Friday, July 9, 2021

Community Conversations - Housing and Race - July 14

Community Conversations - Housing and Race
 Housing and Race
The Franklin Area Against Racism group (FAAR) is holding the second segment of its Community Conversations series, this time on Housing and Race next Wednesday, July 14th at 7:00PM. 

We invited Jim Johnston (longtime Franklin resident and historian), Bryan Taberner (Franklin Director of Planning and Community Development), and Jesse Kanson-Benanav (Executive Director of Abundant Housing MA) to discuss how how Franklin's housing policies and practices have fostered socio-economic inequities and worked to reduce diversity in the community.

Zoom info contained in the image

Background on Jesse Kanson-Benanav


Franklin Community Public Transportation via GATRA Go United

Franklin Residents may ride the new GATRA service within the Service Area* for $1.00

Need a ride to the following?
  • Grocery Store 
  • Urgent Care 
  • Work
  • Senior Center

Rides to and from the Senior Center for residents are Free

Miles for Health is also available by appointment for long distance medical transportation

GATRA Service Hours: 
  • Monday-Friday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM

*The service area for GATRA Go United is Franklin, Foxboro, Norfolk and Wrentham as well as the Bellingham shopping plaza and Plainville shopping plaza


Download the app or call 800-698-7676
Visit www.GATRA.org/gatra-go for more information


Franklin Community Public Transportation via GATRA Go United
Franklin Community Public Transportation via GATRA Go United



Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza - July 9

THE BLACK BOX Summer Series presents Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza. 

Radio Daze has been a staple of local entertainment, playing rock music in New England Clubs and local bars for over 20 years. It's always extra special when singer and front-man Paul Souza is in town to lead the show! 

Tickets for the show on Friday, July 9 at 7:30 PM

Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza - July 9
Radio Daze featuring Paul Souza - July 9


The Guardian: "Why declining birth rates are good news for life on Earth"

Given that there is a discussion about Franklin's population and rate of growth, putting our stats in context with national and world trends should help. 

"Fertility rates are falling across the globe – even in places, such as sub-Saharan Africa, where they remain high. This is good for women, families, societies and the environment. So why do we keep hearing that the world needs babies, with angst in the media about maternity wards closing in Italy and ghost cities in China? 
The short-range answer is that, even though this slowdown was predicted as part of the now 250-year-old demographic transition – whose signature is the tumbling of both fertility and mortality rates – occasional happenings, such as the publication of US census data or China’s decision to relax its two-child policy, force it back into our consciousness, arousing fears about family lines rubbed out and diminishing superpowers being uninvited from the top table. 
The longer range answer is that our notion of a healthy, vibrant society is still rooted in the past. The inevitable byproduct of the demographic transition is that populations age, in a chronological sense, but life expectancy, and particularly healthy life expectancy, have increased dramatically over the last half-century, and the societal definition of “old” has not kept up (though artistic experiments such as casting 82-year-old Sir Ian McKellen as Hamlet might help to challenge age-related stereotypes)."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
 
Davis Thayer Facility Analysis Subcommittee meeting of Oct 2020

You can find the demographics study on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/demographic-presentation

The Comprehensive Facilities Assessment

Download your copy of the detailed report here: 



screen grab of DTFA meeting in Oct 2020
screen grab of DTFA meeting in Oct 2020



Catching up to some National news

‘The Great Resignation’: June’s US jobs report hides unusual trend 

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday (07/02/21) that the US economy added 850,000 jobs last month. Hidden by this encouraging figure is the hint of an unusual trend: people are beginning to quit their jobs in extraordinary numbers.

June’s numbers, in combination with last month’s figures, suggest that the economy is continuing to recover at a steady pace. The rate of unemployment was 5.9% and 9.5 million people remain unemployed."
Continue reading about this job report at The Guardian 
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/03/us-jobs-report-june-trend


The battle for Mount Rushmore: ‘It should be turned into something like the Holocaust Museum’

"The national memorial draws nearly 3 million visitors a year – and Native Americans want the site back with a focus on oppression

Mount Rushmore national memorial draws nearly 3 million visitors a year to its remote location in South Dakota. They travel from all corners of the globe just to lay their eyes on what the National Park Service calls America’s “shrine of democracy”.

