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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 *
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Senator Becca Rausch: Our Public Health Victory
FSPA Offers Pre-Professional Ballet Program
The first levels of the ballet program begin an earnest study of classical ballet. Barre work is introduced with a strong focus on individual turnout, foot development, and port de bras. As dancers progress into the intermediate levels, the faculty carefully evaluates each student's progress and potential for pointe work while continuing to nurture the desire to dance. The Pre-Professional Program begins advanced ballet technique and pointe.
FSPA’s Ballet program is under the direction of Cheryl Madeux, a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre, Joffery Ballet, and Hartford Ballet. She received her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. Ms. Madeux has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, worked with leading choreographers including Gerald Arpino, Kirk Peterson, and Twyla Tharp, and been coached by such ballet luminaries as Igor Youskevitch and Eleanor D’Antuono.
In previous years, FSPA has presented its students for Examinations in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum at ABT’s studios in New York, NY. The Examination class was taught by Ms. Madeux. FSPA is proud to incorporate the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum, a nine-level program that combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health and child development for students of all ages and skill levels. Upon successful exam completion, Cheryl Madeux earned the distinction of ABT Affiliate Teacher.
FSPA offers two additional tracks of Ballet study for students not on the pre-professional path and advanced dancers with limited time in their schedules. The Standard Track is designed to train and educate students in classical ballet so they may use this knowledge to enhance other disciplines and prepare to enter competitive college dance programs, if desired.
For more information on Ballet at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, visit www.FSPAonline.com, call 508-528-8668, or stop by the facility at 38 Main Street in Franklin, MA. Follow FSPA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
FSPA Offers Pre-Professional Ballet Program |
Q&A on Franklin Matters - August 26 at 1:30 PM
Get your Franklin questions answered on Thursday, August 26 at 1:30 PM.
This is a virtual event coordinated with the Senior Center = "Franklin Matters Q&A with Steve Sherlock"
"a strong supply chain is vital for everyone"
The CDL or truck driver shortage reported previously as affecting the trash/recycling pickup and was also highlighted in the two open jobs that the DPW is looking to fill, is not just a US issue. This article shares the info on preparation for the Christmas season in Europe (UK and Iceland in particular).
"The UK government must allow retailers to recruit HGV drivers from foreign countries to avoid a supply chain crisis that could ruin Christmas, a senior supermarket chain boss has warned.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, said the UK faced a shortage of 100,000 HGV drivers that was already causing 30-40 deliveries to its stores to be cancelled daily, and would upend plans to begin building Christmas stock from next month.
“We’ve got Christmas around the corner, and in retail we start to stock build really from September onwards, for what is a hugely important time of year,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/25/iceland-boss-hgv-drivers-shortage-cancel-christmas-immigration-rules-uk
The Franklin DPW is hiring 2 for Heavy Motor Equipment Operator positions |
“We should not even be thinking about closing the book or backing off, but rather ratcheting up the effort”
"President Biden on Tuesday received a classified report from the intelligence community that was inconclusive about the origins of the novel coronavirus, including whether the pathogen jumped from an animal to a human as part of a natural process, or escaped from a lab in central China, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The intelligence community will seek within days to declassify elements of the report for potential public release, officials said.
The assessment is the result of a 90-day sprint after Biden tasked his intelligence agencies in May to produce a report “that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion” on the origins of a virus that has killed more than 4 million people globally and wrecked national economies. But despite analyzing a raft of existing intelligence and searching for new clues, intelligence officials fell short of a consensus, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the report is not yet public."
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
You can help determine the questions asked of each candidate
As the candidates are out and about completing their signature requirements, it is time for us to start gathering the questions that you would like to be asked of the candidates.
As in prior elections, I prefer to provide four or five question to all the candidates. Each position may be slightly different (their role is different) so the questions should reflect that.
You can help with the question development by submitting the ONE question you would ask of each candidate. With all of the Town Council or School Committee candidates responding to the same set of questions, we can then determine whom we would prefer.
Use the Google form here to submit your question. You can submit more than one but the final decision on the four or five questions to be asked remains with the editor.
Form link => https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWDz7OhOu-J9dVZWtHwG6NbfTVvRQbcny66Z3rqWZLN-o6Dw/viewform?usp=sf_link
The offer to candidates to set up an interview https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/offer-to-candidates-for-town-of.html
You can help determine the questions asked of each candidate |
FM #589 - The Franklin (MA) DPW Water Series 07/15/21 - P2 of 3
FM #589 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 589 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent.
