Franklin Matters

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast - Jan 15, 2021

Hello Everyone!

Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast - Jan 15, 2021

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I Have A Dream" Speech August 28, 1963

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_nvqRqTiKk

Staying Connected

Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

Link to the Senior Center Calendar -https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/day/2020-07-07

Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/

Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/

Looking for something fun to do next week? Join our Favorite Franklinite, Steve Sherlock for "Franklin Matters Q & A" on Thursday Jan. 21st at 1 pm. Hear what is going on in town. Bring your questions!

Tips

Gentle chair yoga - 18 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2ECAAIyg44

Paul Eugene - Low impact dance fitness - 28 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45isK-1K89w

Rainbow Meditation - guided imagery for healing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tI4LFzKrk0

Music

Most iconic classical masterpieces - over 3 hours of music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7jjo8UICjQ

Tuvan Throat Singing - Alash - TEDx talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76psBrEypg

Resonant Chamber" by animusic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNZBSZD16cY

Just for Fun

Boston Dynamics Robot dances to "Do You Love Me"

Do You Love Me? - YouTube

Hungarian Shadow Dancing Troupe - this will tug your heartstrings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j58fHlAmoQ0

Painted by Chinese Artists, Dai Dudu, Li Tiezi and Zhang An, oil on canvas, 2006.

This painting is truly remarkable. Even more amazing though, is that the canvas has been computerized. When you run your cursor over the people.

The program tells you who they are - every single one of them.

If you click on the person you obtain the individual's life history.

http://cliptank.com/PeopleofInfluencePainting.htm

The Shadow with Orson Welles - "The Hospital Murders" 8/14/1938 full episode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-scB7ndNUVQ

Humor

Jeanne Robertson - Special Delivery to Cowpens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAc7fsEeQbQ

A compilation of President Ronald Reagan's Humor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTIfGFJqLko

Kindness Matters

People who will restore your faith in humanity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omr6FzY-1sk

The origins of the Kindness rocks project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK8iHsDXGvQ

Upcoming Events email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend unless noted otherwise.

*Monday Jan. 18th - CLOSED

*Tuesday Jan. 19th at 5pm - Quarantini Time a virtual, social, cocktail hour.

*Tuesday Jan. 19th at 1pm - Low Vision Group- email mgunderson@franklinma.gov

*Wed. Jan. 20th at 1pm - Writers Group - Call to sign up

*Thursday Jan. 21st at 10am- Discussion Group - call to sign up

*Thursday Jan. 21st at 1pm - Tele Bingo call the Senior Center to play 508-520-4945

*Thursday Jan. 21st at 1pm - Franklin Matters Q & A with Steve Sherlock - email

adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend

*Friday Jan. 22nd at 11am - Sunshine Zoom - for members with memory loss - 1 hour of

games and socialization. Email adoggett@franklinma.gov to attend. VIA ZOOM

*Friday Jan. 22nd at 1pm - Phone Games and Trivia - call to register

Plus Exercise, Yoga, Discussion Groups and more. Check out our newsletter or online calendar for a full list of all activities available https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center/pages/connection-newsletter

*Curbside Cafe - SPECIAL Hot Dogs and Beans order here https://www.franklinma.gov/Curb

Attached you will find:

Donna's fun filled activity pages

Love, virtual hugs and good health to you all! We are still here for you! Please feel free to email Donna and I with questions, concerns or just to check in!

Ariel & Donna

Please feel free to share this email with anyone you think might enjoy it. If you want me to add someone to the email blast list just send me a message with their email in it.

REMEMBER:

When searching for information about the Coronavirus, COVID-19 please use caution! Unfortunately there are many false sites that contain viruses and malware that can threaten your computer. Many look like real sites. Your best bet is to go directly to the CDC, WHO or your local government page (links below).

https://www.cdc.gov/

https://www.who.int/

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/coronavirus-information-portal-updates-here

MEMORY CAFE!

