Thursday, June 10, 2021

FM #559 - Don Wilding talks "Shipwrecks of Cape Cod" - 06/01/21 (audio)

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin resident and author Don Wilding. We had our conversation outdoors, on the Town Common, albeit with some traffic and a gentle breeze. We were able to remove the sounds of the one truck that interfered. We had a pleasant talk about Don’s story, living in different parts of the Hockomock League area and now here in Franklin. 


It was exciting to be in person, my second time for a recording this year. We get into Don’s recent book: Shipwrecks of Cape Cod. He is out on a lecture circuit of sorts with a presentation on this book. 


The recording runs about 33 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Don Wilding


Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d9d1ec1a-fcbe-4527-9c85-e09fe9d3fb87



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Don Wilding’s page -> https://www.dwcapecod.com/ 


Shipwrecks of Cape Cod -> https://www.dwcapecod.com/books-articles 


Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/donwildingscapecod/ 



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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!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

Steve Sherlock (left) Don Wilding (right) on the Town Common
Steve Sherlock (left) Don Wilding (right) on the Town Common

Both FHS girls and boys lacrosse teams top Attleboro on Wednesday

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

Boys Lacrosse = Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 21 – Final

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 23 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final 
– Franklin stayed undefeated on the season with a strong defensive effort, allowing just three goals agaisnt in a win on the road over Attleboro. Anna Grasso, Sydney Hawkins, Ali Socci and Emma Sousa all played well defensively in the Panthers’ win. Maura Cogavin netted a hat trick in the win, Kate O’Rourke and Katie Peterson each scored twice and had three assists, and Kaitlin Carney scored four times.

For the complete results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-06-09-21/

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13 closes out the Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration
 
For the complete schedule of events and activities for the ArtWALK

Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13
Escape to the Arts! Sunday, June 13

Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13
Franklin's ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13

Watch "What does it mean to have a nonbinary gender identity?" on YouTube

What does it mean to have a nonbinary gender identity? 
video link ->
https://youtu.be/fojmIrRYD_g


DPW stormwater reminder #ThinkBlueMassachusetts

Good video analogy of storm water and the impact it has




Legislature Advances Fair Share Act to 2022 Statewide Ballot

Legislature Advances Fair Share Act to 2022 Statewide Ballot

Proposed constitutional amendment would fund transportation and education investments

At a Joint Session of the Massachusetts Legislature, members of the House and Senate on Wednesday held a Constitutional Convention where they advanced an amendment to the state Constitution to provide greater investments in education and transportation funding.

The Amendment, which now goes before the people of the Commonwealth for a vote in 2022, establishes a four percent tax on annual taxable income in excess of $1 million. The revenue generated, estimated by the Department of Revenue to be as much as $2.2 billion annually, would fund repair and maintenance projects for roads, bridges or public transportation as well as funding for public education, including support for early education and childcare and public higher education.

"As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and prepare for the Commonwealth's long-term success, we must be bold as we strive to create the future we want to see," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I'm thrilled the Fair Share Amendment has advanced, moving us one step closer to being able to make the critical investments in transportation and education that the public wants and deserves."

"Massachusetts has a bright future ahead of it and the House of Representatives is committed to a continued focus on education and transportation investments," said House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy). "Today's vote allows the Fair Share Amendment to be placed on the ballot and put before the people for a vote. This measure is one step in a multi-pronged strategy to make our Commonwealth a more equitable place to live, work and raise a family."

"When the Fair Share Amendment was first introduced in 2015, there were about 15,000 Massachusetts residents earning over $1 million a year," said Representative James O'Day (D-West Boylston), the lead House sponsor of the constitutional amendment. "Now in 2021, there are about 18,000 residents earning over $1 million a year. Clearly, there are millionaires and billionaires who can afford to pay their fair share in taxes, which will support our neighbors and local communities with investments in public education and transportation. Thank you to Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka for prioritizing the Fair Share Amendment so early in the session." 

"The Fair Share Amendment once again received strong support from legislators and, in public polling, typically receives support from more than 70% of voters in Massachusetts," said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), the lead Senate sponsor of the proposal. "The reason it is so popular is that most people recognize that our wealthiest residents can afford to pay a bit more in taxes to fund investments in public education and improving our transportation infrastructure that will grow our economy, expand opportunity, and make our Commonwealth more just and equitable for all."

