March On!

It warms me. It warms me not.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 02/28/2021 

March is so fickle.

Its promise – a tickle

of warmer days yet to unfold.

Yet, I remain wary

as temperatures vary

with tall mounds of snow getting old.

But, time finds a way to brighten each day

with a little more light in the end.

And the rising of hope on an ascending slope

of optimism that we transcend.

Lest we let down our guard to seek Springtime’s reward

as the Winter snows fly yet again. Ahead? Or, behind?

March should make up its mind 

about which season rules in the end.

For the coming of Spring is a time that can bring

a new lightness and joy to the heart.

Let this be the year that we be of good cheer

as the dark days of Winter depart.

In March we march on to greet April’s dawn

as our march of time cadence is led.

For time plays its arch

as we’re marching through March 

toward sunnier days just ahead.

With each vaccination we feel jubilation

to ease the emotional cost.

So let it be done

as we welcome the Sun

but, never forget those we lost.

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching.

March On! (Franklin TV photo)

Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  

or for archive purposes   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VbI26i30tPyw8ZhJfXSFlmFWN60auIv5/view?usp=sharing

FM #475 Working Moms Social Club - 02/08/21 (audio)

FM #475 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 475 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Kristi Morin of the Working Moms Social Club based in Franklin. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• Kristi’s Franklin story
• the purpose of the group
• meeting/gathering adjustments made during COVID
• Open for new members with a nominal annual membership fee ($25)

Links to the Working Moms Social Club web and Facebook pages are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 16 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Kristi.  Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ea6273a6-982c-4bc3-b198-bf9110c38989

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Working Moms Social Club web page = https://www.workingmomsocialclub.org/

Facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsocialclub 

Email for questions, etc. = admin@workingmomsocialclub.org 

Article by Warren Reynolds at 02038.com = https://02038.com/2021/02/local-moms-help-working-mothers/ 

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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/ or www.franklin.news/

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 or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 

FM #475 Working Moms Social Club - 02/08/21 (audio)

New York Times: "Where Have All the Houses Gone?"

"This picture is a product of the pandemic, but also of the years leading up to it. And if half of what is happening in the for-sale market now seems straightforward — historically low interest rates and a pandemic desire for more space are driving demand — the other half is more complicated.

“The supply side is really tricky,” said Benjamin Keys, an economist at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. “Who wants to sell a house in the middle of a pandemic? That’s what I keep coming back to. Is this a time you want to open your house up to people walking through it? No, of course not.”

A majority of homeowners in America are baby boomers — a group at heightened risk from the coronavirus. If many of them have been reluctant to move out and downsize over the past year, that makes it hard for other families behind them to move in and upgrade."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/26/upshot/where-have-all-the-houses-gone.html

As a "baby boomer", we (my wife and I) are looking to downsize and the problem we find is that there is not an acceptable smaller option for us readily available in Franklin, or even in MA. While some of what I would like is available in the South (North, South Carolinas, etc...)  I don't want to go there. 

The article touches on this in mentioning baby boomers but doesn't get into the nature of the supply problem: What kind of inventory do we have? (Whether it is available or not is a separate piece for now). Do we have inventory that would meet the needs of the marketplace and the population now and near term?

Instead of building apartments why not serve the growing sector of the market (i.e. the aging boomers). The Town used the demographics to expand the Senior Center. How come the developers are not using those demographics?

New York Times:  "Where Have All the Houses Gone?"