For those of you who attend our Memory Cafe events I invite you to learn more about attending a VIRTUAL Memory Cafe through Zoom! There are many options to choose from.

https://www.memorycafedirectory.com/cafe-connect/

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small

Davis Thayer Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting - Jan 20, 2021

Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021 - 5:30 PM

Virtual Meeting (Link in agenda)

Approval of past minutes (1/14/21)
Discussion:

Outline next steps (including establishing a timeline and preparing a report for school committee)
Begin Stage 2: Evaluate Options

Full agenda includes connection information https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_subcom_1.20.21.pdf

Davis Thayer Facilities Analysis Sub Committee Meeting - Jan 20, 2021

FHS boys basketball tops KP; boys hockey tops North Attleboro on Friday

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS sports results:

Boys Basketball = King Philip, 36 @ Franklin, 62 – Final

– Franklin set the tone on both ends of the court early and never looked back in a big win over King Philip. The Panthers scored 18 points in the first quarter while limiting the visitors to three points. Senior Andrew Byfield anchored the strong start, scoring 10 of his team-high 16 points in the opening quarter. Franklin took a 33-17 lead into the halftime break. Franklin senior Declan Walmsley added eight of his 13 points in the third quarter. Danny Clancy led the Warriors with 10 points.

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 4 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final

"Two days after suffering its first loss to King Philip in more than 20 years, and giving up five goals in the process, Franklin coach Anthony Sarno asked for a reaction from his team when they traveled to the New England Sports Village for a non-league matchup with North Attleboro.

Sarno got his wish, as the Panthers scored inside a minute, doubled the lead in the final minute of the second period, and tacked on two more in the third, while also keeping the Rocketeers off the board, skating away with a 4-0 victory.

“We told them on the bus ride home from that KP loss, you guys got outworked and it’s never going to happen again,” Sarno said. “I give them credit, they stepped up. They played the body, they moved the puck pretty well…all-in-all I thought we bounced back in a positive way.”

Continue reading the game recap by Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-boys-hockey-bounces-back-with-shutout-of-north-attleboro/

For a photo gallery from this game: https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2020-2021/Winter-2020-2021/North-Attleboro-Franklin-Boys-Hockey-1-15-21/

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-01-15-21/

Franklin senior defenseman Justin Abely looks for an opening to shoot during a 4-0 road win against North Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

"if you believe the epidemiologists, schools do, in fact, bring risk of transmission"

"Over the past 10 months, debates have raged over how to keep the coronavirus in check. What to open? What to close? Where does the virus spread, and where are we relatively safe? Through it all, one kind of space in particular has been the subject of vigorous debate — and, starting a few months into the virus, a kind of unexpected conventional wisdom emerged: that schools were relatively safe. In the midst of the darkness, it brought some welcome light: kids are safe! They can go to school! While other institutions closed, countries around the world — particularly in Europe and the UK — kept their schools open.

And yet, in response to rising rates and a new, more contagious variant, many of those same countries have since closed their school doors. It turns out that, if you believe the epidemiologists, schools do, in fact, bring risk of transmission. How could we ever have thought otherwise? Rachel Cohen has been covering the debates around school closings and openings, most recently at The Intercept. In this week's podcast extra, she tells Brooke about how the school transmission narrative has evolved since the beginning of the pandemic, and how our understanding of the issue came to be so muddled."

Listen to the conversation

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/why-press-gets-school-transmission-so-wrong-on-the-media

Articles linked to in Summary

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/01/04/school-reopening-risk-virus/

Twitter profile for reporter Rachel Cohen https://twitter.com/rmc031

Article at The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2021/01/06/school-reopening-studies-covid/

Podcast of the conversation

Pantherbook: Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution at FHS

Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution at FHS

"On Wednesday, January 13, Coronavirus vaccinations were officially administered at Franklin High School. The vaccines, the first of a two-session dosage, were given primarily to frontline medical workers – included were various EMTs, nurses, and other healthcare personnel.

The gym, being the largest space in the school, was utilized to maintain social distancing guidelines while vaccinations were being distributed. Miniature “booths” were set at least six feet apart from one another, with plexiglass shields in front of patients and supervisors at all times. A temperature check was required before entry to the building, along with mandatory mask usage to ensure protection for those who came."

Continue reading the article at Pantherbook: https://t.co/tzE3PkVGAT

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook/status/1350091281817595906

A view of the Franklin High School gym during Wednesday’s COVID vaccinations. Siddharth Chandra

Sweeping Economic Development Bill Authorizing $627 Million for COVID-19 Recovery Signed into Law

Sweeping Economic Development Bill Authorizing

$627 Million for COVID-19 Recovery Signed into Law

Prioritizes small business relief, support for workers, and housing development

On Wednesday, January 2, 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature passed $627 million in funding for a sweeping economic recovery and development bill which will provide much-needed support to businesses, investments in infrastructure, and creation of new jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law on January 14, 2021.

