Franklin Performing Arts Company Update

These early spring days, although still cold and snowy, give me hope for change and optimism for the future of the performing arts.  I believe the arts world will come charging back with renewed creativity and enthusiasm, focus and commitment.   Thank you for the kind support you have given to the Franklin Performing Arts Company!  It is only with your help and generosity that we have been able to make it through this extraordinarily challenging time.

Although we endured frightening circumstances in 2020 with THE BLACK BOX closed and our artistic endeavors forced online, I believe at FPAC we proved ourselves resourceful, creative, and resilient.  The Franklin Performing Arts Company produced online content throughout the quarantine with nightly performances from home and a Virtual Benefit in June featuring FPAC favorites, as well as Broadway guests who care deeply about the survival of our theater and company.

As soon as allowed in July, we put up a stage in the parking lot of THE BLACK BOX and began outdoor concerts that ran throughout the summer.  Our safety measures and protocols in place, we worked to instill confidence in a tentative public and provided a safe place for artists to do what they love - perform.  We ran some events at break even, but importantly provided a venue for many local, Boston, and New York based artists who had not made music or set foot on a stage since March.

During the summer, FPAC introduced an online ticketing platform and established an invaluable relationship with Franklin TV, allowing us to film performances, livestream, and broadcast to virtual audiences.  As the weather began to change in the fall, Dean Bank sponsored a tent under which we continued to stage shows through the end of October.  I am proud of the extensive programming we presented throughout 2020 including cabarets and concerts of all kinds, a newly conceived Gala, and a COVID-safe book musical.  Thank you for being a part of this and remaining in our corner.

Now it is time to see our way forward!  We will continue to livestream entertainment until we can welcome an audience back into THE BLACK BOX, and in early April we will install a tent in the parking lot of THE BLACK BOX to host events outdoors through June.  We have a lot of work ahead of us to secure the future of our venue, but we are working on all opportunities to strengthen our organization and move on.  

Thank you for being a special friend of FPAC.  Your commitment to the arts is critically important at this time and your generous support is appreciated by the entire FPAC community.  I hope to see you soon at THE BLACK BOX or outside in our parking lot theater.  Wishing you health and well being as we inch toward Spring and on to Normal!

Best,

Raye Lynn Mercer, Executive/Artistic Director
Frankin Performing Arts Company 

 

Franklin Performing Arts Company Update

Federal "Tax Day for individuals extended to May 17"

"The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

"This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to."

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17."

Additional info from the IRS on the delay and what it means can be found at the IRS page

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-for-individuals-extended-to-may-17-treasury-irs-extend-filing-and-payment-deadline

 

IRS expands help to taxpayers in multiple languages with new forms, communication preferences 

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expands-help-to-taxpayers-in-multiple-languages-with-new-forms-communication-preferences

Quick note that the tax extension applies only to Federal taxes. MA has not yet indicated they would go along with the delay.

 

MA State News: Law signed to extend vote by mail to June; vaccine schedule for all released

"Gov. Baker signs law to extend pandemic-related voting changes"

"A law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker today provides a three-month extension for a number of changes to voting procedures that were enacted last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including early voting by mail."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/gov-baker-signs-law-to-extend-pandemic-related-voting-changes/ 

"All Mass. adults eligible for vaccines April 19"

"ALL ADULTS LIVING in Massachusetts will become eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine beginning on April 19, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday. That does not mean, however, that everyone will be able to immediately get a shot, since getting a dose will depend on how much supply becomes available from the federal government.

“It will take time obviously for the vaccine to arrive here in Massachusetts and for everyone in these groups to get appointments and get vaccinated,” Baker said at a press conference Wednesday, after touring a vaccination site at the Shaw’s Center in Brockton."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/all-mass-adults-eligible-for-vaccines-april-19/

 

Gov Baker's press Conference: https://youtu.be/kGc034ngWJ4

 

"We should think about public safety the way we think about public health"

"Reimagine safety
A project of the Editorial Board, in conversation with outside voices."

