CommonWealth Magazine: "MBTA tries new approach with commuter rail cuts"

"WITH NO EXPECTATION of a quick turnaround in ridership, the MBTA is preparing to move ahead with bus and subway service cuts next month while adopting a more revolutionary approach on commuter rail that spreads trips out across the day and does away with the traditional concept of peak travel times.

Jeffrey Gonneville, the MBTA’s deputy general manager, said the new approach will spread service out across the day at regular, often hourly intervals rather than concentrating it at morning and evening peak periods. A marketing campaign promoting the new approach is expected to roll out over the next 30 days leading up to the April 5 launch.

Gonneville said the new schedule will also allow the T to operate trains and deploy staff more efficiently, saving an estimated $30 million annually. He said the new approach would use 11 percent fewer trains and enable a 20 percent reduction in operator hours.

The concept is fairly simple. Ridership has vanished on the commuter rail system during COVID and particularly at the traditional peak travel times, so the T is going to experiment with a new all-day approach. On the Worcester line, for example, a train will run every hour all day long between Worcester and Boston. The same is true on the Fitchburg and many of the other lines. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/mbta-tries-new-approach-with-commuter-rail-cuts/

 

New York Times: "Why Was SolarWinds So Vulnerable to a Hack?"

Security expert Bruce Schneier write about the SolarWinds hack in the New York Times:

"There are two problems to solve. The first is information asymmetry: Buyers can’t adequately judge the security of software products or company practices. The second is a perverse incentive structure: The market encourages companies to make decisions in their private interest, even if that imperils the broader interests of society. Together these two problems result in companies that save money by taking on greater risk and then pass off that risk to the rest of us, as individuals and as a nation.

The only way to force companies to provide safety and security features for customers and users is with government intervention. Companies need to pay the true costs of their insecurities, through a combination of laws, regulations and legal liability. Governments routinely legislate safety — pollution standards, automobile seatbelts, lead-free gasoline, food service regulations. We need to do the same with cybersecurity: The federal government should set minimum security standards for software and software development."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/opinion/solarwinds-hack.html

 

Previous articles on the SolarWinds hack 

(Jan 2020) =  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/01/great-summary-of-solar-winds-attack-not.html

(Dec 2019) = https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/what-we-know-and-still-dont-about-worst.html

National News Highlights

• Supreme Court Denies Trump’s Bid to Conceal Taxes, Financial Records - The New York Times

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/22/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-taxes-financial-records.html

• Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era via  The Lancet 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32545-9/fulltext

• Fauci: US political divide over masks led to half a million COVID-19 deaths

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/539999-fauci-us-political-divide-over-masks-led-to-half-a

• Biden honors covid-19 victims amid staggering toll, signs of hope

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-covid-deaths/2021/02/22/911952b0-7527-11eb-8115-9ad5e9c02117_story.html  

President Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff observe a moment of silence at the White House Monday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

5 Tips for Safer WIFI via EWG (video)

"Whether working remotely, attending school online or just staying in touch with family and friends during the pandemic, you’re probably also relying more than ever on Wi-Fi and cell service. 

While these technologies can empower us to keep working and learning while staying safe, they also come with their own risks.

Learn 5 simple steps you can take to reduce your exposure to radiofrequency radiation while staying connected.

To keep up with EWG's latest research on radiofrequency radiation, head to www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation"

Direct video link =  https://youtu.be/vPmT-TPRqZQ

LiveARTS: Celebrate Women Composers with Flutist Amy Porter - Feb 28

Sunday, February 28th at 3:00pm via zoom!