Franklin HS Athletics: Football and Volleyball schedule for Fall 2 season

FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) tweeted on Sat, Feb 27, 2021:

The Fall 2 schedule may be found here: https://t.co/IcRCFVXkh2  or here

http://miaa.net/schools/public/FranFr

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/1365695245665660930

• Football  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16lAmgR1fWPiXpiJQC3vSAcOih3qMvRGS/view?usp=sharing
• Volleyball  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p1CK0a4KVPnBvwCONpUFIMi6jNNhfa3f/view?usp=sharing

"The Hockomock League will continue to allow "HOME" spectators at their Fall II games; although limited to 2 parents & siblings per athlete. All will need to scan a QR code (for contact tracing purposes) & sign in upon entering. No spectators are allowed to attend scrimmage games."

https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/1365810785100963847

 Football and Volleyball schedule for Fall 2 season

"new Netflix series looks at the importance and legacy of an amendment that calls for equality and freedom"

"Chances are it is the most influential amendment to the US constitution that you aren’t familiar with. Given its impact, it is astonishing how little the 14th amendment is discussed in public life. Americans can’t rattle it off like the first and second amendments – but its words have fundamentally shaped the modern definition of US citizenship and the principles of equality and freedom entitled to those within the country’s borders.

Sitting at the crux of these key ideals, the 14th amendment is cited in more litigation than any other, including some of the US supreme court’s most well-known cases: Plessy v Ferguson, Brown v Board of Education, Loving v Virginia, Roe v Wade, Bush v Gore, Obergefell v Hodges. And because these noble notions are embedded in the 14th, it has the remarkable ability to generate both boundless hope (for the promises of that more perfect union aspired to in the constitution’s preamble) and crushing misery (for the failures to achieve such promises)."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/feb/23/amend-fight-for-america-14th-amendment-will-smith-netflix

YouTube link to the trailer for Amend -> https://youtu.be/1h9gmJxvZU0

Radiolab did a spin off podcast where they examined Supreme Court decisions and then all the Constitutional amendments - well worth listening to, I did learn a lot.  https://www.npr.org/podcasts/481105292/more-perfect

Radiolab's first ever spin-off series, More Perfect

Franklin's wfpr.fm has a series on Monday called "Towards A More Prefect Union"

Frank Falvey converses with Rep. Jeff Roy, Dr. Michael Walker-Jones and Dr. Natalia Linos. The show airs on Monday's at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Work is also underway to make a podcast version of this show available.

"without an image of the virus, the scientists could learn only so much"

"Overlooked is a series of obituaries about remarkable people whose deaths, beginning in 1851, went unreported in The Times."

"With no money to pay for college in post-World War II Scotland, 16-year-old June Almeida took an entry-level job in the histology department of a Glasgow hospital, where she learned to examine tissue under a microscope for signs of disease. It was a fortuitous move, for her and for science.

In 1966, nearly two decades later, she used a powerful electron microscope to capture an image of a mysterious pathogen — the first coronavirus known to cause human disease."

Continue reading the article about June Almeida (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/obituaries/june-almeida-overlooked-coronavirus.html

June Almeida in 1963 at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto. In her day she gained a reputation for “extending the range of the electron microscope to new limits.”Credit...Norman James/Toronto Star, via Getty Images

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Budget Sub Committee - Mar 3

Franklin Public Schools 

Franklin School Committee - Budget Sub Committee 

March 3, 2021 4:30 PM 

• FY22 Budget Development

Please find the agenda and links for the upcoming Budget Sub-Committee meeting posted here https://t.co/VncVZgSMC6 

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

Franklin Public Schools, MA:  Budget Sub Committee  - Mar 3

The Guardian: "AstraZeneca and Moderna’s contrasting rewards for fighting Covid hardly seem fair"

In my reporting for Franklin Matters, I like to use the line "to follow the money" and in so doing I focus on the Finance Committee, Town Council and School Committee. So this article on the profit approach of the vaccine makers caught my eye.

"Compare and contrast. AstraZeneca is currently producing COVID vaccines for no profit and still manages to get beaten up by opportunists in Brussels. Over in the US, Moderna is hailed as a national saviour while shouting from the rooftops about how its commercial prospects have been transformed by its own COVID vaccine.