"But the fiercest and potentially most consequential debate is over mounting a more fundamental response to these tragically familiar incidents. The discussion has been dominated by disagreements over the meaning and merit of “defunding the police.” Some interpretations of the provocative slogan are concerning, but as we wrote over the summer, the mantra is helpful as shorthand for an essential truth: We need to reimagine public safety.

Today, community activists and law enforcement officers who see eye to eye on precious little agree on this: We rely too much on the police. From the proverbial cat stuck in a tree to an armed hostage crisis, police are the first port of call for a dizzying array of dilemmas. In the words of a former Dallas police chief, “Every societal failure, we put it off on the cops to solve. Not enough mental health funding, let the cops handle it. … Here in Dallas we got a loose dog problem; let’s have the cops chase loose dogs. Schools fail, let’s give it to the cops. … That’s too much to ask. Policing was never meant to solve all those problems.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2021/reimagine-safety/?itid=hp_op-project-full-width

A good pre-read before participating in the Community Conversation scheduled for March 24 on Police Reform

 

For info on the Community Conversations: Police Reform visit:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/community-conversation-on-police-reform.html

 

 

"We should think about public safety the way we think about public health"

National News: no mail fraud in PA found; check on your IRS stimulus payment; intelligence report highlights terrorists threats

"Postal Service finds no evidence of mail ballot fraud in Pa. case cited by top Republicans"

"U.S. Postal Service investigators found no evidence to support a Pennsylvania postal worker’s claim that his supervisors had tampered with mail-in ballots, according to an inspector general’s report — allegations cited by top Republicans to press baseless claims of fraud in the presidential election."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/17/usps-ballot-fraud-investigation/

 

 "The IRS has sent out 90 million stimulus payments."

"The Internal Revenue Service told financial institutions to expect roughly 90 million direct deposits amounting to $242.2 billion on March 17 in the initial distribution of the American Rescue Plan stimulus payments, according to a banking industry group.

Following the deposits, the IRS mailed an additional 150,000 checks amounting to $442 million, with a pay date of March 19, according to the Independent Community Bankers of America, based on a briefing from the IRS.

“Additional batches of payments will be sent in the coming weeks with the vast majority sent by direct deposit,” the group said in an online update to banking members. “Payments will also be sent through the mail as a check or debit card.” 

• How to check on your status ->  https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/16/irs-stimulus-payment-tracker/

"Racist extremists pose most deadly terrorist threat to US, intelligence report warns"

"Racially motivated extremists pose the most lethal domestic terrorism threats to the US, according to an unclassified intelligence report that warned that the threats could grow this year.

The blunt assessment, in a report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, echoes warnings made by US officials, including the FBI director, Christopher Wray, who testified earlier this month that the threat from domestic violent extremism was “metastasizing” across the country."

• Direct link to report => https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/UnclassSummaryofDVEAssessment-17MAR21.pdf

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/17/racist-extremists-us-domestic-terrorism-intelligence-report

 

Franklin Questions and Answers - 2 opportunities - Thursday, Mar 18

There are 2 opportunities to get your Franklin questions answered on Thursday, Mar 18.

at 8:30 AM  Coffee with Rep Roy and Town officials

Please pre-register here and you will be sent an email confirmation and link

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAoc-CvrzIuE9VNmhoc4ZCdayglNzqATXpa

at 1:30 PM  Franklin Matters Q&A with Steve Sherlock

https://zoom.us/j/98013838833?pwd=Q3plYjg0UVNQd1BxWkgxODhhQ1cwUT09
Meeting ID: 980 1383 8833  Passcode: 156851

One tap mobile
+13017158592,,98013838833#,,,,*156851# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,98013838833#,,,,*156851# US (Chicago)

Franklin Questions and Answers - 2 opportunities - Thursday, Mar 18

Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, March 18

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, March 18th, at 7:00 pm.  Here is the Zoom link: 

 

Join on Zoom   .

https://zoom.us/j/544734092?pwd=N3hwYzZBazRYZG9ycHRsbmliVkMxZz09

Meeting ID: 544 734 092

Password: 350ma

Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923 

 

Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are invited to attend. We will discuss ongoing legislative developments at the State House around climate action, including greater reliance on renewable sources of energy for electricity, home heating, and transportation. We are also planning local activities to educate and engage our communities about climate, renewable energy, home improvements, and related topics. We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.  

