Senate President Spilka and Speaker Mariano on the Fair Share Amendment and Joint Session, Weds Jun 9

Statement from Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano:

"As Massachusetts recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we prepare for our future, we have a unique opportunity to move towards a Commonwealth that truly works for all residents. 

To that end, the Legislature will be holding a Joint Session on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 with the intent of voting on the Fair Share Amendment. This will allow the measure to be placed on the ballot and put before the people for a vote. 

We stand with the residents of Massachusetts in exploring new ways to increase revenue for the state as we envision and invest in an equitable and hopeful future for the Commonwealth."

On background: The Legislature advanced the Fair Share Amendment back in June 2019. A second vote is needed for it to be placed on the November 2022 ballot.

Language: Proposal for Constitutional Amendment S.5 (malegislature.gov)

Boston Globe coverage (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/03/metro/mass-lawmakers-expected-approve-millionaires-tax-proposal-next-week-allowing-it-go-2022-ballot/

Link to Joint Session scheduled for Weds, Jun 9

https://malegislature.gov/Events/Sessions/Detail/3917

MyFM103: Quest for the best - vote for your best selection

Please cast your ballots for your favorite Franklin businesses in the Myfm 101.3 contest!
https://myfmquestforthebest.com/vote/
#FDP
#buylocal
#questforthebest

Shared from Facebook:   https://facebook.com/franklindowntownpartnership.org/photos/a.256790157835460/1772609959586798/?type=3

MA News: (1) Prepare for mosquito and ticks (2) stable housing improves health for low income

"State public health officials on Thursday released a raft of summer safety recommendations for preventing tick and mosquito bites, as well as precautions to take in the water and in cars.

The tips came in a detailed statement from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, or DPH.

Regarding ticks, officials said the “the single most important thing” residents can do is check themselves for the blood-sucking insects once a day."

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/03/metro/mass-health-officials-detail-summer-safety-tips-dealing-with-mosquito-bites-dangers-water/

Link to the DPH summer tips ->  https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-department-of-public-health-offers-summer-safety-guidance

‘It makes sense’: Stable housing improves health for low-income families, study finds

"Improving housing stability for low-income families in Boston, and assisting them in accessing social services, sharply reduced their health problems, a five-year study has found.

On Tuesday, the Boston Foundation released a report on the impact of Health Starts at Home, an initiative launched in 2015 with two nonprofits, Health Resources in Action and the Urban Institute. Its goal was to establish collaborations between housing services and health care providers to offer comprehensive support to families with children who were struggling to make rent and put food on the table.

“Part of the partnership between health care and housing is you have one person connecting the household to a whole range of services, whereas in the past you would have sent them to a housing specialist, and then someone who specialized in [food assistance] benefits, and then a different person doing a different thing,” said Soni Gupta, senior director of Neighborhoods and Housing for the Boston Foundation, New England’s largest community foundation. “It’s a kind of focus in service provision that we don’t typically fund at this level.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/03/metro/it-makes-sense-stable-housing-improves-health-low-income-families-study-finds/

The Boston Foundation report => https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2021/june/health-starts-at-home-evaluation-pr-20210601

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned

"World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 raises awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. This is more important than ever as cases of elder abuse have increased significantly during the pandemic. Abuser tactics—isolation, manipulation, and systemic barriers (such as ageism and racism)—put older adults at greater risk for harm.

One common tactic scammers use is to pose as Social Security employees. They may claim the older person’s Social Security number is linked to a crime. Feeling isolated and frightened, the scammers get the older person to provide them money or vital personal information that they then can use to exploit them financially. Social Security offers guidance and reporting assistance to help prevent this form of elder abuse. If you or someone you know is a target of one of these scams, we encourage you to report it on the Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General website."

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned

Continue reading the article online
https://blog.ssa.gov/world-elder-abuse-awareness-day-what-we-have-learned/ 

Panther TV: FHS Senior Awards - Class of 2021 - broadcast at 7:30 PM

Franklin High School's Senior Awards Ceremony premieres tonight at 7:30!! 

Watch it here: https://t.co/STms2Rh0EO via @YouTube  

@FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews @FranklinMatters

Video Link =>  https://youtu.be/OxXsOAEX8y0

the FHS field is set for graduation, Senior Awards are broadcast tonight

FM #557 - ArtWALK Artists & Business Panel - 05/26/21 (audio)

FM #557 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 557 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with a wonderful fun loving panel of business and artists on the forthcoming ArtWALK Celebration. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

• Agway- Melanie Hamblen 

• Artist - Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau

• Rockland Trust- Laurel Katsaros 

• Artist -  Walter Spencer  

We talk about the upcoming ArtWALK scheduled for June 11, 12 and 13. The events will take place on the Town Common, at THE BLACK BOX, and the Historical Museum. 

Check out the Cultural District page for all the details https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts 

Thanks to the Franklin Cultural District, The Franklin Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (grant), Franklin Downtown Partnership, The Franklin Art Association and the Franklin Public Library. Did we miss someone? I hope not, there are a lot collaborating on this wonderful event.

The recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen to our conversation

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ca85c06e-3f17-462b-a7a9-75e5abf1eee9

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ArtWALK - event page -> https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts 

Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/ 

Library Summer Reading page https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/events/317406 

--------------

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"

One of the pieces of art to be displayed at Agway:  

Artwork by Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau with Brooke J. Toubeau as her collaboration partner

Recap - Municipal Affordable Housing Trust 06/02/21

Quick Recap:

• Presentation by Planning Director Bryan Taberner provides an overview of the Housing Production Plan as drafted for review and comment
• Some clarification questions were asked by the small audience. Who sets the affordable housing rate? The State does and each community uses the same calculation. What is calculated as affordable isn't really affordable for some.
• Before the meeting closed an overview of process from this point was provided: more meetings/public hearings coming, the public comment period closes 6/25/21, then a redraft is made to incorporate the public comments. Another schedule of hearings by the Planning Board and Town Council before they approve the HPP and it is submitted to the State for approval

----
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  #hpp0602

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23hpp0602&src=typeahead_click 

Agenda doc for this meeting -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/municipal_affordable_housing_trust_june_2_2021_01.pdf 

Meeting recording to be available soon

• Live reporting underway for the Municipal Housing Trust public hearing on the housing production plan #hpp0602
  
• Copy of the plan can be found https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf #hpp0602
  
• Slides from presentation being shared by planning director Bryan Taberner #hpp0602
  
• (I obtained a copy of the presentation so that is available - see link below - Several tweets shared 3 photos of the slides as Bryan moved through the updates. He read much of the content. When finished, there was more discussion and that is picked up in my notes)
• Affordable rent currently in Franklin is about $1600-1800/month which in most cases is not really affordable. #hpp0602
  
• How do we increase density? In some zoning districts multi family is via a special permit, or we could change the current zoning bylaws to allow for more than we have #hpp0602
  
• Zoning changes take time but the process for housing adjustments starts now. There is a study of our overall zoning regs specifically looking at affordable and housing #hpp0602 the study will help outline some possible changes
  
• At one point we were comfortably over the affordable percent. Every time we build a house and add it to the inventory our percent drops if it is not affordable. So if we add a development of x units with none affordable, it makes a bigger change. #hpp0602
  
• #hpp0602 if a project comes on with a portion of affordable, the whole total, assuming the portion goes thru the state affordable process, can count in the inventory of affordable.
  
• #hpp0602 there have been projects that were good for the Town that didn't work out. We really should go for a friendly 40b where we still get a say and the affordable units.
  
• There are developers who are very anxious to work on affordable units, we (the Town) should have an appropriate set of an incentives available #hpp0602
  
• Four developments and the senior housing account for 90% of our affordable units #hpp0602 attachment D in the plan as linked before contains the details of our current inventory
  
• Some Q&A, overview of process from here, more meetings coming, public comment closes 6/25 and then a redraft is presented for approval by Planning Board and Town Council before submitting to state #hpp0602
  
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0. Catch you next time. #hpp0602

Membership of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

https://www.franklinma.gov/municipal-affordable-housing-trust

• Present: Chris Vericker (chair), Maxine Kinheart, Judy Pfeffer
• Absent: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Mary Anne Bertone, Chris Feeley, Robert Keras

Planning Director Bryan Taberner

Link to presentation doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uNhzpp7CJn-a8iaCaV3_Ym72o9xrNTy4/view?usp=sharing 

Pantherbook: Student Spotlight -> Carolyn Hagy and Elaine Pu

"Congratulations to Carolyn Hagy and Elaine Pu for being named Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2021! 

Pantherbook reached out to both girls to hear their thoughts on this amazing accomplishment and learn more about how they achieved this!"

Continue reading the article -> https://franklinpanthers.us/top-stories/2021/06/02/student-spotlight-carolyn-hagy-and-elaine-pu/ 

Carolyn Hagy’s Senior Photo(left) & Elaine Pu traveling to Niagara Falls(Right)

FHS girls lacrosse team posts win vs. Mansfield

From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS spring sports results:

 
Softball = Franklin, 4 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final 

– Mansfield won for the third straight time and moved within a game of .500 on the season. The Hornets scored the winner in the bottom of the sixth, after Franklin had rallied from three runs down to tie it. Ashlyn Conley (3-for-3) doubled and then came around to score on a Nicole Kobasa (2-for-3) single. In addition to driving in the winning run, Kobasa also came up big in right field, throwing out a pair of runners at first. Franklin jumped in front in the second, but Mansfield scored three in the fourth inning to lead 3-1. Casey Moussette (2-for-3) started it with a single, Molly Kucharski reached on a fielder’s choice, Conley singled, and another fielder’s choice from Kobasa scored the first run. Abby DeCoste (2-for-3) tripled to score one and then came around when the throw got away. The Hornets tacked on a run in the fifth on a walk by Jill Koppy, a stolen base, and then an RBI-single from Moussette. Live Madeira also had a hit for Mansfield.