Phil Two Eagle is not opposed to the fact that the giant sculpture of American presidents is a major tourist attraction but he thinks the park should have a different focus: oppression.

“It should be turned into something like the United States Holocaust Museum,” he said. “The world needs to know what was done to us.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)


Thursday, July 8, 2021

Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Cultural Council

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FRANKLIN CULTURAL COUNCIL

The Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) is a grant-making body that allocates funds for projects and programs in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. The FCC has also chosen to conduct a number of arts-related programs and events throughout the year to support and encourage arts and culture within Franklin.

For FY2020, the FCC again successfully lobbied the Town of Franklin for an increased grant-disbursement budget, to support additional programming within the newly demarcated Franklin Cultural District. This additional funding was combined with state-allocated Mass Cultural Council funds—which also saw an increase—allowing the FCC to award a total of $19,598 in grants supporting 37 arts and cultural events for Franklin residents. 

These programs included many annual favorites such as performances at the schools and Senior Center, and Franklin High School's and the Franklin Food Pantry's Empty Bowls night. In addition, some new programming included a variety of art workshops, field trips for our elementary school students, and a project for the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail. Separate from the standard MCC 2020 Grant Recipients grant cycle, the FCC also awarded an additional $2,500 in grants for ArtWeek-specific programming, which included concerts, art workshops, a puppet show, and more. A Grantee Reception was held on February 27 at the Franklin Historical Museum to honor all 2020 grantees.
 
As was the case for everyone across the Commonwealth and indeed the country, the COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact on the FCC’s programs and events for the spring of 2020. The Council’s 4th Annual Community Arts Advocacy Day to be presented in early spring with MASSCreative, a statewide arts advocacy organization, and in partnership with Dean College had to be indefinitely postponed. And ArtWeek, a statewide creative festival to be held May 1-10, 2020, was also cancelled. The FCC was to be the community partner for ArtWeek for the third year in a row and was excited about new programs and events planned as part of the festival, including a multi-business event in the Franklin Crossings area and an Indian Cultural Festival at the Senior Center.

As the schools closed in March and kids were stuck at home, the FCC sponsored an online arts contest for Franklin elementary and middle school students. Youth responded to prompts meant to spark creativity and art- making with materials found in nature and around the house, posting their creations to the FCC’s Facebook page. More than 250 kids participated over the week-long event and it was a bright spot of fun and levity in the early days of the pandemic. In April the FCC sponsored an online contest for Franklin High School students, challenging them to design a poster encouraging unity and hope during this difficult moment.

The FCC grew their social media presence significantly over the past year with regular posts to Facebook and by hosting popular online events like the art contests. Our Facebook page has 1,300 followers and we have worked hard to nurture an engaged audience.

The FCC is looking forward to FY21 and leveraging the momentum we have built over the past few years to serve the community in greater and new ways. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our lives, we are confirmed in our belief that the arts and culture offer a way through fear and anxiety and toward our shared humanity.

The full Annual Report for 2020 can be found online
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/files/town-franklin-annual-report-2020

Prior Annual Reports can be found online

Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Cultural Council
Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Cultural Council 

  

Senior Story Hour: May 2021 (audio)

The Franklin Senior Center reads short stories, essays, poems and more. This episode aired on Franklin Public Radio for May 2021. 

Audio link = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a0aee039-8203-4172-8edb-087c70547974

Friday: 11 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM = “Senior Story Hour” – Senior Center Scribblers Group Original writing presented by the authors  Listen each week on the air at 102.9 FM, and online at our website, wfpr.fm 

Subscribe via Google Podcast (or your favorite podcast app)


FHS' lacrosse Brigid Earley selected as Player of the Week

"Player of the Week: Brigid Earley, Franklin Lacrosse"

"Franklin junior Brigid Earley has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for June 27 through July 5. Earley is the 29th and final player chosen as Player of the Week for the 2020-21 school year and ninth in the spring season. 
Earley came through with some of her biggest moments of the season last week, helping the Panthers see off Chelmsford to reach their first state title game and then nearly coming back to beat perennial power Westwood in the final. Earley, who had not played goalie for Franklin before this season (she played attack as a freshman on JV), allowed less than five goals per game this spring. 
“This is her first year playing goalie and look where she brought us,” said Franklin head coach Kristin Igoe Guarino after the state final. “She’s incredible and she made some huge saves on some Div. I shooters and kept us in the game. I’m really proud of her. She learned quick and she led us to the state finals.”