We had our conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St. This is the second of three in the series exploring the status and operations of the Franklin’s Water Dept.
Part 2 - approx. 38 minutes
Permit process 20 years, midway through this one
Overall water usage per capita for Franklin is among the best in the state (~45-49gpp vs ~65gpp)
Unaccounted for water and meter standards, Franklin is a model community for this
Infiltration annual testing uses a “stethoscope for the road”
Town owns from the water main to the curb stop (water service shut off from street); Town also owns the meter
Meter read via radio today, may eventually get to an automatic send to a data collector; used to take 2 guys a month to read, now it takes one only a week to read the meters
WaterSmart system data based upon readings monthly; billing readings are monthly
Rebates available for high efficiency water use appliances
Annual Water report - highlights by section
Reference to working without the incredible asset of Dave Allard, now retired; 4 hours of a brain dump didn’t catch it all but he still answers the phone when they call
Key items explained, testing process, negligible results are shown for 20 or so items, another 100+ are tested with no findings, PFAS testing added per state DEP regs
Difference between water testing done by Town vs. Water bottles available in retail (FDA vs. DEP/EPA regulations)
Thanks to the 61 residents for participating in the lead and copper special testing required (lead goose necks)
WaterSmart website, Individual usage can be monitored, Leak detection service
The show notes include links to the Franklin Water Dept. page and other references.
Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s water supply.
Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a148dcea-1db5-49f2-b11c-e302009de27f
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Water Sewer Division - https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division
Water Smart program -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/welcome-watersmart-program
Consumer Confidence Report for 2020 us what we walked through during the conversation
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/pages/franklin_ma_ccr_2020_web_final.pdf
Consumer Confidence Reports -> archive = https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports
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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"
FM #589 The Franklin (MA) DPW Water Series 07/15/21 - P2 of 3 |
Franklin Residents: Pay Your Real Estate, Personal Property, Motor Vehicle Excise & Water/Sewer/Trash Bills Online
Pay Your Real Estate, Personal Property, Motor Vehicle Excise & Water/Sewer/Trash Bills Online
Overdose Awareness Day - Aug 31. 2021
Zucchini Races return to the Farmers Market - Sep 10, 2021
There is no age limit to who can submit an entry and no motors. Entries will be weighed at check in and split into three weight classes.Fans can vote for their favorite racer in four different categories.
- Best decorated
- Best use of vegetables
- Funniest name
- Your favorite
We will race in heats, winner of heat moves on.When: Friday, Sep 10 at the Farmers Market!2:30-3:30 - Check in3:30- 4:00 - Fan Voting4:00 - Racing begins!
"Food insecurity is a silent problem"
"The number of Massachusetts households lacking enough food to get by doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study from Project Bread.More than half a million residents, more than a quarter of them children, who are eligible for SNAP, or food stamps, don’t receive benefits for the nation’s No. 1 anti-hunger program, according to the research by Project Bread, a Boston nonprofit that works to end hunger in the state.“The cycle of hunger, it definitely is real,” said Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread, which surveyed more than 800 Boston residents in partnership with the city’s Office of Food Access and UMass Boston’s Center for Survey Research."
"Food insecurity is a silent problem" |
"Hunger around America is improving, compared with a month ago, according to the most recent U.S. census data. But food insecurity has a long way to go before returning to pre-pandemic levels.Self-reported food insecurity for the week ending Aug. 2 was at its lowest levels since the start of the coronavirus pandemic for households with children, according to the census data. That dovetails with strong jobs numbers, stronger economic growth and other bright spots in the economic recovery.But food stamps enrollment is still way up, 2 million more than last year and 6 million more than in 2019. And food banks are still seeing dramatically more need than during pre-pandemic times."
"it is best to approach conflicts over speech as teachable moments"
"IN JANUARY, a few Northampton middle school students, perhaps emboldened, maybe bored, after nearly a year of remote learning, projected images of the Confederate flag as their computer screen backdrop during virtual classes. Perhaps it was a political statement, or maybe a poorly considered joke. Whatever the intent, it did not go unnoticed. The school’s principal, Desmond Caldwell, asked the John F. Kennedy Middle School community to not display or wear the Confederate flag in school, saying it disrupted learning and made some students and staff feel attacked and unsafe.
