Library of Congress Announces Spring Concert Programming

Library Announces Spring Concert Programming for 2020-2021 Season

The Library of Congress will continue its critically acclaimed season of Concerts from the Library of Congress with an offering of virtual concerts, interviews and conversations with artists and composers, lectures, curator talks and educational programs. The spring series kicks off on March 12 with a performance from the young musicians of the New World Symphony, followed by performances from Scottish pianist Steven Osborne on March 19 and the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam on March 26.

All events will be made available at 8 p.m. ET on the scheduled premiere date 

• on loc.gov/concerts 
• the Library's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/loc) 
• and the Performing Arts at the Library of Congress Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/libraryofcongressperformingarts/videos/)

All events of the season are free, and tickets are not required.

For more information

https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-21-008/library-announces-spring-concert-programming-for-2020-2021-season/2021-02-19/

Shared from the Library of Congress page https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-21-008/library-announces-spring-concert-programming-for-2020-2021-season/2021-02-19/

Don't Forget! Apply for a Rockland Trust Scholarship Today

Applications are open for a Rockland Trust scholarship

Selection Criteria:

• Selection will be based on the applicant’s academic achievement, community service and extracurricular activities. 
• Applications must be either completed online or postmarked by March 15, 2021 to be considered. Winners will be notified by May 17, 2021
• Applications must be complete and accompanied by the two most recent semester grades on an official high school transcript.
• The Rockland Trust Scholarship Committee will record and score all complete applications received by the deadline.  Scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria:
• Academic Accomplishment: 20 points
• Community Service/Extracurricular Activity : 45 points
• Essay:  35 points 

https://www.rocklandtrust.com/scholarship

Don't Forget! Apply for a Rockland Trust Scholarship Today

Franklin's Event Outlook: Feb 19 - Feb 25, 2021

Be safe in this slow moving snow storm. You can be inside to enjoy a virtual concert tonight and then get rid of some bottles/cans Saturday morning. A small choice of this to do during these pandemic days. The storywalk at DelCarte should be nice in the snow. You might need to blaze the trail - be careful!

Friday, February 19
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation
3:00pm - FPL: Girls who code (Grades 3-5)
4:00pm - FPL: Girls Who Code! (Grades 6-12)
8:00pm - The Accidentals - virtual concert

Saturday, February 20
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation
10:00am - Scout Troop 126 - Bottle/can drive

Sunday, February 21
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation
1:00pm - Historical Museum (open and free admission)

Monday, February 22
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation

Tuesday, February 23
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation
7:00pm - Franklin Public Library Book Club

Wednesday, February 24
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation
7:00pm - Medway Marches presents "Allies in Action"
7:30pm - Let’s Laugh Today is Free on ZOOM!

Thursday, February 25
February StoryWalk at DelCarte Reservation

Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

The School district meeting calendar is found   https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

 

Community Calendar

Couldn't spend hours with the Town Council meeting Weds? Take 30 minutes to catch up now

FM #465 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 465 in the series.

 
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. 

This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Town Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting: 

• ok, what just happened? 
• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

The show notes include links to the meeting agenda and associated documents.

Our conversation runs about 28 minutes, so let’s listen in this "quarterbacking" session with Tom.  Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/48d35912-d30d-4362-b980-35cabe6696e7

--------------

Topics from the meeting covered in our conversation:

• Appointments = Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Nominee Ratification
• HEARINGS =  MADD Deli, Inc. d/b/a Dacey’s Market and Deli:  Special legislative process for this license
• PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS = Complete Streets Program 
• SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS =  Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Subcommittee
• LEGISLATION FOR ACTION = Resolution 21-11: Appropriating Funds by Borrowing and Transfer to Pay Costs of Purchasing Fire Apparatus 
• LEGISLATION FOR ACTION = Bylaw Amendment 21-870: Chapter 170, Vehicles And Traffic, Section 170-22, Subsection A, Location of Stop Signs - First Reading 
• LEGISLATION FOR ACTION  = Bylaw Amendment 21-865: Chapter 153, Stormwater Management Article I. II, III 

Agenda documents
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-feb-17.html

My notes from the meeting 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/town-council-recap-of-feb-17-2021.html

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Couldn't spend hours with the Town Council meeting Weds? Take 30 minutes to catch up now

Franklin's COVID-19 case count continue the downward trend

 

"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 66 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 30, down from 38.5, last week, and Boston’s average daily rate was at 30.4, down from 38.8 last week."

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/ 

The State weekly report:  https://www.mass.gov/doc/weekly-covid-19-public-health-report-february-18-2021/download

Tucked in an updated at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, the revelation that Franklin lost 38 residents (85% over the age of 75) to COVID-19 thus far in the pandemic. As you read this, let's stop for a moment to remember those who have left us.

As for COVID-19 cases, we have dropped again to 2.4% (percent positivity test results). This continues the downward trend (from 3.7 last week and 4.7 the week before).

Franklin's COVID-19 case count continue the downward trend

"the system did not scale fast enough to accommodate the increased volume."

 

"Massachusetts is a global leader in heavy-duty technology fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence, yet the state government continues to have a nightmarish time running a simple website to let residents easily book COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

The latest and most spectacular failure occurred Thursday morning, when the state’s main vaccine scheduling site repeatedly crashed under heavy traffic from thousands of newly eligible residents chasing the few available appointments. It resumed service later in the day.

The state issued a statement Thursday evening from PrepMod, one of its vendors for the online appointments, in which the company took responsibility for the site crash. “As public health servants and your partner, we are sorry for not meeting expectations,’' the PrepMod statement said. “We accept full responsibility for the problem today."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/18/business/why-cant-massachusetts-vaccine-website-work-better/ 

"THE STATE WEBSITE for finding an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine crashed Thursday morning as a torrent of people 65 and above rushed to sign up, the latest chapter in the Baker administration’s ongoing difficulty responding to the pandemic.

Many people who logged on to the website at 8 a.m. were met with a message saying “this application crashed” and to try again later. By about 8:25 a.m. it was possible to get into the website, but it appeared all the appointments had been booked at major mass vaccination sites and other locations. Later in the morning the website was accessible but no appointments were available except in Greenfield."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/states-vaccine-appointment-website-struggles/ 

Tweet from MIAA - Updated Communications on Fall II Season

MIAA (@MIAA033) tweeted on Thu, Feb 18, 2021:

Read #MIAA updated communication regarding general & sport modifications for Fall II Season. #patience #OneTeamOneMIAA #maskupMIAA😷

MIAA web page = https://t.co/7BHpt3Q2lf 

Shared from Twitter = https://t.co/kh17FId6A4

• FAQ doc link >   http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/FAQsregarding20202021Athletics_Fall_II.pdf

Note: The FAQ doc linked to is updated. The doc shown in the Twitter image I could not find.

Tweet from MIAA - Updated Communications on Fall II Season