Should voters approve the ballot measure, the income level would be adjusted annually to reflect increases in the cost of living by the same method used to determine federal income tax brackets. This would ensure that, over time, the additional four percent tax would continue to apply only to the highest earning individuals in the Commonwealth. The tax would apply to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. 

The legislature must approve a constitutional amendment in two consecutive joint sessions before the question appears on the ballot for voter approval. The Fair Share Act was approved for a first time on June 12, 2019, in a 147-48 vote. This week's June 9, 2021, vote of 159-41 ensures the proposal will appear on the November 2022 statewide ballot.

Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)


In-Person Lessons Returning to Encore and More


View this email in your browser
June 9, 2021 - Letter to Families
 

Dear Encore Families and Friends:

Re-imagining Encore over the past fifteen months has been a challenge for us all, and we are grateful to each and every one of you who chose to travel these uncharted waters together with us, who put faith in us, and who believed in us and our mission to ensure that music lessons and classes would continue and that, despite the trials and tribulations that the pandemic incurred, our students would still experience the joy of music. 

And now, we are re-imagining Encore again, this time with new and innovative approaches to learning.  Beginning in September with the Fall trimester, Encore will return to in-person learning, with all classes and lessons back up and running, but there is a twist! We will also be continuing to offer lessons and some classes via our virtual Encore Zoom platform!

Families who still feel uncomfortable sending their children into Encore for in-person lessons will have the opportunity to choose to remain online. Students who live far away from Encore can choose to do the same. Students who are sick on their lesson day and are unable to travel will have the opportunity to do the day's lesson online rather than miss it altogether; we would just need notice by 9:00 a.m. that morning if that will be the case. 

It is our belief that in-person lessons are always preferable; however, as the needs of our families and the times we live in are changing, so must we. We encourage in-person lessons whenever possible, but offer the option and opportunity for online substitutions when necessary. When you register for the Fall, be sure to indicate whether you will be studying online or in-person.  

Now some announcements:

SUMMER LESSONS and CLASSES

Registration for summer lessons and classes is ongoing. The summer session begins on Monday, July 5, and runs for eight weeks. Encore's hours change for the summer: We are open Monday through Thursday, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

During the summer time, we encourage as many lessons as possible in order to maintain technique, but understand that families travel and schedules vary. For this reason, you can choose as many lessons or as few lessons as fits your schedule, and they can be at different times each week. To sign up for summer lessons, please call the office at: (508) 533-7700 x101. 

FALL REGISTRATION

 Registration for the Fall opens on Monday, July 19, at 12:00 p.m. and is on a first-come, first-served basis. We will accept registration via phone only, so please call the office at: (508) 533-7700. When registering, please indicate whether you will be studying online or in-person. 

COVID POLICY

We continue to monitor the ever-changing CDC Guidelines and will modify our COVID policies accordingly. At this point in time, we will be requesting proof of vaccination for all students, ages 12 and up. If your child has been vaccinated, please forward a scan of their vaccination card to the office where it will be placed in their file. We are not requiring students to be vaccinated; however, those who are not vaccinated will be required to wear a mask when on Encore's premises. 

Faculty and staff who are not vaccinated will wear masks at all times in order to protect our students. 

Vaccinated faculty, staff, and students do not need to wear masks.

We are requesting that students be dropped off for lessons and classes. Parents may not wait in the building for the time being, and we will update you when this changes. All scheduling will continue to be accomplished over the phone or via email, even when we return to in-person in September. Payments can be made over the phone, or through your QuickBooks invoice, your bank or via mailed check. 

Parents of MYC® students who must participate in the classes need to provide proof of vaccination to the office, or must remain masked at all times. 

We have truly missed all of our students and families and can not wait until we can see you again, in-person at last!! If you have questions or need clarification, please contact the office at: (508) 533-7700 x101, or email encoremusicacademy1@gmail.com and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. 

Thank you for your continued support and we wish you a fun-filled, fun-packed summer with friends and family at long last!