 

350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/) is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call "nodes" around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.

 

For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.

 

Ralph Halpern

ralph.halpern@comcast.net

781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017 (c)

 

Community Conversation on Police Reform - March 24, 2021

Franklin Area Against Racism (FAAR) is hosting a Community Conversation on Police Reform.

When: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 7:00 PM

• Senator Becca Rausch
  
• Representative Jeff Roy 
• Franklin Police Dept. Chief Thomas J. Lynch
• Franklin Police Dept. Deputy Chief James Mill
• and other community leaders
  

More details, including the Zoom link, in the image below.

Community Conversation - Agenda:

0-5	Introductions by FAAR and moderators
5-30	-         Up to 10 minutes: What is in “An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth”, and what change does it make? Why was this bill necessary/what were you hearing from your constituents? -         Legislators (Sen Rausch, Rep Roy)   -         Up to 10 minutes: What has your department done to date? How will this bill impact Franklin? -         Chief Lynch, Deputy Chief Mill   -         Tentative: Taking inventory, where are we now? What are possible next steps? -         Community Advocate
30-60	Moderated Discussion (all participants)
60-85	Community Q&A
85-90	Conclusion

 

Community Conversation on Police Reform - March 24, 2021

FHS volleyball takes match 3-0 vs. King Philip in first of two this week

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS sports results: 

"For the past seven seasons, the road to the Kelley-Rex division title has gone through either Franklin or Wrentham, and sometimes both.

With an abbreviated season on tap this year, those head-to-head matchups take on extra importance as the Panthers and Warriors of King Philip stand as the favorites for the division crown again this year.

Round one of the home-and-home series between the two went to Franklin, who came through in key moments down the stretch in all three sets to earn a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-22) sweep of the visiting Warriors.

“It comes down to trust, trusting yourself, trusting who you’re on the court with, and trusting all of your teammates,” said first-year Franklin head coach Samantha Elliott. “It’s not a one-person sport, a one-person game…I think they showed a lot of teamwork closing those sets out. We can’t just rely on one person, we have to play our game as a team.”

Continue reading the game recap by Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-volleyball-finishes-strong-complete-sweep-king-philip/

 

For a photo gallery from this game

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2020-2021/Fall-II-2021/Franklin-King-Philip-Volleyball-03-16-21/

 

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-03-16-21/

 

 

Franklin junior Cailyn Mackintosh sets the ball in the second set against King Philip. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Franklin DPW - 2021 Construction Project Updates

Construction Project Update

The Mackintosh Neighborhood Waterline project will be starting next week.  The Town contractor, CJP & Sons, will be starting on Pine Ridge Drive at the end of Sherman Ave and will then continue into the neighborhood from there.  This project will continue into the summer.  A list of project contacts can be found here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kGlc_16pxpRuOY4z3FCEWeAm03gqwLv7/view?usp=sharing). 

You can also find an interactive map on the DPW website outlining current construction projects. (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/241b546cfac6423585978bf5889d23e8)

Franklin DPW - 2021  Construction Project Updates

 

 

Two $1000 Scholarships Offered by Knights of Columbus - Applications due Apr 16, 2021

Knights of Columbus 1847 in Franklin, MA is accepting applications for 2- $1000 Scholarships. The applicants must be a registered member of St. Mary's Parish in Franklin, and must be graduating from High School in the Spring 2021 and progressing onto their first year of study at a 2- or 4-year college/ university. Please submit a complete our Scholarship Application postmarked on or before the Application Deadline of Friday April 16, 2021.

The application form is available from the banner on the St. Mary's Parish, Franklin website or on the Knights of Columbus 1847 website https://www.kofc1847.org/scholarship-program

Please fill in ALL information accurately and clearly, and then submit the completed application to the Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847, St. Mary's Parish c/o Mike Swan, 38 Madison Ave., Franklin, MA 02038.