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 23 @ Mansfield, 6 – Final 

– Franklin secured at least a share of its eighth straight league title, beating Mansfield for the second time in as many days, and extending its lengthy league win streak by another game. Katie Jones powered the Panthers with six goals and an assist, but Franklin showed off its balance on offense. Jackie O’Neil scored four times and assisted on another and Stella Regan scored twice and had five assists. Jamie Tanner had a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Lindsay Atkinson had a strong game in the Franklin midfield, winning 10 draws.

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-06-02-21/

FHS Panthers

Empty Bowls Event - June 10, 2021

The Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club will host a reimagined Empty Bowls event on June 10. 

The event will take place at Franklin High School in the ceramics studio from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. 

The club partners with the Franklin Food Pantry to create hand-made empty bowls to give to attendees as a reminder of the many “empty bowls” that exist in the lives of those who experience hunger.

Shared from Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/271942328017077/permalink/271942344683742/

Empty Bowls Event - June 10, 2021

"create ways for state and local officials to participate in meetings remotely"

 

"FOR A WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS resident to attend a two-hour meeting in Boston, it’s an eight to 10 hour commitment, said state Rep. Mindy Domb, an Amherst Democrat. To get to Boston in the early evening, someone needs to take time off from work to drive into the city. They must have their own car and money to pay for gas and parking. They might have to pay a babysitter. They will get home at 10 or 11 p.m. 

“My neighbors, friends, coworkers won’t even consider participating in a statewide board or commission,” Domb said. “It’s not only cutting off people’s ability and capacity to participate. It’s reducing what government gets from Western Massachusetts and the Cape. Not just the regional perspective but the human perspective, the experience, the expertise of hundreds of thousands of people who live outside 495.” 

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/lawmakers-consider-making-virtual-public-meeting-access-permanent/ 

The Joint Committee page can be found ->   https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J25/192/Members

The recorded hearing as mentioned in the article is available for review

https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/3748

Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

THE BLACKBOX: Pride Concert - June 5

Let's celebrate love! Broadway husbands Christopher and Clay Rice-Thomson bring their love-filled PRIDE concert to Franklin.  

Get ready for radio hits, Broadway classics, and more in this celebration of inclusion and being true to yourself.  You'll leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.   

A perfect show for the whole family! 

Tickets -> https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1461

THE BLACKBOX: Pride Concert - June 5

Federal Trade Commission: Getting ready for hurricane season 2021

Getting ready for hurricane season 2021 by Ryan Ebrahimy, Intern, Division of Consumer and Business Education June 1st is the start of hurricane season. For people in hurricane-prone areas, that means the risk of heavy rainfall, high winds, storm surges, flooding, tornados, and rip currents, which can all happen with little warning. Are you ready to leave your house at a moment's notice? We've got tools to help you prepare. Read more ->  https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/06/getting-ready-hurricane-season-2021?utm_source=govdelivery

Download the PDF here ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QbnA3CRaABMK4hvixpPGTZN0uDADGmC1/view?usp=sharing

FM #556 - Health Director Cathleen Liberty - 05/26/21 (audio)

FM #556 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 556 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Health Director Cathleen Liberty  May 26 2021. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about the major topics of 

• COVID-19 and the relaxation of protocols

• Mosquitoes, ticks and other ‘normal’ Health items including Salmonella 

• New Health Dept. podcast coming

The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d081316b-d574-43c2-b202-41f449658e66

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Health Dept. page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Article on Healthy Families and Flocks  https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/salmonella-baby-poultry.pdf

Norfolk County Mosquito District https://norfolkcountymosquito.org/

CDC article on salmonella outbreak  https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-04-21/index.html

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

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"

 

Health Director Cathleen Liberty - 05/26/21 (audio)

Downtown Partnership - general meeting - Jun 3

The next Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting is on June 3, 2021 at 8:30 AM Please join us!

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83387999976 Meeting ID: 833 8799 9976 One tap mobile +13017158592,,83387999976# US (Washington DC)   Shared from the FDP page =>   https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2021/05/fdp-general-meeting-june-3.html Downtown Partnership - general meeting - Jun 3

Escape to the Arts: Listen to hear about the ArtWALK Celebration scheduled for June 11-12-13

Listen to Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm - from any browser) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

Two interviews are combined to be shared on the air today. 

• Cultural District Committee Chairperson Nancy Schoen talks about the origins and planning for the event. 
• Then a panel of artists  and and business folks have a fun-filled conversation about the collaboration involved bringing art into the business area to showcase. Melanie Hamblen (Agway), Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau (artist), Laurel Katsaros (Rockland Trust) and Walter Spencer (artist).

Listen => Wednesday at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and again Saturday at 9:00 AM

Find the complete schedule of events for the ArtWALK online

https://www.franklinculture.org/home/pages/franklin-artwalk-celebration-escape-arts

If you miss the broadcast, the podcast version of these can be found on iTunes, Google Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast app.

The first part (interview with Nancy Schoen) can be found online

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/fm-532-franklin-cultural-district.html

The second part is available (updated 6/3/21) will be available Thursday (6/3/21)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/06/fm-557-artwalk-artists-business-panel.html

Escape to the Arts: Listen to hear about the ArtWALK Celebration scheduled for June 11-12-13