Moderna’s full-year statement on Thursday was extraordinary. The company expects to generate revenues of $18.4bn (£13.1bn) year from deals it has signed to supply its vaccine, which is priced at $30–$36 a shot, so is definitely intended to produce a chunky profit margin. That revenue forecast is enormous. For comparison, AstraZeneca’s entire established portfolio – for cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory treatments and more – generated sales of $26.6bn last year.

The backstories to the vaccines are very different, of course. Moderna was a loss-making biotechnology firm that has poured billions into developing messenger RNA technology (also used in the BioNtech/Pfizer product) and a successful return on that investment was never guaranteed. AstraZeneca has merely accelerated original research done at Oxford University – and a condition of the partnership was “at cost” pricing for all the deals to date."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2021/feb/25/astrazeneca-moderna-covid

The Guardian: "Will I have to wear a mask after getting the COVID vaccine? The science explained"

"Public health authorities want people to keep wearing masks and social distancing, even after they receive a vaccine. This might seem counterintuitive – after all, if someone gets a vaccine, aren’t they protected from the coronavirus?

The answer is complicated: the vast majority of people who are vaccinated will be protected from Covid-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, vaccinated people may still be able to transmit the virus, even though they do not display any symptoms.

“We know now the vaccines can protect, but what we haven’t had enough time to really understand is – does it protect from spreading?” said Avery August, professor of immunology at Cornell University.

That is because the the SARS-CoV-2 virus may still colonize the respiratory tract, even as systemic immune cells protect the overall body from the disease it causes – Covid-19."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/26/covid-vaccine-mask-will-i-have-to-wear-after-jab-science-how-it-works

World Beer Index 2021: What's the Price of a Beer in Your Country?

And not for something different:

Although fewer people have been able to grab a beer at the pub during this pandemic, the global desire for beer prevails. For example, sales of the Corona beer actually shot up in the past year, despite—or perhaps because of—associations with the coronavirus.

This World Beer Index from Expensivity ( 

https://www.expensivity.com/beer-around-the-world/  ) 

compares the average price of a bottle of beer in 58 countries in a detailed map. Additionally, we show which countries spend the most on beer per capita, and just how much beer people really drink.

Continue reading the article online

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-much-does-a-beer-cost-in-your-country/

World Beer Index 2021: What's the Price of a Beer in Your Country?

Franklin Public Schools: School Committee Legislative Forum - March 2

School Committee Legislative Forum

Virtual Meeting (Link in agenda)

Tuesday, Mar 2, 2021 - 6:30 PM

Agenda Document (and connection info)    https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-2-21-legislative_forum.pdf

Note: While the agenda doc says "Legislative Forum" (which is not very compelling or insightful), from the planning sessions that I did report on, I do recall that there would be some presentation outlining the issues the District faces, with an opportunity for questions and answers, along with time for the legislative delegation to make a statement and answer questions. 

• The audio for the 2020 forum is available   =  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/fm-201-franklin-ma-school-committee-3rd.html
• The video of the 2019 forum is on YouTube  https://youtu.be/30Qxs4MVypA
• The video of the 2018 forum is also on YouTube  https://youtu.be/pNUSkrjzo1s

School Committee Legislative Forum - March 2

FM #474 - Finance Committee Mtg - 02/24/21 (audio)

FM #474 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 474 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the Finance Committee members and key guests were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

• Quick overview of the ambulance rates and rationale behind them from Chief McLaughlin
• Overview of the recent truck purchase process and the life cycle of trucks on the front line, in reserve and eventual disposition as surplus
• Great overview of the debt and borrowing status for Franklin, heard previously at the Town Council meeting but great info on exclusions and non-excluded debt and how it is fiscally planned for and managed; the Town has a great credit rating which confirms the overall fiscal prudence shown by the Town
• Discussion on future topics including adding two sessions to the budget hearing cycle (now four meetings instead of two)

Links to the meeting agenda and my notes are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 77 minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting of Feb 24, 2021.  Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1c047bb0-59a6-44e3-8b50-b7dc814d1861

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Agenda and documents released for this meeting  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/fincom_agenda_02-24-21_updated.pdf

My notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/finance-committee-meeting-recap-feb-24.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/ or www.franklin.news/

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 or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 

FM #474 - Finance Committee Mtg - 02/24/21 (audio)

Franklin Senior Center: Email Blast - Feb 26, 2021

Hello Everyone!

