The Franklin Interact Club is looking for new members. Could that be you?

Franklin Interact Club (@FranklinIntera1) tweeted Fri, Aug 27, 2021:

Looking for youth volunteers to join Interact! https://t.co/a6HajaJChV

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinIntera1/status/1431373144690937862?s=03

For more about the Franklin Interact Club, listen to the podcast episode from Aug 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/franklin-interact-delivers-100-masks-to.html

The Interact Club is part of the Rotary, you can hear some members of the Rotary talk about the overall club and history as well as the new Interact Club

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/fm-400-franklin-ma-rotary-club-111720.html

Franklin Interact Club is looking for new members. Could that be you?

New story walk is up at the SNETT, a cool day for a walk!

"The new #storywalk is up! You can find it at Center St trailhead in Bellingham (198 Center St for your GPS). Enjoy!

#SNETT #railtrail #FBRTC #BellinghamMA #FranklinMA #massdcr
— at Southern New England Trunkline Trail."

Shared from Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/185258844899495/posts/4292760737482598/

New story walk is up at the SNETT, a cool day for a walk!

Wicked Local: "Here's why 16-year-old twins got the COVID vaccine today in Franklin"

"When you have a twin, it goes without saying that you will be doing a lot of things in tandem.

And for Franklin's Gerety twins — 16-year-olds Brendan and Shawn — on Wednesday this included rolling up their sleeves together and getting their first vaccination shot against COVID-19.

The two teens were among those who elected to take advantage of a state Department of Public Health mobile vaccination clinic that the town's Health Department hosted outside the Davis Thayer School.

Every set of twins has matching qualities, but also some differences. In this case, one Gerety was a tad nervous about getting the vaccination; the other was not."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/country-gazette/2021/08/26/covid-19-shots-ice-cream-served-up-mobile-vax-clinic-franklin/5574818001/

ice cream was sponsored by Franklin TV

Franklin Veterans - September Coffee Social - Sep 1, 2021 - 10 AM

September Coffee Social!

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 - 10:00 AM

Hello Veterans,

It's hard to believe summer's almost over and September is upon us!

Please join us for our monthly Coffee Social:

When: Wednesday, September 1

Time: 10:00 AM

Where: Senior Center Multi-Purpose Room

As of today, masks are optional.

Franklin native Joe Landry will make a special photo presentation of:

FRANKLIN - THEN & NOW

We hope you can join us for coffee, conversation and a look back at Franklin in times gone by.

As always, all veterans are welcome. Feel free to invite others who may not be on our contact list!

Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/september-coffee-social-1

Franklin Veterans - September Coffee Social - Sep 1, 2021 - 10 AM

The Lancetet: "Drowning prevention: turning the tide on a leading killer"

 

"Drowning is a leading killer, particularly of children and young adults, yet has been greatly neglected. Despite accounting for a higher number of deaths than many other substantial public health issues, drowning has not benefitted from the targeted attention it requires, which is particularly tragic because low cost and effective drowning prevention interventions exist. 

Therefore, the recent UN General Assembly's adoption of a resolution on global drowning prevention is a historic first, and offers an exciting opportunity by providing a comprehensive framework and a practical roadmap that a range of actors and sectors, including governments, can follow to address the challenge of drowning prevention."

Continue reading the article online

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(21)00165-1/fulltext

Download the report PDF  ->  https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2468-2667%2821%2900165-1

Recent articles on drowning by the Boston Globe

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/combat-drownings-state-earmarks-475000-new-funding-swim-lessons-safety-messages/?p1=BGSearch_Advanced_Results

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/18/metro/near-drownings-reported-duxbury-peabody-plymouth-officials-say/?p1=BGSearch_Advanced_Results

A child holds her breath underwater while participating in a swimming class in this 2014 file photo. JESSICA RINALDI/GLOBE STAFF

Report: "Massachusetts Cities and Towns Leading the Way to 100% Renewable Energy"

"Cities and towns are taking ambitious steps to increase renewable electricity generation, reduce energy use, and shift to clean heating technologies, according to a new report from the Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center.

“The best ideas for clean energy often start at the local level,” said Ben Hellerstein, state director for the center. “If we want to have cleaner air, healthier communities, and a safer future for our children, we need to move rapidly toward 100% renewable energy from sources like the sun and the wind. These communities are showing how to make it happen.”