Sincerely,

 

Lisa Ostrow and Patrick Dreier

Co-Owners, Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios


Copyright © 2021 Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
3 Bent St
Franklin, MA 02038

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"it’s never been a better time to consider a job in craft beer"

"Timberyard Brewing Co. spent much of 2020 pivoting and belt-tightening.

The East Brookfield brewer furloughed all five of its part-time servers last March, then tried for the better part of the spring and summer to find the hours to piece its staff together again.

This year, though, Timberyard has already hired six new servers and a kitchen assistant. Production has increased by 200%, as the brewery signed a new distribution deal and hired on its first assistant brewer.

Area breweries were rebounding from the pandemic well before the state lifted all COVID-19 restrictions. Now most breweries are not only on sure enough footing to hire their employees back, but also need to add more staff to prepare for the large crowds expected this summer."
Continue reading the article online

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Recap: School Committee hears Davis Thayer highlights

Quick Recap:

  • Dr. Quigley, the interim principal, presented well a recap of the highlights of the history of Davis Thayer and the current school year during the pandemic
  • Reopening report touts the pool testing likely to end this week for multiple reasons
  • Planning underway for September as near 'normal' school year, additional guidance from DESE expected during summer
  • Communications were showcased (presentation deck not available to share). Anne Marie Tracey leaving role this week, work to hire replacement starting

 

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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  #schcom0608

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23schcom0608&src=typeahead_click 

 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album  https://photos.app.goo.gl/uboCXt7hULEbmQW86


The agenda doc includes connection info

https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/agenda-6-8-21

 

The meeting packet folder containing the documents released for this session

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/june-8-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet 

 

  • Penultimate meeting of the current School Committee calendar. Agenda contains connection info https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/agenda-6-8-21 #schcom0608
  • SchComm meeting opens, all (yes, ALL) the current students of Davis Thayer will do the pledge tonight via digital recording #schcom0608
  • Pfeiffer comments that only 3 of the seven #SchCom0608 members were present D Grady Teacher union president speaks for the schools against the negative comments in prior Town Council budget hearing meeting
  • Supt Ahern reports on the FHS graduation week activity with graduation last Friday and car parade on Saturday. #schcom0608 Supt coffee scheduled, link to be shared. Year not yet over. Elementary night of the arts Weds, empty bowls on Thurs
  • Presentation on Davis Thayer highlights and history https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/dt-highlight#schcom0608 
  • Slides from presentation #schcom0608
  • More slides #schcom0608
  • Dr Quigley and the list of thanks #schcom0608
  • Zoom working, live stream through the Town webpage is not. #schcom0608
  • Thanks to Dr Quigley for the presentation summary. He may have spent the least amount of time there (only this year as interim principal) but he captured it well. #schcom0608
  • Anne Marie Tracey not present tonight, also noted as leaving Town/Schools as of end of week, has been effective in building communication process and graphics along the way. #schcom0608
  • Slides from presentation deck (not available before meeting) #schcom0608
  • More slides #schcom0608
  • Live stream now working #schcom0608
  • Reopening update, colors not updated to match #s https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/status-update-6-4-21 pool testing continues, proposal to stop this Thurs. LPN from Tri-county had been helping but aren't available. #s have been declining
  • Lots of planning for the fall. Consideration of federal funding for assistance, lunches available during summer from FHS M-Th #schcom0608 https://franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/status-update-6-4-21
  • more guidance expected this summer re: masks and social distancing
  • Mobile vaccine clinic possible but #s not quite up to what are min req'd #schcom0608 reminder going out to schools for forms to be filled
  • New business, next meeting, virtual academy and maybe policy Consent agenda motion to approve, second, passes 6-0-1 via roll call (D'Angelo not present) #schcom0608 Motion to enter executive session, passes via roll call 6-0-1 That's all for tonight, catch you next time!

 

Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days


Slide deck => https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/davis-thayer-presentation-school-committee-meeting-060821



Recap: School Committee hears Davis Thayer highlights
Recap: School Committee hears Davis Thayer highlights


Listen to why you should "Escape to the Arts!" - ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13 (audio)

Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) features almost an hour of excitement bubbling from two separate interviews combined for easy listening. 

