MA State News: Cheerleader hotspot with link to Franklin; travel order downgraded, MA cases stalling (not dropping); Franklin's cases increasing

"37 people infected in COVID-19 cluster at Weymouth cheerleading training facility"

"Thirty-seven participants at a youth cheerleading training facility in Weymouth have been infected with the coronavirus, the Weymouth Health Department said Thursday.

The total includes only the participants, not others such as parents or other contacts, because that is still being investigated, the department said.

Of the 37 infected, four are from Weymouth. Others come from Braintree, Rockland, Randolph, Quincy, Brookline, East Bridgewater, Hingham, Kingston, Marion, Franklin, Whitman, Dedham, and Easton, the department said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/18/nation/37-people-infected-covid-19-cluster-weymouth-cheerleading-training-facility/

"Massachusetts’ COVID-19 travel order will be downgraded to an advisory on Monday"

"Governor Charlie Baker’s office said the state’s travel order will be downgraded to a less onerous advisory on Monday, the same day Massachusetts moves to Phase 4, Step 1 of its economic reopening.

The announcement came in a statement Thursday."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/18/metro/baker-issues-new-covid-19-travel-advisory-eases-some-restrictions/

"As some states see a COVID surge, Mass. cases stall at an ‘unacceptably high’ level"

"Massachusetts is entering spring on a hopeful note. The state earlier this week released its plan to open vaccination eligibility to all adults on April 19, and a few sunny, warm days have begun to coax residents out of their homes and winter coats.

But beneath the air of optimism lies a problem, epidemiologists caution: COVID-19 cases, after declining sharply in early February, have plateaued at an average of 1,500 per day, and the threat of another surge remains."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/19/nation/some-states-see-covid-surge-mass-cases-stall-an-unacceptably-high-level/

And Franklin's COVID-19 numbers for this week (and the past 3)

• 3/04/21 = 62 Total positive tests 1.11% Lower
• 3/11/21 = 77 Total positive tests 1.40% Higher
• 3/18/21 = 97 Total positive tests 1.80% Higher

MA DPH weekly report   https://www.mass.gov/doc/weekly-covid-19-public-health-report-march-18-2021/download

Town of Franklin COVID-19 dashboard  https://www.canva.com/design/DAERJvYx-CA/RDnuYIFlWB8rUKQrGQlX0Q/view

 

"Oil firms knew decades ago fossil fuels posed grave health risks, files reveal"

"The oil industry knew at least 50 years ago that air pollution from burning fossil fuels posed serious risks to human health, only to spend decades aggressively lobbying against clean air regulations, a trove of internal documents seen by the Guardian reveal.

The documents, which include internal memos and reports, show the industry was long aware that it created large amounts of air pollution, that pollutants could lodge deep in the lungs and be “real villains in health effects”, and even that its own workers may be experiencing birth defects among their children.

But these concerns did little to stop oil and gas companies, and their proxies, spreading doubt about the growing body of science linking the burning of fossil fuels to an array of health problems that kill millions of people around the world each year. Echoing the fossil-fuel industry’s history of undermining of climate science, oil and gas interests released a torrent of material aimed at raising uncertainty over the harm caused by air pollution and used this to deter US lawmakers from placing further limits on pollutants."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/18/oil-industry-fossil-fuels-air-pollution-documents

Good Day Memory Cafe' - Mar 19 - 2 PM

Exciting news: Kalifornia Karl Detken will be joining us on Friday, March 19th at 2PM!  His music is lively and he always makes it entertaining!

We look forward to seeing all of you! If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at cbudge@cwmars.org.

Click on the link below to join.

Topic: Good Day Memory Cafe
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99469981115?pwd=bElqb3VmVHNEZDlEakthdW0wc1F5dz09

Meeting ID: 994 6998 1115
Passcode: 354632

--

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small

Recap: Budget SubCommittee disappointed with lack of representation on School budget

Quick Recap:

• Good info shared by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen on the overview of estimated revenues, with slight updates from that shared with the Finance Committee meeting last week
• Aside from that, no further details were discussed on the budget aside from variations on the theme of disappointment with the lack of representation from either the School Dept or the School Committee
• Having participated in the School Committee budget subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, I provided the info that the discussion there reflected (1) awareness of this budget meeting and (2) they were awaiting information on the joint budget committee meeting where the school budget is normally reviewed
• Chair announced that there will be questions on stormwater for the DPW to explain the increase of the $860K as mentioned but they were not raised this night
  

 

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23bsc0317&src=typeahead_click

• Ready for the budget Subcommittee meeting to begin at 6 PM. #bsc0317
• Meeting opens at 6:02 PM. https://franklinma.gov/budget-subcommittee/agenda/budget-subcommittee-agenda-2 #bsc0317 Also available on the home page for the Town
• Facing a deficit of approx $2M after the revenue adjustments are made over the next several weeks #bsc0317 three key budgets (DPW, stormwater, and Schools). With a 3.6M increase in revenue, and schools asking for $3m it is not hard to say they won't get it all.
• Kelly disappointed in not having the Superintendent or the SchComm chair in the meeting #bsc0317
• "Will not ask for an override when we know there is money to be cut" #bsc0317 can't vote for the SchComm increase, not for the stormwater increase ($860K+)
• Mercer advocates for a joint budget Subcommittee meeting to being this group, the SchComm and the FinComm together. #bsc0317
• Meeting adjourns, #bsc0317

 

Recap: Budget SubCommittee disappointed with lack of representation on School budget

Town of Franklin, MA: Fire Dept serves over 250 meals at Senior Center

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted on Wed, Mar 17, 2021:

"Our amazing team @FranklinMAfire served over 250 corned beef & cabbage meals at the @FranklinSrCntr today!

The annual event looked different this year, but there was still delicious food, Irish music & plenty of happy faces under the masks!

Thank you to everyone who contributed! "

https://t.co/txXMRMtKNx

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1372240069495427073

 

 

Town of Franklin, MA: Fire Dept serves over 250 meals at Senior Center

Our amazing team @FranklinMAfire served over 250 corned beef & cabbage meals at the @FranklinSrCntr today! The annual event looked different this year, but there was still delicious food, Irish music & plenty of happy faces under the masks! Thank you to everyone who contributed! pic.twitter.com/txXMRMtKNx

— Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) March 17, 2021

FHS Theatre Company: Student Director Spotlight #1 - Ben Fine

FHS Theatre Company (@FranklinHSDrama)

Student Director Spotlight #1: Meet Ben Fine, student-director of Frankenstein. Ben so is grateful for the opportunity to direct his peers! You can catch Frankenstein via our live stream, on March 25th at 7:45pm, by visiting the website link in our bio! https://t.co/D0hAaD54r0

Shared via Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinHSDrama/status/1371605236763217921

Live Stream info:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/10E6q1Rd4t7fjupsBKFcI_Yu6qoWMaoCb2JBeDaQE5j8/mobilebasic

FHS Theatre Company:  Student Director Spotlight #1 - Ben Fine

Student Director Spotlight #1: Meet Ben Fine, student-director of Frankenstein. Ben so is grateful for the opportunity to direct his peers! You can catch Frankenstein via our live stream, on March 25th at 7:45pm, by visiting the website link in our bio! pic.twitter.com/D0hAaD54r0

— FHS Theatre Company (@FranklinHSDrama) March 15, 2021

Encore Music Academy - Summer Registration now open

Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios' Summer Registration is now open! Call or email us today for more information and to reserve your spot in this Summer's lessons and classes. 

 

Visit www.encoremusicacademy.net for more info!

 

Encore Music Academy - Summer Registration now open