hours)

Residents from any part of the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District are welcome to share their questions and opinions on state issues with me and my team via video chat or phone call. Office hours are available to discuss any matter. 

The Newsletter was shortened for publication here. To review the full set of contents, follow this link:  https://mailchi.mp/aa281bd208fc/maearlyvoting2020-13221712