FHS A World of Difference: video on Angela Davis

FHS A World of Difference (@Franklin_AWOD) tweeted on Tue, Feb 23, 2021:

Today's Black History Month Video is on human rights activist, scholar, and author: Angela Davis! https://t.co/UnVfVHteZ6

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/Franklin_AWOD/status/1364226161862209536

Today's Black History Month Video is on human rights activist, scholar, and author: Angela Davis! pic.twitter.com/UnVfVHteZ6

— FHS A World of Difference (@Franklin_AWOD) February 23, 2021

 

CommonWealth Magazine: "With ‘cliff’ looming, T stalls for time"

"MBTA officials are planning to put off the release of a new, five-year capital plan until June 2022, a move that reflects the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and also the political calculus of a governor running out of funding options for the T’s ambitious capital spending program.

 It may sound like a minor issue, but good government types recommend setting out capital spending targets in five-year increments. The Government Finance Officers Association says a multi-year plan is the best way to ensure proper development and management of capital assets and send a message to contractors that the money for projects is in the pipeline. “A capital plan should cover a period of at least three years, preferably five or more,” the association says."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/with-cliff-looming-t-stalls-for-time-2/

Learn more about the MBTA's capital projects https://www.mbta.com/projects/building-better-t-2020

tree clearing along the Franklin Line to prepare for the PTC improvements

The Guardian: "Drug-sniffing dog finds cereal frosted with $2.8m worth of cocaine in Ohio"

"US customs agents made a surprise discovery when a sniffer dog investigated what looked to be a perfectly innocent shipment of frosted cereal, only to discover that the sugar coating was in fact a large amount of cocaine.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Bico, a narcotic detector dog with US Customs and Border Protection, uncovered the haul of drugs in a shipment of breakfast cereal from South America that was headed to Hong Kong.

“Officers found white powder and the flakes were coated in a grayish substance after the dog alerted on the shipment,” the paper reported.

The value of the drug was estimated at $2.8m."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/22/cocaine-frosted-cereal-cincinnati

Finance Committee meeting - starting time changed to 6:30 PM Feb 24, 2021

 Finance Committee Meeting

February 24, 2021 - 6:30 PM 

(note time change)(was 6 PM)

 

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

In case you missed the Town Council discussion on the Finance presentation, you get another chance at this on Wednesday night. If you have a question that wasn't asked the first time around, now you have a chance of getting an answer.

Note the explanation on non-excluded debt vs. excluded debt and how both are funded.

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

Franklin Public Schools: Reopening Status update for SchCommMtg Feb 24, 2021

The Reopening Update for the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb 24, 2021 was posted to the meeting packet page. It had not been available on the weekend when the agenda was shared here on Sunday (likely due to the schools vacation last week).

Reopening Status:   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/reopening_schools_status_update_feb_18_2020-2021.pdf

School Committee agenda shared on Sunday
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-feb.html

Agenda doc  

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_2-23-21.docx.pdf

Meeting packet folder (with all docs for this meeting - note - some released after the meeting)  

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/february-23-2021-school-committee-packet

Reopening Status update for SchCommMtg Feb 24, 2021

Info on "Google Meet Difficulties?"

"Have you been noticing that your Google Meet view has not been functioning consistently lately?  You’re not alone! 

As Google develops new features in the Google Meet app, some extensions, such as the popular Grid View Extension, can experience disruptions due to incompatibilities with newer versions of the native Google Meet.  In fact, the developer of the Grid View extension has basically retired the extensions and removed it from the webstore.  He has indicated that it is unlikely that the app will be maintained going forward."

Continue reading the article online

https://dlifranklin.blogspot.com/2021/02/google-meet-difficulties.html

Info on "Google Meet Difficulties?"

Stronger Together is our Y’s new team training and personal training programs

Starting March 1st, we will begin this new premier personal training program at our Bernon Family Branch in Franklin. Workouts are completed in a private, dedicated space used for Stronger Together clients only on the second floor of our Franklin Y.

Start with an assessment to learn about the program: Stronger Together programs start with a free Starting Point Session. The 60-minute session allows our trainer to learn about your goals and challenges, observe your movement quality and create the perfect plan for you!