 

FHS' lacrosse Brigid Earley selected as Player of the Week (HockomockSports.com photo)
FHS' lacrosse Brigid Earley selected as Player of the Week (HockomockSports.com photo)

"Franklin Battles Back But Falls to Westwood in Final"

"As it had for almost all of Thursday night’s Div. 1 state championship game at a packed Pisini Stadium, the Franklin defense came through with another stop when it needed it most, forcing a turnover in a tie game with the clock racing to the final horn. Overtime seemed inevitable. 
The Panthers tried to clear from behind the cage, but a slip in the pouring rain and a loose ball in front of an empty goal proved decisive. It was a moment that seemed to happen in slow motion. 
Westwood sophomore Ava Connaughton scooped the ground ball and, while falling, found the back of the open goal with just 12.2 seconds on the clock. The Wolverines won the ensuing draw to secure a 6-5 victory and their ninth state championship. Franklin went toe-to-toe with the most successful program in state history, but came up just short in its first state title game appearance. 
“I’m so proud of this group,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “We’ve been in that situation before and for them to battle back against a really, really good Westwood team was amazing. I thought our ‘D’ was amazing, Brigid, they just made one more play than us on the offensive end. It happens, but I’m really proud of the girls, they played amazing.”
Continue reading the D1 final recap by Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com:  https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-lacrosse-battles-back-but-falls-to-westwood-in-final/ 


Franklin, MA: Past & Present Part 4 (video)

This is a video that highlights images of Franklin's past as compared to pictures that were taken from those same locations today. 



ICYMI - Recent MA News

In case you missed some recent MA news:

Annual reading of Frederick Douglass

We are excited to once again co-sponsor the annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

Join us this Friday (July 9) at noon at the @MAAHMuseum & listen or participate in a community reading of this thought-provoking speech.

Hope to see you there! https://t.co/UCtvu357cL

Other resources on the Fredrick Douglas speech



annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”

#VaxExpress is back
The #VaxExpress is back, with stops at selected commuter rail stations July 7-11. Free food, music, a $25 grocery store gift card, and a chance for prizes. Details: https://t.co/nu6MgmCnii @MBTA @KeolisBoston @BCBSMA #TrustTheFacts #GetTheVax https://t.co/Gn3vBvsknx

Federal Internet subsidy available

Few in Massachusetts taking advantage of new federal Internet subsidy https://t.co/8MBtTBKVAI

VaxMillions Giveaway registration is open

Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway
Win $1 million or a college scholarship
Get vaccinated today! You can't play if you aren't vaccinated.
Registration is now open
ENTER TO WIN NOW  https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-vaxmillions-giveaway


VaxMillions Giveaway registration is open
"Massachusetts VaxMillions Giveaway" registration is open

 

Franklin Dog Park Event - July 10

Hello dog lovers. Pet Supplies Plus of Franklin is having an event at the Franklin dog park on Saturday, July 10 from 10 AM to 1 PM. 

There will be free doggie ice cream, frisbees and tennis balls for our furry friends while supply last. 

We will have donations jars for the Franklin Lions Club. Bring your furry friend and enjoy the ice cream.

Thank you,
Gennarino D'Onofrio, President  
Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park

dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day
dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day

Fiscal Year 2022 First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Treasurer Collector, Kerri Bertone has mailed the Fiscal 2022 first quarter real estate and personal property tax bills.  
Payments are due by August 2, 2021.  
Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.
Shared from the Town of Franklin page

Fiscal Year 2022 First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills
Fiscal Year 2022 First Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills




Guitar Instructors Needed for Veteran's "Tune it Out" Program

Guitar Instructors Needed!