The report, Renewable Communities 2021, features the following seven case studies of Massachusetts cities, towns and regional agencies that are leading the way to 100% renewable energy. "

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/report-highlights-leading-clean-energy-communities/ 

Download the report PDF ->   https://environmentmassachusettscenter.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Renewable%20Communities%202021.pdf 

Visit Environmental Massachusetts for more information ->   https://environmentmassachusettscenter.org/

Report:  "Massachusetts Cities and Towns Leading the Way to 100% Renewable Energy"

Study gives pause for consideration of the foods we eat

If you consider a 'balanced diet' as offsetting a hotdog with nuts, why should you put your body through the trouble?

"Eating a hot dog could cost you 36 minutes of healthy life, while choosing to eat a serving of nuts instead could help you gain 26 minutes of extra healthy life, according to a University of Michigan study.

The study, published in the journal Nature Food, evaluated more than 5,800 foods, ranking them by their nutritional disease burden to humans and their impact on the environment. It found that substituting 10% of daily caloric intake from beef and processed meats for a mix of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and select seafood could reduce your dietary carbon footprint by one-third and allow people to gain 48 minutes of healthy minutes per day.

“Generally, dietary recommendations lack specific and actionable direction to motivate people to change their behavior, and rarely do dietary recommendations address environmental impacts,” said Katerina Stylianou, who did the research as a doctoral candidate and postdoctoral fellow in the the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at U-M’s School of Public Health. She currently works as the Director of Public Health Information and Data Strategy at the Detroit Health Department.

... 

Based on their findings, the researchers suggest:

• Decreasing foods with the most negative health and environmental impacts including high processed meat, beef, shrimp, followed by pork, lamb and greenhouse-grown vegetables.
• Increasing the most nutritionally beneficial foods, including field-grown fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and low-environmental impact seafood."

Continue reading the article

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210818/Small-changes-in-diet-can-yield-substantial-gains-for-the-environment-and-human-health.aspx

Read the report PDF here -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_u7-VArc1sh6tKv8xA3pT4T0cfGcJfl5/view?usp=sharing

The radar picked this up via Twitter: "New study finds one food can actually take 36 minutes off your life each time you eat it"    https://t.co/KPVmHMabza  https://t.co/JEveLz1jlL

Study gives pause for consideration of the foods we eat

Franklin's Event Outlook: Aug 27 - Sep 3, 2021

Ah, the heat wave continues today and, if forecasts hold true, also ends today. Hopefully, bringing us a cooler remainder of the weekend.  Farmers Market today and concert at THE BLACK BOX tonight highlight the weekend events. The one indoor 'cool' place to check out is the Historical Museum which is open Saturday and Sunday, especially if you haven't ever stopped by.

Friday, August 27
2:00pm - Farmers Market
3:30pm - Kids craft activity by Library Youth Services
8:00pm - TBB: The Zajac Brothers Band

Saturday, August 28
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)

Sunday, August 29
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)

Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

The School district meeting calendar is found   https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

 

Community Calendar

Veterans Memorial Walkway - brick order deadline for Nov 2021 installation is Sep 17

Order an engraved brick for Veterans Day 2021

Honor your special veteran with an engraved brick this Veterans Day! Bricks may be purchased to pay tribute to anyone who served or is currently serving in the U.S. military.

The deadline for the November orders is September 17, 2021. Thanks to all who have honored our veterans by supporting this project!

Brick order forms are available at:   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/cid_e86af664-bc49-4e27-8f64-61ab92799386.pdf

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

Debra Martin

Franklin Veterans Services

10 Daniel McCahill Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Email: dmartin@franklinma.gov

T: 508.613.1315

BTW - if you have bought a brick and could not find where it is located, there is now a database of the bricks and installation points. The sections are numbered and rows identified whether starting from the Union St side or the Main St side.

https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/pages/veterans-memorial-walkway-brick-database

Veterans Memorial Walkway Update

FM #591 & 592 - School Committee Meeting - 08/24/21 - audio recording in 2 parts

FM #591 & 592 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 591 & 592 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the School Committee members were in the Municipal Bldg along with some of the public, other members of the public joined via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about an hour and forty eight minutes (1 hour 48 minutes), so I split the meeting into two segments:

• First - covers the opening, the handbook updates, and re-opening status (~56 mins)

• Second - covers the citizens comments on the masking policy from DESE, the consent agenda, through to the closing of the meeting (~53 mins)

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting Aug 24, 2021

 

Part 1 -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5f222fa5-c28e-4fea-990e-c82a38fadb91

Part 2 -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/78bb69ef-d83c-49e9-9562-dd85585b60af