  • Nancy Schoen, Chair of the Franklin Cultural District talks of the forthcoming ArtWALK Celebration, how it started, what kinds of events there are scheduled. 
  • A panel discussion on bringing arts into a business and how to display the art features Melanie Hamblen, Christine Blue Lamb Toubeau, Laural Katsaros, and Walter Spencer.

The two interviews were edited together for broadcast on Wednesday at 9:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and 6:00 PM.

You can listen to the broadcast on the local Franklin area dial at 102.9 or anywhere with an internet browser at wfpr.fm

If you miss the broadcast hour, you can also find the interviews on you favorite podcast app by looking for "Franklin Matters Radio"
or listen here:
 
Listen to why you should "Escape to the Arts!" - ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13 (audio)
Listen to why you should "Escape to the Arts!" - ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13 (audio)

HockomockSports: "Franklin’s Walsh Sisters Add Title to Family’s BC Legacy"

"When the final whistle blew at Towson University’s Unitas Stadium and Boston College had beaten ACC rival Syracuse 16-10 to secure the program’s first-ever national title, former Franklin stars Annie Walsh and Erin Walsh were among the Eagles storming the field to celebrate and lift the championship trophy.

Amid all of the postgame revelry, the sisters, who have played on the same teams for years, were able to share a moment together and reflect on the experience of being champions.

“We just turned and looked at each other and were like we did it,” said Annie, a sophomore midfielder. “We were just standing on the field hugging. It was crazy. Erin was bawling her eyes out.”

While the national title was the culmination of the women’s lacrosse program’s growth from becoming a varsity sport in 1992 to its first trip to the NCAA tournament two decades later to the pinnacle of the sport this spring, it also added a trophy to the Walsh family’s already impressive legacy in Chestnut Hill (going back to parents Jack and Lisa meeting as undergrads at BC)."


Continue reading the article online ->  https://t.co/PwkbnbPqhX #hockomock via @Josh_Perry10
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/HockomockSports/status/1402245276459540483


ranklin grads Erin (left) and Annie Walsh hold the championship trophy after Boston College women’s lacrosse beat Syracuse to win the program’s first-ever national title. (Courtesy of Annie Walsh)
Franklin grads Erin (left) and Annie Walsh hold the championship trophy after Boston College women’s lacrosse beat Syracuse to win the program’s first-ever national title. (Courtesy of Annie Walsh)


Toward a More Perfect Union: 2 discussions on racism in Franklin

During the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening, reference was made to the Superintendent and others participating in a discussion about race on the wfpr.fm radio show "Toward a More Perfect Union"
 
Part 1 of the discussion revolved around a follow up to the video of students recorded in November 2020.  (Direct link to the video referenced  https://youtu.be/XwBOqz_e9Zs)
 
Part 2 of the discussion features Supt. Sara Ahern, Asst Supt. Lucas Giguere, Denise Spencer, Cobi Frongillo, Angelina Perez, and Ndoumbe Ndoye in addition to the regular panel.
  • Listen to the Part 1 of the discussion on race
 
  • Listen to the Part 2 of the discussion on race

The regular panel of "Toward a More Perfect Union" :host - Frank Falvey, joined by Pete Fasciano, State Rep Jeff Roy, Dr Michael Walker Jones, and Dr Natalia Linos.


Toward a More Perfect Union: 2 discussions on racism in Franklin
Toward a More Perfect Union: 2 discussions on racism in Franklin

@NewsLitProject - 8 tips to Google like a Pro

𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚎𝚕𝚢𝚗𝚗 𝙵𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚜𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 @ 🏠 (@shfarnsworth) tweeted on Mon, Jun 07, 2021:
"One of the most important ⭐️ skills to teach students... How to find information online.

Check out our NEW infographic from @NewsLitProject
in collab w/ @CindyOtis_ ⬇️

✅ 8 tips to Google like a Pro! #engchat #sschat #TLchat"

Image link = https://t.co/Zgrkx1nWkZ  
 
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/shfarnsworth/status/1401975398884315137

@NewsLitProject - 8 tips to Google like a Pro
@NewsLitProject - 8 tips to Google like a Pro