New TUNE IT OUT Program

We are introducing the TUNE IT OUT program and are looking for VOLUNTEER GUITAR INSTRUCTORS to teach veterans to play acoustic guitar in a group setting. Research suggests that active music engagement reduces anxiety, increases relaxation levels and improves overall well-being.

Please contact the Veterans' Services Office at: (508) 613-1315 for more information.


Guitar Instructors Needed for Veteran's "Tune it Out" Program
Guitar Instructors Needed for Veteran's "Tune it Out" Program


Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Franklin residents: Recycling Pick-up Update - July 7

Recycling Pick-up

The attached recycle route will not be completed today (7-7-21), Waste Management will be staffing an extra truck in Franklin tomorrow (7-8-21) to recover any recycling not picked up today. 


Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/recycling-pick




Update From Waste Management ~ Wednesday, July 7
Update From Waste Management ~ Wednesday, July 7

Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Conservation Commission

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Franklin Conservation Commission is responsible for promoting and protecting the Town of Franklin’s natural resources, and protecting the Town’s wetlands resources.

The Commission is comprised of seven volunteer residents appointed for three year terms by the Town Administrator. Current Commission members have diverse professional experience related to environmental science, biology, engineering, and project management. Because of their different backgrounds, each commissioner is able to offer a different perspective during the review of applications for a wetland permit that ultimately benefits Franklin.

Franklin has continuously been represented at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions each March, with Commissioners attending classes and workshops and talking with other Commissioners from across the state as well as lawyers, ecologists and engineers active in conservation.

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) provides administrative and technical support to the Commission.

Permitting of Work Within or Adjacent to Wetlands Resources
The majority of the Commission’s attention is directed to administering Massachusetts and Franklin wetland protection laws and regulations. Those laws and regulations require Conservation Commission permits to work in or within 100 feet of a wetland, in the 100 year flood hazard zone, or within 200 feet of a perennial stream.

During the first quarter of FY20 the Commission voted to accept fast tracking NOI/ANRAD peer review consultant services as recommended by the Conservation Agent and DPCD. This change has helped move big projects along the permitting process more quickly.

During FY20 the Conservation Agent reviewed and administratively approved 15 minor buffer zone applications.

During FY20 the Conservation Commission received 46 permit applications to work within areas under their permitting jurisdiction. In addition the Commission issued Certificates of Compliance for previously permitted projects, and granted permit extensions to allow projects to finish. The table below is a summary of Conservation Commission activity during the 2020 Fiscal Year.

Some of the more interesting project applications before the Commission during FY20 include construction of a marijuana cultivation and production facility at 160 Grove Street and the Town’s projects off Meadowlark Lane and Griffin Road to improve water quality and reduce pollutant loading in the Chicken Brook-Charles River sub-watershed.

DelCarte Conservation Area 
The Commission continues to work on the DelCarte Area (aka the Franklin Reservoirs) off of Pleasant Street. There are a series of seven “structures” (six dams that had been originally used for cranberry farming and a stone wall that beavers had dammed) along Miller brook thru the 100+ acre DelCarte Area.
 
The Commission retained the services of ESS, Inc. to undertake an ecological study to ascertain the flora and fauna viability in the pond and develop a long term management plan. This study, completed in 2015-2016 has given the Town a comprehensive understanding of exactly “what is there” and includes a management plan to help keep the area viable as a true recreational jewel. The first two phases of the plan’s recommendations, the treatment of invasive plant species, was undertaken in the spring/summer of 2017-2019. The Town appropriated Capital Improvement funds to help implement the next phases of this study in 2019-2020. The pond’s invasive species were treated again throughout the summer of 2020.

In addition the funds are being used to implement the ADA recommendations under the master plan developed for DelCarte. This plan, developed for the Town by Mass Audubon was presented to the Commission in the fall of 2017. The Commission began to undertake improvements to the DelCarte Recreation Area in the late summer/early fall of 2018 to bring access to the trails and the water bodies up to ADA standards and improve the overall aesthetics of the area. This portion of the improvements was completed in the spring/summer 2019.

Continue reading the report from the Conservation Commission

Prior Annual Reports can be found online

Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Conservation Commission
Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Conservation Commission