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

School Committee Agenda doc (including connection info) ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sc-agenda-8-24-21

 

Agenda folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/august-24-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet

My notes captured during the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/recap-school-committee-meeting-82421.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"

 

FM #591 & 592 - School Committee Meeting - 08/24/21 - audio recording in 2 parts

MIAA statement on indoor mask wearing mandate

MIAA (@MIAA033) tweeted on Thu, Aug 26, 2021:

Read #MIAA statement from Executive Director Bob Baldwin regarding the recent indoor mask wearing mandate by @MASchoolsK12  

#OneTeamOneMIAA   

#maskupMIAA

😷 https://t.co/lB5Wr5onmp

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MIAA033/status/1430876874213924866?s=03

MIAA statement on indoor mask wearing mandate

.

"Climate change is fundamentally an issue of health equity and racial justice"

"AS THE WILDFIRES raged out west on July 26, we woke up to a hazy sky that was uncharacteristic of the Boston area.  The usual clear and clean skies of living next to the ocean disappeared and our air quality hit a dangerous and “unhealthy” level.  As healthcare workers looking at this thick smog, we knew to expect additional emergency department and office visits for respiratory complaints.  People with asthma, including children, would have a harder time breathing because of the increased soot and particles in the air. This polluted air may also increase the transmission of COVID-19.

The fact that our air could be polluted from wildfires on the other side of the country is a stark reminder of our interconnectedness. It demonstrates that no one is safe from the ravages of climate change.  Thousands of people in the Pacific Northwest visited emergency departments because of the extreme heatwave that swept through their communities this summer. Here in Boston, we experienced the hottest June on record, followed by the wettest July on record, and in August a tropical storm. As this is being published, we are in the midst of the fourth heat wave of 2021. For us, this translates into an unacceptable increase in the number of patients being treated in hospitals for heat exhaustion and asthma exacerbations."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/climate-change-is-fundamentally-a-health-issue/

 

Natalia Linos, a co-author of this article, is executive director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and a regular contributor to the wfpr.fm radio show "Toward a More Perfect Union"

We Are Convened - In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/we-are-convened-in-order-to-form-more.html

More Perfect Union can be found on Google Podcast (among others)

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tb3JlLXBlcmZlY3QtdW5pb24uY2FwdGl2YXRlLmZtL3Jzc2ZlZWQ

We Are Convened - In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

Mass.gov #COVID19MA vaccine update - Aug 26, 2021

Mass.gov (@MassGov) tweeted Thu, Aug 26, 2021:

Today's #COVID19MA vaccine update:

- 10,262,940 doses shipped to MA
- 9,146,498 total doses administered, 11,417 more than yesterday
- 4,472,630 people are fully vaccinated.

Read the full report: https://t.co/QFNcN55NVD

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassGov/status/1431003530849144840?s=03

Mass.gov #COVID19MA vaccine update

The Hill: "At least 90,000 students have had to quarantine because of COVID-19 so far this school year"

"Just weeks into the new school year, at least 90,000 children in 19 states have had to or are currently quarantining or isolating after contracting COVID-19 or coming into contact with someone who tested positive for the disease.

The disruptions have caused uncertainty for parents, students and school districts that had hoped to resume in-person instruction after a year marked by lockdowns and virtual learning.

The staggering number of K-12 students under quarantine is largely driven by the highly infectious delta variant that has taken hold as the dominant strain in the U.S.

....

Bans on school mask mandates and the fact that no vaccines have been approved for children under 12 are helping to drive cases."

Continue reading the article online

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/569565-at-least-90-thousand-students-have-had-to-quarantine-because-of-covid-19-so

Franklin Public Schools, MA: still looking to hire qualified candidates

FPS is hiring for a variety of positions districtwide.

We are seeking substitute teachers, school nurses, educational support professionals and more.

View the full list of employment opportunities here: https://t.co/jchQ1XRW0J

 

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1430643947274133506?s=03

The list of employment opportunities can also be found here

https://www.franklinps.net/district/human-resources/pages/employment-opportunities

Note: The School Committee and eventually the Town Council approved the budget to operate the school district. That authorization includes a set number of positions to fill, only a few of which were net new positions to the district. This continued hiring is to fill open slots created  by retirements, resignations and personnel which the district determined not to renew the contracts of. "New" teachers may be new to the district, they are not (aside from the few mentioned) new positions.

Franklin Public Schools, MA: still looking to hire qualified candidates