LiveARTS presents Flutist and Pianist AMY PORTER and LIZ AMES in a streaming concert on Zoom!   Sunday, February 28th at 3 PM   Flutist Amy Porter (left) and Pianist Liz Ames (Right) Flutist Amy Porter enjoys a versatile and distinguished career as one of the world's leading concert performers. After graduating from Juilliard Ms. Porter has been a featured soloist with the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and with the Atlanta, Houston, Omaha, Delaware, and Albany orchestras. Ms. Porter is Principal Flute of North Carolina's Brevard Music Center, where she performs as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. PROGRAM Sonate pour flute et piano - Mel Bonis (1858-1937) Andantino con moto Scherzo Vivace Adagio Finale Sachamama for flute and pre-recorded tape (1997) - Anne LeBaron (b. 1953) Homeland (2018) - Allison Loggins Hull (b. 1982)     Zoo Song (2017) For singing flutist - Nina Shekhar (b. 1995) Concertino for Flute and Piano, op. 107 (1902) - Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) Join us for the second concert of our current season, a donation-based concert! To take advantage of this opportunity, go to our website, liveartsma.org, and order a free ticket. The Zoom link will be emailed to you 24 hours before the concert. Tickets are free, but donations are always welcome! Watch your email for more information. You can download Zoom using this link:  Download Zoom Copyright © 2021, LiveARTS.org.  All rights reserved.

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - Feb 24, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting

February 24, 2021 - 6:30 PM (note time change)

 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments

3. Approval of Minutes

a. January 13, 2021

4. Debt and Borrowing presentation

a. Kerri Bertone, Treasurer & Christopher Sandini, Finance Director/Comptroller

5. Fire Department Update

a. ALS/BLS and Mileage Rate Changes

b. Fire Truck Borrowing Resolution

6. Stabilization Funds Update & Comparabiles

7. Future Agenda Items

8. Adjourn

The full agenda and meeting documents (Note - doc was updated on Monday to show a change in start time from 6 to 6:30 PM)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2-24-21_fincom_agenda_1.pdf

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/fincom_agenda_02-24-21_updated.pdf

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - Feb 24, 2021

Town of Franklin - Finance Presentation - 02/24/21 from Franklin Matters

FHS girls swim team takes First, boys take Second in Hock Swim Championships

Via HockomockSports.com we share the following:

GIRLS - TEAM RESULTS

1. Franklin – 394.5

2. Oliver Ames – 351

3. King Philip – 240

4. Canton – 216

5. Attleboro – 146

T6. Taunton – 142

T6. Foxboro – 142

8. Mansfield – 124.5

9. Sharon – 111.5

10. Milford – 110.5

11. North Attleboro – 74

12. Stoughton – 36

https://hockomocksports.com/hockomock-girls-swim-championships-2021-results/

BOYS - TEAM RESULTS

1. Sharon – 315

2. Franklin – 280.5

3. Attleboro – 227

4. Taunton – 219

5. Oliver Ames – 203

6. Mansfield – 177

7. Canton – 161

8. King Philip – 153

9. Milford – 125

10. Foxboro – 114

11. North Attleboro – 68

12. Stoughton – 52

https://hockomocksports.com/hockomock-boys-swim-championships-2021-results/

https://secureservercdn.net/50.62.172.113/3ea.72d.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Complete-HOCK-Swim-resutls-2021-Covid.pdf

Franklin's event results

**Event # 1 GIRLS 200Y MEDLEY RELAY
3 Franklin A FRA  2:03.84
1 C. Tang; 2 M. Lawlor; 3 E. Tang; 4 K. Chew

EX Franklin B FRA 2:17.00
1 K. Liberman; 2 A. Taddeo; 3 A. Kaplan; 4 V. Loukota

**Event # 2 BOYS 200Y MEDLEY RELAY
4 Franklin A FRA      1:55.48
1 D. Gurge; 2 S. Brooks; 3 L. Cashin; 4 J. Wu

EX Franklin B FRA    2:18.21
1 A. Simmons; 2 J. Copeland; 3 R. O'Rourke; 4 J. Dimarzio

**Event # 3 GIRLS 200Y FREESTYLE
3  Bourgeois, S         FRA 2:06.48
6  Ferreira, Emma         FRA 2:08.04
8  Wainwright, Maia FRA 2:12.26

**Event # 4 BOYS 200Y FREESTYLE
2    Titmuss, Bleddyn FRA 1:58.03
12   Simms, Zachary FRA 2:10.71

**Event # 5 GIRLS 200Y I.M.
2   Tang, Christine FRA 2:20.49
7   Sinotte, Faye         FRA 2:38.10
8   Lawlor, Madison FRA 2:39.52