The Starting Point Session will include:

• Finding out more about you: your goals, limitations, and health history.
• Giving you a tour of our dedicated Stronger Together personal training area.
• Assessing movement patterns with a Functional Movement Screen to help find the right exercises specifically for you.
• Go through a light workout so you can experience the different tools we use during Stronger Together workouts.
• Provide recommendations on a program that suits your goals, time and budget.

All of this information will be used to help create your training program and keep you injury free along the way!

BE HEALTHY. BE STRONG. BELONG.

What is Stronger Together?

• Stronger Together is powered by Alloy®, a premier personal training system helping people look and feel their absolute best. Alloy’s programs are tested in real facilities, and created by degreed exercise physiologists, doctors of physical therapy, registered dietitians and other behavioral specialists.
• Team Training is a 45 minute workout perfect for those who want coaching from a personal trainer every time they come to the gym and enjoy the dynamics of group workouts. We offer 3 great options for Team Training – Foundations for beginners, Afterburn for advanced metabolic training and Industrial Strength for a true strength training option – and members can do unlimited sessions each month. $89 per month.
• Personal training is perfect for clients with specific goals, injuries and those who do not prefer to work in larger groups. We can accommodate nearly all fitness levels and health issues in this setting. For those with more experience in fitness, we program more advanced exercises, which require more hands-on coaching. We begin to introduce lower repetition ranges and focus on those with strength goals. Also, we work on corrective strategies to help clients improve their movement restrictions. Team Training is included in all one-on-one personal training programs as a way to supplement the workouts. Options include up to 4, 8 and 12 sessions per month, and cost ranges from $179 to $419 per month.

Workouts are scheduled appointments to make sure you stay on track with getting started. Track your progress and communicate with your trainer with a custom mobile app. You’ll schedule your monthly personal meetings to discuss basic nutrition coaching, goal-setting and strategy. These personalized sessions are designed to keep you on track… so you can be on your way to reaching your goals.

Tailored to your goals, time and budget: our monthly programs allow you the most flexibility in scheduling workouts and finding a program that’s works for you.

Grand Opening Offers Available for a Limited Time Only!

The 30-Day PT Experience is a great way to try Stronger Together to determine which type of training is best for you. Included in the 30 days is a one-on-one Starting Point health assessment, Two 45-minute one-on-one personal training sessions, and unlimited team training sessions. All sessions run approximately 45 minutes. Get to know our friendly, experienced trainers, meet other members and see first-hand the results possible with Stronger Together. One time special promotional rate for new clients only at $89. Only available to our members, for a limited time only!

All of our Hockomock Y members have $50 personal Y Bucks to use towards any Stronger Together personal training program. Members can use towards the 30-Day PT Experience, brining it to $39. This is a limited time only, grand opening offer. Certain restrictions may apply.

How to Get Started:

Contact our Fitness & Personal Training Director Chris Raymond at chrisr@hockymca.org or 774-235-2732 to get started with us today. Let’s get Stronger Together!

Stronger Together is our Y’s new team training and personal training programs

FHS: Letter from Sara Ahern and Joshua Hanna

February 22, 2021

Dear Franklin High School Families,

We are writing to keep you informed about instruction at FHS. We are aware that many families have been expressing concerns regarding our current hybrid model. We want to share some information with you about instruction currently and our plans ahead.

We are responding to concerns that more students are opting to stay remote. We started the year with an operating theory that we would build a strong remote learning platform from which we could easily pivot to hybrid or back to remote (anticipating at that time that we would experience rolling closures). Some other districts' hybrid models involve a significantly higher proportion of asynchronous learning or other workaround including grab and go lunches after a partial school day. When asked to submit structured learning time hours for HS, we easily met (and still meet} the new regulations when they were issued. As far as student achievement goes, our students are meeting with success, given the less than ideal circumstances. Many school districts across the country are reporting higher failure rates during the pandemic. For both quarter 1 and quarter 2, our failures are near the, same rates as pre-pandemic circumstances (although we would love to see them even better).