An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth provides the residents of Massachusetts a COVID-19 relief and recovery package that will provide support to the restaurant and tourism sectors, small businesses, and those who have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, while also creating a Future of Work Commission, establishing protections for student loan borrowers, and ushering in zoning reforms that will encourage housing development in our communities.

"This new law will help stabilize our economy and lead us to a strong economic recovery from this pandemic," said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). "This legislation provides immediate relief to those sectors of the economy hit hardest by the pandemic, while making key policy changes, particularly in housing, that will fuel future economic growth. I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz for his stewardship of this bill and for Chairwoman Ferrante and Representative Wong for their work on the conference committee."

"I am thrilled this legislation is now law so that we can begin to provide a necessary boost to our economy as it recovers from the dire effects of COVID-19," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Legislature recognizes the need to be bold when addressing the challenges facing restaurant and small business owners, cultural attractions and other key sectors that will keep our economy strong. I am particularly pleased this bill includes the long sought-after housing production reforms that the Senate has supported for years. I want to thank Senators Lesser, Rodrigues and my colleagues for their attention to this critical bill and for acting with urgency to move it forward in the legislative process."

"The economic development bill will help the Commonwealth rebuild from the devastating effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought" said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). "This legislation supports our travel and tourism industry in a number of different ways, especially for our struggling restaurants. It will also encourage the Commonwealth's housing production needs by simplifying zoning laws, encourage job creation in rural areas, and authorizes over $626 million in targeted capital investments that will reach every corner of Massachusetts. I want to thank my colleagues in the Legislature for their input and hard work on making this bill a reality."

"Tonight, our economic relief package was signed into law by Governor Baker. In a time of crisis for our Commonwealth, the Legislature completed one of the most important economic recovery and investment packages in recent history. With the inclusion of urgently needed small business and restaurant relief, new protections for over 1 million student loan borrowers, and the most progressive and far-reaching housing reform in decades, this legislation will bring needed relief to families, small businesses, and communities hit hardest by COVID-19," stated Senator Eric P. Lesser, Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies (D-Longmeadow). I want to thank my fellow Conference Committee members, Senator Michael Rodrigues of Westport and Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth, along with our partners in the House, Conference Co-Chair Rep. Aaron Michlewitz of Boston, Rep. Ann Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester, and Rep. Donald Wong of Saugus. A special thank you as well to Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano for your commitment to this legislation. This new set of laws will help millions of people in our Commonwealth and will chart a course toward a faster, more equitable recovery."

The bill includes the following bonding authorizations and policy changes.

COVID-19 pandemic relief and recovery

Bonding Authorizations

$30 million for the state's COVID-19 Payroll Protection Program
$20 million for restaurant COVID-19 recovery grants

Policy Changes

Limits fees charged by third-party delivery services for restaurants to 15% during the COVID-19 state of emergency; prohibits third-party delivery service companies from reducing rates for delivery drivers or garnishing gratuities as result of the limitation
Creates a commission to examine and make recommendations on addressing the recovery of the cultural and creative sector, including the arts, humanities and sciences, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

Housing

Bonding Authorizations

$40 million for a program to redevelop blighted buildings
$50 million for transit-oriented housing developments
$10 million for climate-resilient affordable housing developments
$5 million for a Gateway Cities housing program

Policy Changes

Implements zoning reform to help cities and towns approve smart growth zoning and affordable housing by lowering the required vote threshold for a range of housing-related zoning changes and special permits at the local level from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority
Requires designated MBTA communities to be zoned for at least one district of reasonable size, in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and requires such housing to be suitable for families with children
Increases the state low-income housing tax credit program cap from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000

Employee protections, business growth, and equity

Bonding Authorizations

$35 million for a Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation matching grant program to community development financial institutions for small business loans and grants
$27.7 million for a new Employment Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program
$20 million for a Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation small business grant program
$14M million for travel and tourism grants
$10 million for regional and community assistance planning grants

Policy Changes

Enables, via local option, the creation of tourism destination marketing districts ("TDMDs"), made up of hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts, for the purpose of generating local revenue dedicated solely for the promotion and marketing of specific regions of the Commonwealth
Amends the statutory definition of wait staff employee to include a person in a quick service restaurant who prepares or serves food or beverages as part of a team of counter staff
Provides that the taking of family or medical leave shall not affect an employee's right to accrue vacation time, sick leave, bonuses, advancement, seniority, length-of-service credit or other employment benefits, plans or programs
Exempts natural hair braiding from the definition of hairdressing, and exempts natural hair braiding from rules and regulations pertaining to aesthetics, barbering, cosmetology, electrolysis, hairdressing and manicuring
Encourages the PRIM Board to use minority investment managers to manage PRIT Fund assets, where appropriate, and to increase the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of Fund investments
Establishes a commission of experts, industry members, academics, and elected officials to research and propose policy solutions that ensure the future and sustainability of local journalism in Massachusetts