The award will be given to the recipients upon completion of their 1st semester of studies and upon proof of enrollment in the 2nd semester.

Please contact Mike Swan for more information at 508-404-4792. 

https://www.kofc1847.org/scholarship-program

 

MEMA: Be mindful of the water use

MEMA (@MassEMA) tweeted  on Tue, Mar 16, 2021:

State officials ask the public to be mindful of the amount of water they are using, residents are asked to reduce indoor water use, address leaks ASAP, and for larger buildings and businesses to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation.

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MassEMA/status/1371850240370806794

MEMA:  Be mindful of the water use

MA State News: Unemployment insurance bill avoids issue; MCAS can't be skipped per Feds

 

"Unemployment insurance bill kicks the can"

"A BILL BEING CONSIDERED  by the state Legislature to freeze businesses’ unemployment insurance payments may be a short-term fix, but it does not solve the longer-term problem of how to keep the fund solvent in the future.

“This is a perfectly reasonable, short-term fix for our unemployment insurance shortfall, but it’s a missed opportunity to address the fact that we were underfunding this system well before the COVID crisis,” Evan Horowitz, executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, said after the bill was released."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/unemployment-insurance-bill-kicks-the-can/

 

 

"Riley says feds won’t let Massachusetts skip MCAS"

AS SCHOOL OFFICIALS have been pressuring the state to cancel this year’s MCAS tests, state education commissioner Jeff Riley said the decision is not his – it belongs to the federal government.  

“The federal government is still requiring we test our students,” Riley said, speaking at a Tuesday budget hearing before the Ways and Means Committees. “It provides a little wiggle room but won’t allow us to not test kids.” 

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/riley-says-feds-wont-let-massachusetts-skip-mcas/

 

Tom Dooley - Wednesday March 17 at 2 PM

We look forward to seeing you at our Tom Dooley Event, Wednesday March 17 at 2 PM!

 

Mr. Dooley, a fictional Chicago barkeep who "lived" from 1893 to 1926 thanks to the talented pen of journalist Finely Peter Dunne, will be the subject of a presentation by one of his many admirers, local Franklin historian Alan Earls. Alan will attempt to recount the high points of Dooley's often hilarious existence and perhaps even bits of his fantastic Irish brogue! ……  

Click below to join Tom Dooley March 17th at 2pm
https://zoom.us/j/99733888772?pwd=N3FoQ2RNUE5mbmZJVGRVQkJDSHVzUT09

Meeting ID: 997 3388 8772
Passcode: 656400

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,99733888772#,,,,*656400# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,99733888772#,,,,*656400# US (New York)

Meeting ID: 997 3388 8772
Passcode: 656400
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ab6UYJtQ3s

--

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small

National News: FBI facing challenge on background check; wood stove certification found lacking

"FBI facing allegation that its 2018 background check of Brett Kavanaugh was ‘fake’"

"The FBI is facing new scrutiny for its 2018 background check of Brett Kavanaugh, the supreme court justice, after a lawmaker suggested that the investigation may have been “fake”.

Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democratic senator and former prosecutor who serves on the judiciary committee, is calling on the newly-confirmed attorney general, Merrick Garland, to help facilitate “proper oversight” by the Senate into questions about how thoroughly the FBI investigated Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/16/fbi-brett-kavanaugh-background-check-fake

 

"Natural but deadly: huge gaps in US rules for wood-stove smoke exposed"

"In 2015, the US government required that newer models of wood stoves perform better and began spending millions of dollars to subsidize the transition away from older models. Now, an investigation by state environment officials is revealing a critical flaw in that plan: the latest stoves might not be any less polluting than the previous ones.

A review of 250 wood-burning stove certifications found unexplained data omissions and atypical lab practices. When the officials retested about a dozen of the heaters in their own labs, they were not able to reproduce the certification results. They found many stoves were polluting as much as the previous models. One was producing so much pollution that it wouldn’t have met the Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever standards from 1988."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/16/wood-smoke-alaska-state-regulators-air-quality