Caldwell’s plea did not end the issue. The issue exploded with an anonymous social media post attacking the principal. Middle and high school students in the Western Massachusetts city then led a demonstration in front of the JFK School, supporting Caldwell and calling for the school district to take action. The Northampton School Committee obliged in March, banning the display of the Confederate flag in all schools, joining its neighbor Easthampton and a few other school districts across the country that have deemed the symbol an impediment to learning and banned its display outside of classroom instruction.
If the move put Northampton ahead of the pack in clamping down on hate symbols, the left-leaning college town of 28,000 is now poised to go several steps beyond that. In September, the School Committee will take up a proposal to ban two other symbols of hate — swastikas and nooses — while also establishing a wide-ranging system in which various types of bias can be reported and investigated. It would make Northampton the only community in the state, and possibly the only one outside of Oregon, to enact such a far-reaching, anti-bias policy. "
Monday, August 23, 2021
Time for Ice Cream! 2
by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 08/22/2021
Our Socially Distant Ice-cream Social is still on for Wednesday at Davis Thayer. The fun days of Summer are winding down, and you can get vaccinated and get free ice-cream – before school starts. The weather is also looking good. Sunny and high 80’s. Perfect ice-cream weather.
Vaccinations for 12 and older, plus masks all contribute to our lower rates of COVID infection. Massachusetts is fairing better than many states thanks to the hard work of our local and state officials. We can all help ourselves, our families and our friends by embracing the notion that public health is more important than the minor inconvenience of masks and the extreme assertion of individual rights.
III. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item
A. EBCFA Masks-Face Coverings
The line item (A) above was one of several topics at a recent School subcommittee discussion. These are usually low-key, even sleepy affairs. Even though they are posted and open to the public, they take place to almost no one’s attention or concern, but this one produced a surprisingly virulent response over masking. Chambers was at capacity, with an additional remote 200 participants on Zoom.
The findings of this subcommittee will be taken up at the next School Committee meeting on August 24, 7 PM, and as usual, Franklin.TV will cover it live, and also make it available for On Demand replay.
In the meantime, do consider wearing a mask as an act of civic kindness, and getting vaccinated. We're doing all we can to help out. At our Vaxx and Ice-cream Social – we’re all chill.
Please register to be vaccinated (either Pfizer or J&J): https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/covid-19-mobile-vaccination-clinic
And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.
And, thank you for watching.
http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf or for archive purposes https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TbZFTL9-y8N2uXNLnKwxwkhFhqStWgEO/view?usp=sharing
Ice Cream Social and Vaccine Clinic - Aug 25 |
FM #588 - The Franklin (MA) DPW Water Series 07/15/21 - P1 of 3
FM #588 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 588 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent.
We had our conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St. This is one of three in a series exploring the status and operations of the Franklin’s Water Dept.
Part 1 - approx. 30 minutes
A brief on Doug and Jake’s Franklin ‘story’
New treatment plant, now operational, treating Wells 3 and 6; Well 6 is really a well field (of six separate wells)
Difference between registration and permitted amount to draw
Overall well status and supply (well summary on water report)
Water conservation measures are a ‘forever’ thing right? (per the permit from DEP)
Town wells draw from 40-50 feet where most private wells can draw from a 300-500 foot depth; if you have a private well, please put out a sign if you use it for irrigation
Finances on water rate and sewer rate calculations, aside from private wells and septic systems, it is usage based billing
Fire Dept working very closely with them on hydrant maintenance and water pressure opportunity areas to work towards an increase in the ISO certification for the Fire department; hydrant signage being added to help especially when out communities respond to help
E-coli hit on well 2A, notification only discussed; test result was from the ‘raw’ side of the water, not the ‘treated side’ of the supply; “the ground is just a big old filter, and when you get 6-8 inches of rain the ground just can't handle it”
The process worked, the testing and system ensures good water is being delivered all the time
PFAS testing currently State funded; testing at parts per trillion, not million as with most other; PFAS is pervasive; Testers can’t use Teflon pans or Tupperware before taking test sample (to avoid contamination of the sample)
The show notes include links to the Franklin Water Dept. page and other references.
Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s water supply.
Audio File -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a7deabf6-08b9-41d8-820c-8bee1aa437db
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Water Sewer Division - https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division
Water Smart program -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/welcome-watersmart-program
Consumer Confidence Reports -> archive = https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports
Consumer Confidence Report for 2020 us what we walked through during the conversation
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/pages/franklin_ma_ccr_2020_web_final.pdf
-----------
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"
FM #588 The Franklin (MA) DPW Water Series 07/15/21 - P1 of 3 |