Student protections

Establishes a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights regulating the licensing and operation of student loan servicers by the Commissioner of Banks
Creates a Student Loan Ombudsman within the Office of the Attorney General for the purpose of receiving, reviewing and assisting in the resolution of complaints from student loan borrowers; authorizes the Ombudsman to assist with repayment options, applying for federal loan forgiveness programs, ending wage and tax refund garnishments, resolving billing disputes, and obtaining loan details

Agriculture and rural support

Bonding Authorizations

$20 million for rural community development and infrastructure grants
$2 million for an urban agriculture grant program

Policy Changes

Expands the Food Policy Council to include an expert in healthy soil practices; codifies the definition of 'healthy soils;' gives the Commission for Conservation of Soil and Water the ability to establish a Massachusetts Healthy Soils Program and Fund

Technology and innovation

Bonding Authorizations

$52 million for the Technology Research and Development and Innovation Fund
$15 million for lottery IT infrastructure
$10 million for the expansion of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2)
$5 million for the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund

Policy Changes

Creates a special commission on the future of work to conduct a comprehensive study relative to the impact of automation, artificial intelligence, global trade, access to new forms of data and the internet of things on the workforce, businesses and economy.
Clarifies that carsharing platforms may obtain insurance coverage from non-admitted carrier and that carsharing platforms do not need their own insurance-producer or broker licenses to offer or maintain insurance policies for carsharing vehicles or drivers.

Other bonding authorizations include

$102,304,000 for local economic development projects;
$12.5 million for the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation;
$15 million for trial court virtual mediation services;
$6 million for Massachusetts Cultural Council grants;
$5 million for Mass Cultural Council public school grants;
$20 million for Mass Cultural Council cultural facilities grants;
$15 million for vocational technical school expansion grants; and
$15 million for higher education workforce grants.

Franklin Public Schools, MA: reminder on holiday weekend

Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) tweeted on Fri, Jan 15, 2021:

"Reminder: All Franklin Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 18th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Also, there is a Professional Development Day on Tuesday, January 19th. No school for PreK-12."

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

Franklin Public Schools, MA: reminder on holiday weekend

Town of Franklin, MA: closed Monday, Jan 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"The Town of Franklin Offices/Departments will be closed on Monday, January 18th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day."

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1350119902091374592

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"Most surprising .. was the governor’s rejection of the Legislature’s increase in fees on ride-hail trips"

"Baker vetoes key policy initiatives in transportation bond bill
New Uber, Lyft fees and Spilka toll restriction scrapped"

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER signed the Legislature’s transportation bond bill into law on Friday, but used his line-item veto to remove proposals raising fees on Uber and Lyft rides, establishing means-tested fares on public transit, and an initiative pushed by Senate President Karen Spilka that would prohibit increases in Turnpike tolls to help pay for the Allston I-90 interchange project.

The $16 billion bond bill authorizes the state to borrow money to finance all sorts of ongoing transportation projects, including bridge repairs, road improvements, and public transit initiatives such as the Green Line extension and South Coast Rail. The bill passed by the Legislature in the wee hours of January 6 also contained a number of new policy initiatives that Baker decided to scrap. Because the Legislature that passed the bill is no longer in session, the governor’s vetoes cannot be overridden. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/baker-vetoes-key-policy-initiatives-in-transportation-bond-bill/

The Boston Globe version of this story (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/16/metro/baker-vetoes-uber-lyft-fee-increase-he-signs-off-16-billion-transportation-borrowing/

Spear Phishing makes the news (again)

"A prominent TV news anchor in India, Nidhi Razdan was looking forward to starting her new job as an associate professor of journalism at Harvard University in September.

Just one setback. Harvard doesn’t have a journalism program.

After months of delays that she attributed to the pandemic, Razdan had a jarring realization: the faculty position, it turns out, doesn’t exist. The offer she thought she had accepted was nothing more than an elaborate ploy to access her personal information, she said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/15/metro/reporter-nidhi-razdan-claims-she-was-victim-sophisticated-phishing-attack-that-led-her-believe-she-got-journalism-job-harvard/