**Event # 6 BOYS 200Y I.M.
4   Cashin, Luke      FRA 2:15.74
8   Cashin, Dillon     FRA 2:27.73

** Event # 7 GIRLS 50Y FREESTYLE
2 Tang, Elizabeth FRA 27.23
6 Chew, Kathryn FRA 27.96
9 Lapuma, Alyssa FRA 28.52

** Event # 8 BOYS 50Y FREESTYLE
14 Simmons, Anderew FRA 28.79
21 Dimarzio, Jacob   FRA    30.31
29 Tulloch, Luke FRA 34.29

** Event # 9 GIRLS 100Y BUTTERFLY
4 Tang, Elizabeth FRA 1:04.57
6 Bourgeois, S FRA 1:08.82
17 Elkins, Julia FRA 1:22.23

** Event # 10 BOYS 100Y BUTTERFLY
5  Cashin, Luke      FRA 1:00.89
6  Titmuss, Bleddyn    FRA 1:02.07
10  Gurge, Daniel      FRA 1:07.47

** Event # 11 GIRLS 100Y FREESTYLE
5  Lapuma, Alyssa FRA 1:00.66
8  Desroches, A FRA 1:02.16
11  Kaplan, Abby FRA 1:03.73

** Event # 12 BOYS 100Y FREESTYLE
8 Wu, James FRA 56.74
11 Brooks, Simon FRA 59.47
19 O'Rourke, Rowan FRA 1:09.01

** Event  # 13 GIRLS 500Y FREESTYLE
3 Ferreira, Emma FRA 5:42.71
6 Wainwright, Maia FRA 5:47.37
10 Remillard, L FRA 6:03.05

** Event # 14 BOYS 500Y FREESTYLE
6 Simms, Zachary FRA 6:01.79
9    Simmons, Anderew FRA 6:43.80
15 Copeland, Joseph FRA 8:00.18

** Event # 15 GIRLS 200Y FREE RELAY
1 Franklin A FRA 1:51.59
1 E. Ferreira; 2 L. Remillard; 3 S. Bourgeois; 4 K. Chew

Franklin B FRA   2:07.56
1 S. Choudhury; 2 J. Cheuvront; 3 M. Bryant; 4 F. Ellin

** Event # 16 BOYS 200Y FREESTYLE RELAY
6 Franklin A FRA    1:45.31
1 J. Wu; 2 D. Gurge; 3 D. Cashin; 4 B. Titmuss

EX Franklin B FRA 2:16.44
1 T. Soni; 2 A. Savant; 3 J. Dimarzio; 4 L. Tulloch

** Event # 17 GIRLS 100Y BACKSTROKE
3 Tang, Christine FRA   1:05.58
5 Chew, Kathryn FRA   1:06.84
9 Sinotte, Faye FRA   1:09.42

** Event # 18 BOYS 100Y BACKSTROKE
8 Cashin, Dillon FRA 1:07.23
9 Gurge, Daniel FRA 1:09.45
23 O'Rourke, Rowan FRA 1:30.42

** Event # 19 GIRLS 100Y BREASTSTROKE
4 Lawlor, Madison FRA 1:18.78
7  Taddeo, A         FRA 1:21.79
9  Peng, Charlene         FRA     1:22.85

** Event # 20 BOYS 100Y BREASTSTROKE
1  Lapuma, Brendan FRA     1:07.51
6 Wu, James FRA     1:14.01
7 Brooks, Simon    FRA 1:14.86

** Event # 21 GIRLS 400Y FREE REL
2 Franklin A FRA    4:01.02
1 E. Ferreira; 2 E. Tang; 3 S. Bourgeois; 4 C. Tang

EX Franklin B FRA   4:35.72
1 V. Loukota; 2 K. Liberman; 3 F. Ellin; 4 M. Bryant

** Event # 22 BOYS 400Y FREESTYLE RELAY
2 Franklin A FRA  3:46.94
1 L. Cashin; 2 B. Titmuss; 3 S. Brooks; 4 B. Lapuma

EX Franklin B FRA DQ
1 R. O'Rourke; 2 A. Simmons; 3 Z. Simms; 4 D. Cashin

FHS girls swim team takes First, boys take Second in Hock Swim Championships