State Representative Jeff Roy has been busy in his new role as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy (TUE).
- direct link to video -> https://youtu.be/4TU4mdIMGaI
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
State Representative Jeff Roy has been busy in his new role as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy (TUE).
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Town of Franklin have approved a safe and acceptable plan for your Commencement. The Class of 2021 Commencement Ceremony will be held in front of Dean Hall, along Awpie Way, on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 10:00 AM. Attendees will be limited to degree candidates and two (2) guests per graduate. Regrettably, we cannot offer the opportunity to invite more than two guests per graduate. Livestream options will be available here the day of the ceremony for graduates, family and friends who are unable to attend in person.Class of 2020, please visit the 154th Commencement exercises page for up-to-date information" (scheduled for 3:00 PM)
setting up for commencement in the rain on Wednesday |
THIS Saturday! Come and get the pollen washed off your car while helping @FranklinUnified Boosters Organization !!!! We appreciate your support!!!🚗🚙🛻 https://t.co/NJQ58blwSL
Car wash to fund raise for Franklin Unified Boosters - May 8 |
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Recap - Board of Health meeting - May 5, 2021 |
Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, May 6 |
"IN A SIGN of the vastly increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines, six mass vaccination sites in Massachusetts will begin offering walk-up vaccination appointments.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers, the former Circuit City in Dartmouth, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, and the Natick Mall will all open their doors to walk-ups by Monday. The only mass vaccination site not to allow walk-ups will be Gillette Stadium.
“The walk-up option will make it easier for people to access vaccines,” Baker said at a press conference after touring a vaccination site at the Encore Boston Harbor casino, run in conjunction with Cambridge Health Alliance. Baker noted that on one day, Cambridge Health Alliance had around 40 appointments booked, but 700 people walked in. "
"As lawmakers in Congress negotiate their long-awaited police reform bill, Democrats are sticking firm to their conviction that the legislation must include some type of reform of qualified immunity — the legal protections that make suing individual police officers for misconduct nearly impossible. For many on the left, that raises an important question: To what extent should they be willing to compromise on reforming the law?It’s the wrong question to ask. As a 40-year veteran of law enforcement, from sheriff’s deputy to chief and director of public safety, I firmly believe that nothing federal, state or local governments do about qualified immunity will significantly reduce or increase the incidence of unjustified deadly force by police. Real reform requires us to go much deeper than tweaking tort rules."
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"A far better strategy would be to eliminate the risk of ending up in court. Just imagine what local and state governments could accomplish if they were to invest the money they spend on misconduct lawsuits on making policing more humane and more effective. They could better train officers in de-escalation tactics to reduce the likelihood of lethal violence. And they could train officers to use effective alternatives to lethal force and to deal with mentally disturbed people safely. Doing so would improve the public perception that the police have earned their authority from the community and that they use it to serve and protect, not to punish. Officers and agencies need to learn and embrace procedural justice — the idea that the processes by which police officers resolve disputes and police agencies allocate resources are fundamentally fair."
Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/7aWLKfP4xhrHqSbG9
The agenda for this meeting can be found
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-05-04_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf
Recap: Finance Committee approves FY 2022 budget as proposed |
"I was selected as the first Artist In Residence for Natick Center Cultural District in Massachusetts. It will be focused on social justice and four interrelated principals: equity, access, participation, and rights. I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy for the opportunity to include the community in using art as a tool to enhance how we share messages in our work. I am grateful and I cannot wait to share in this journey"
"We’d like to thank you everyone who worked hard to make Project Envoy a success! Project Envoy, a community driven project, designed to support local restaurants who in-turn donated some of their proceeds to The Franklin Food Pantry, ran from February 1 through April 30.
Thank you to the following restaurants who participated: 360 Pizzeria, Acapulcos, Central Pizza, The Curry House, Dacey’s Market & Deli, Franklin Pizza, George’s Pizza, Intermission Café, King Street Café, Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House, The Rome Restaurant, Santa Fe, Sierra’s Brick Oven Pizza, and Spruce Pond Creamery.
We’d especially like to thank the Franklin Interfaith Council Team members representing St. Mary’s Parish, St. John’s Episcopal, Temple Etz Chaim, the First Universalist Society in Franklin, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, and the Franklin Federated Church for their time and dedication in running this program."
Project Envoy – Thank you! – Franklin Food Pantry |
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I hope you enjoy!
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Health Director Cathleen Liberty participating in a virtual School Committee meeting |
Representative Jeff Roy writes:
"Last week, the House put the finishing touches on a bold budget that responsibly responds to the needs of residents and makes investments that set the state on a path toward economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded at $47.716 billion, the House’s FY22 budget continues its strong commitment to cities and towns, and includes significant investments in education, supportive services for vulnerable populations, and workforce and economic development, among other priorities.