Mars landing Feb. 18, 2021!

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 

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

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

Link to Mass.Gov COVID - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information 

COMING IN MARCH!!

Introduction to Palette Knife Painting Classes  Put down the brush and pick up a palette knife! For 4, 1 1/2 hour sessions, we will focus on the techniques of using only a palette knife to paint oil paintings. Palette knife painting offers a unique look--thick texture, pure colors, and expressive style. No turpentine or other solvents needed. 4 week class on Tuesdays at 2pm (March 9, 16, 23, 30) Ann Gorbett is an award winning artist who paints exclusively with a palette knife. The thick, painterly, yet highly detailed strokes of color are trademarks of her style.  This will be held via zoom and space is limited.  You must register to attend.  Email adoggett@franklinma.gov or call the franklin senior center to register.  Art kits with all supplies will be available for pick up to registered participants.  A fee of $20 total for all 4 classes is being charged to defray the cost of materials. If you cannot afford this please ask about our available scholarship.  Space is limited so sign up today!

Tips

How to declutter your home.  12 decluttering tips

https://www.becomingminimalist.com/creative-ways-to-declutter/ 

Do you know all the pressure points in your hands?  You can release stress, stimulate circulation and even improve self esteem!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnuR-MPeG8s 

4 exercises to test how fast your brain is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiDFjSQ8Vqw 

Music

15 of the most rare and interesting musical instruments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i_8t6JwoWM 

The Revenge: Timo Boll vs. KUKA robot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv6op2HHIuM 

Life is a Dream - Grandmaster JinBodhi Healing Series Singing Bowls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey8gBk9xwCg 

Just for Fun

St. Paul's Church on Nantucket and the incredible Tiffany windows

Final St Paul's (mediazilla.com) 

 

The evolution of dance- from the 1950's through 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-rSdt0aFuw 

NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission - real time tracker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9zFaCNXTCY 

Humor

Art Linkletter - Kids say the darndest things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UgLpRvX7Qk 

Carol Burnett Show bloopers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b5C6Xp3pwA&t=73s 

Jeanne Robertson - Sizzle Reel (slightly off color jokes from a clean humorist)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJZxmwzrg4A 

Kindness Matters

10 random acts of kindness caught on camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vahi77oOsK4&t=15s 

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

*Monday at 1pm - Tele-Bingo call in bingo game! Call the Senior Center to register to play.

*Monday at 11am - Page Turners Book Club via zoom call the senior center to register

*Tuesday at 5pm - Quarantini Time a virtual, social, cocktail hour. Via zoom

*Tuesday at 1pm - Audio book Group- email mgunderson@franklinma.gov 

*Wednesday At 1pm - Fireside chat with the Staff of the Senior Center - hear about upcoming events at the Senior Center, new menu items, ask questions and provide your input. Via zoom

*Wednesday At 1pm - Writers Group - email shersteve@gmail.com to join

*Thursday at 10am - Discussion Group - email mattrovendro@yahoo.com to attend

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

*Friday at 11am - Sunshine Zoom - for members with memory loss - 1 hour of socialization,

 games and activities.

*Friday at 1pm - Tele-Bingo call the Senior Center to register to play.  Call in game.

Attached you will find: Donna's Fun Filled Activity Pages!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oP6MHfm803hmVsUlj1POxYLtG1dfU7Fx/view?usp=sharing

Love, virtual hugs and good health to you all!  Stay safe and keep the human connection alive!

Ariel

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

--

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small