This strong remote platform is being leveraged now by students who are either fully committing to remote or who chose to stay remote for a period of time. We started with around 325 remote only students at the beginning of hybrid. We saw an increase in the number of students staying out and learning remotely during the weeks following winter break due to escalating community-wide COVIO numbers.

We recently resurveyed families, asking for a commitment for Semester 2 and about 500 students have fully committed to Remote Only at this point in time. At this point, our cohort sizes are around 400 students per week. We have seen an increase in the number of students attending in person in recent weeks (particularly the week prior to break) and the number of 200-250 students being present is not an accurate representation of HS attendance.

It is true that classes vary in terms of the numbers of in person students present and some are quite small. In walking through on the same day. an observer might see classes of 2-3 students and also classes of 8-9 students. We will never be able to have an sections be identical in size given the complexity of the HS schedule. Our classrooms fit about 12 seats at 6 feet of distancing but to rely on a cohorting average of 12 would mean that some sections would be too big and students wouldn't fit (126 sections at FHS have more than 26 students in them for semester 2).

With smaller cohorts than we previously started with, the HS administrative team has been systematically inviting in high needs students to school every week. These students emerge from the IST (Instructional Support Team) process where a team of educators discuss student progress and apply appropriate interventions. About 160 students have been invited in in the past four weeks as a result of IST.

We have done some preliminary analysis to examine collapsing cohorts from 3 to 2. In order to accomplish this, several staff members would need to spend about 3 weeks hand selecting new cohorts. Additionally, we would need to involve our transportation office to do the same with busing. This is not insignificant and realistically, it would likely take about 3 weeks.

We are constrained by a few additional spaces/factors as well which create additional considerations for our planning - our cafeteria holds 170 for lunch and we run multiple lunches (4). Our auditorium holds 75 which sometimes holds study hall students or combined classes, if needed.

Please know that we are both eager to expand in person school as soon as possible and as safely as possible. The CDC guidance that was issued before February break is a helpful guide. The CDC guidance draws some distinctions on decisions related to instructional models with and without pool testing. As you know, the district is exploring poof testing as a way to screen for the presence of COVID in our school community. This tool. combined with information about community spread, can be useful in making instructional model decisions including when to have in person learning, when to be hybrid, and when to be remote. Schools also have received new transportation guidance from DESE that came out last week. DESE has eased some  of the  space restrictions for  busing which will facilitate more students  in person in our schools.

Given the investment adjusting the cohorts would take, our approach will be instead to review the new guidance and learnings from the pool test pilot and work with the Reopening Monitoring Team to further develop a plan for a fuller return to school. as communicated in a recent message (February 10. 2021).

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/february_10_instructional_model_update_to_families.pdf

In the meantime, the administration will continue to identify students through the IST process who will benefit from more in person instruction inviting them to attend more frequently.

Kind regards,

Sara Ahern and Josh Hanna

Shared from the FHS PCC (@FHS_PCC) tweet on Mon, Feb 22, 2021:

"Letter from Sara Ahern and Joshua Hanna https://t.co/VCIz4BdTTn"

FHS: Letter from Sara Ahern and Joshua Hanna

Boston Globe: "Legislature drops deference to Baker as it more stridently questions vaccine rollout"

 

"The Massachusetts Legislature, which has seemed content to allow the executive branch to lead the state’s fight against the coronavirus, is poised to assert itself this week, summoning Governor Charlie Baker and his top aides before a new oversight committee to demand answers about the state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout.

Thursday’s live-streamed hearing — billed as the first of many — presents both an opportunity and a test for state lawmakers to press top Baker administration figures, including the governor himself, on what they’ve so far criticized in tweets and public statements as a shoddy and unpredictable distribution process.

It’s also a rare flex of legislative authority, and one of several signals that Democratic leaders are stepping beyond the role of the deferential partner to Baker in the state’s response to the pandemic."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/23/metro/legislature-drops-deference-baker-it-more-stridently-questions-vaccine-rollout/

The link to the planned session doesn't appear to be available yet. It should be posted to this page eventually.  https://malegislature.gov/Events

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