The budget also matches our ambitions in the fight against climate change and for the Commonwealth’s clean energy future. I was proud to deliver remarks as Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication and Energy in support of that effort which you can see in the video below.
Among the items in the budget for energy is $10 million for an Offshore Wind Energy Career Training program to help the Commonwealth continue to be a leader in this field. These funds are critical to creating a pipeline of offshore wind workers who will be a part of a cutting-edge industry. And amendment #400, which I filed, clarifies the legislative intent of procuring 5,600 MW of offshore wind, and nothing less and cements our progress towards achieving this by reinforcing a timeline that we cannot afford to delay. "
"Hello Franklin community!
My husband and I are opening a hobby shop in Franklin, officially on May 17th. We are so excited to contribute to our town and be apart of a thriving small business community.
We have remote controlled cars and drones, electric bikes and scooters, and 3D printing services. Come by and see us!"
Expression Enrichment is offering a Summer Arts Programs for Grades K-6. The Half Day program runs from 9am -12pm for $155 a week and The Full Day program runs from 8:30am - 3:30pm for $285 a week.
The program offers sessions in Visual Arts, Legos/Robotics, Performing Arts, Sewing, Creative Arts, Anime/Book Illustration and Creative Movement & Meditation.
For more information visit our website expressions-enrichment.com.
https://www.expressions-enrichment.com/ |
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"The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the third round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) in April. Most Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients should have received their EIPs by now. If you, your eligible spouse, or eligible dependent did not receive their EIP – or full amount of the EIP – for this round or any previous round of EIPs, please read this carefully. We have information to share from the IRS to help you get that money.
To get any missing first or second EIPs, you’ll need to file a 2020 tax return with the IRS and claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) as soon as possible. You would need to file the 2020 tax return even if you have no income to report for 2020. When your tax return is processed, the IRS will pay the RRC as a tax refund. The IRS will send you any additional third EIP amount you are eligible for in 2021 separately.
If you already filed your 2020 tax return, you don’t need to do anything else. You can visit our Economic Impact Payments and Tax Credits page to learn more. Please share this with your family and friends—and post it on social media to help us spread the word."
Social Security Matters: "What to Do If You’re Missing Economic Impact Payments" |
Capital Budget Subcommittee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
May 5, 2021 = 5:30 PM
Franklin Board Of Health
Duly Scheduled Meeting And Public Hearing
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 = 5:00 PM
Board of Health meeting scheduled Wednesday, May 5 -5 PM |
The Franklin Food Pantry is pleased to celebrate its 2019 and 2020 Point of Light volunteer award winners. This distinction is led by the AmeriCorps in partnership with Points of Light.
Points of Light is the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. Volunteers were honored at a small outdoor ceremony during Volunteer Appreciation month. Point of Light volunteer awards recognize adult volunteers with at least 100 hours of service in the Bronze level and 250 hours of service in the Silver level. Due to the Covid-19 virus, The Pantry was unable to hold the ceremony in 2020 so is honoring both 2019 and 2020 this year.
"Our volunteers are critical to tackling food insecurity in the community. Some of their work is easy to describe weighing, carrying, packing, distributing, typing, calling, mailing, loading, unloading, delivering and more. But the real gold is in how each volunteer treat each of our neighbors with dignity, kindness, and compassion," said Tina Powderly. "It can be incredibly stressful for those who find themselves seeking the services we provide, and the words and action of our volunteers show them that they are respected, give them hope, and empower them to tackle the challenges so many of our clients face. That is priceless and while it doesn't ever go unnoticed, we formally show our gratitude to our volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week."
Congratulations to the 2019 and 2020 award winners:
Silver
Bronze
The Franklin Food Pantry offers a variety of volunteer jobs both within The Pantry and serving on committees that further the mission of the Pantry. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, The Pantry is currently not accepting new applications for volunteers. Please watch the website for new opportunities.
About the Franklin Food PantryThe Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to over 1,400 individuals. Neighbors have access to a variety of fresh, frozen and nonperishable foods on weekly shopping trips for drive-up distribution. As a nonprofit organization, the Pantry depends entirely on donations, and receives no town or state funding. Visit www.franklingfoodpantry.org for more information.
"The boys get it done in the first match against Canton 4-0-1! Man of the match goes to Senior Captain Anish Gundimeda and Freshman Phenom Ahan Shetty. #ForthePublics"
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/_fhsboystennis/status/1389348221684699139
Girls Lacrosse Boosters posted that the girls lead 13-0 at halftime and the final was 17-1
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSLaxBooster/status/1389328618753597452 and https://twitter.com/FHSLaxBooster/status/1389320034980347904