Monday, August 30, 2021

FM #593 - Town Council Quarterbacking - 08/26/21 (audio)

FM #593 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 593 in the series. 


This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting: 


  • ok, what just happened? 

  • What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?


We cover the following key topics

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS     

Proclamation/Recognition: Dale Kurtz - Retirement, Veterans Service Officer

Recognition: Bristol Savings Bank - Donation to the Fire Department 

Recognition: Fourth of July Committee - Joe Carmignani & Paul Kortick


6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm        

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 21-874: Amendment to Ch.185 Section 21 Parking, Loading, and Driveway Requirements (to be continued)


7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS           

99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC d/b/a 99 Restaurant Pub #30130, Located at 847 West Central Street, 

Franklin, MA 02038, Change of Manager


8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS           

Department of Public Works: Trash & Recycling

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/8a._ppt_trash_fee_1.pdf


Councilor Comments – Kelly resignation


The show notes include links to the meeting agenda and associated documents.


Our conversation runs about 23 minutes, so let’s listen in to my quarterbacking session with Tom Mercer.


Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d4c2f940-6b9f-47eb-ad51-699bf0b516f7



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Agenda doc (including connection info) ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/08-18-2021_town_council_agenda_packet.pdf 


Agenda folder -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/august-18-town-council-agenda 


Town Council recording (video by Franklin TV) -> https://franklintv.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=ff2fcc25-3de0-4f4e-967e-731221d0fc5f&nav=programs%2FTown%20Council%2008-18-21 


I was out of town and missed the meeting so I have no notes to share.


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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 #593 - Town Council Quarterbacking - 08/26/21  (audio)
FM #593 - Town Council Quarterbacking - 08/26/21  (audio)

Franklin.TV: Time for Ice Cream! 3

We Got Social – at a Distance. - by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 08/29/2021

Our Socially Distant Ice-cream Social took place at Davis Thayer on Wednesday.

Cathy Liberty on WCVB, Channel 5, talking about the importance of vaccination.

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfprfm.
And, thank you for watching.


Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  or for archive purposes   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dIzl-0zJSvdmERQVa9pTzEnytidP0N41/view?usp=sharing

Franklin.TV: Time for Ice Cream! 3
Franklin.TV: Time for Ice Cream! 3


Is the Group Fitness Instructor Opening at Timeless Crossfit a good fit for you?

"Timeless CrossFit and Fitness is looking for a passionate, hardworking Group Fitness Instructor to fill a part-time position. Timeless is a community of people who value health and fitness, and we are committed to helping our members reach their goals.

We have an immediate opening for a fitness professional who will build relationships with our members, who will embody our culture, and is passionate about changing lives, while having a blast doing it!"
For more details and to apply visit the web page here ->

Visit Timeless to see the programs they offer ->  https://www.timelesscrossfit.com/
 
Is the Group Fitness Instructor Opening at Timeless Crossfit a good fit for you?
Is the Group Fitness Instructor Opening at Timeless Crossfit a good fit for you?


Register O'Donnell Promotes Homestead Act

Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell today reminded Norfolk County homeowners about the importance of filing for Homestead protection. 

O'Donnell noted, "If you own a home, and it is your primary residence, one way to protect it is to file a Homestead. The Homestead law provides a homeowner with limited protection against the forced sale of their primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. This is especially important when you consider that for most of us, a home is our most valuable asset.  Consumers should take steps to protect that asset." 

Another feature of the Homestead law is the allowance for a filing of an Elderly Homestead application, which defines an elder as a person who is 62 years of age or older. This protection can be increased if the elderly couple are each 62 years of age or older and file jointly.

The Register further noted, "Back in March of 2011, the Homestead law was updated so that a valid Homestead cannot be terminated when refinancing a mortgage. Other changes that took place back in 2011 state that a Homestead can provide protections for a primary home even if it is kept in trust. The definition of a primary residence was also further expanded to include a manufactured or mobile home." 

While a Homestead provides important protections for homeowners, it is important to note there are certain debts that are exempted from protection under the Homestead Act. These include federal, state and local tax liens, as well as mortgages contracted for the purchase of a primary home and nursing home liens. Most other mortgages, debts, and encumbrances existing prior to the filing of the Declaration of Homestead, along with probate court executions for spousal and child support, are also not covered under the Homestead protection statute. 

Homestead documents are recorded at the Registry of Deeds for a state imposed fee of $36.00. Additional information about the Homestead law, and free applications are available by going to the Registry's website at www.norfolkdeeds.org.  

Register O'Donnell concluded, "I want to reiterate that a Homestead provides limited protection against the forced sale of a homeowner's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. While the debt is still owed, homeowners can have peace of mind knowing that with a Homestead recorded at the Registry of Deeds, their primary residence cannot be forcibly sold to satisfy most debts. If you have any questions about a Homestead, please contact our Customer Service Center at 781-461-6101, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30AM-4:30PM. Our trained staff are more than willing to answer any questions you may have."

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at Facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham.  The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information.  All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website www.norfolkdeeds.org.  Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org. 

Register O'Donnell Promotes Homestead Act
Register O'Donnell Promotes Homestead Act


"poetry reminds me of those mysterious truths that can’t be reduced solely to linear thought"

"In this weary and vulnerable place, poetry whispers of truths that cannot be confined to mere rationality or experience. In a seemingly wrecked world, I’m drawn to Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Autumn” and recall that “there is One who holds this falling/Infinitely softly in His hands.” When the scriptures feel stale, James Weldon Johnson preaches through “The Prodigal Son” and I hear the old parable anew. On tired Sundays, I collapse into Wendell Berry’s Sabbath poems and find rest.

I’m not alone in my interest in this ancient art form. Poetry seems to be making a comeback. According to a 2018 survey by the National Endowment for the Arts, the number of adults who read poetry nearly doubled in five years, marking the highest number on record for the last 15 years. The poet Amanda Gorman stole the show at this year’s presidential inauguration, and her collection “The Hill We Climb” topped Amazon’s best-seller list.

There is not a simple or singular reason for this resurgence. But I think a particular gift of poetry for our moment is that good poems reclaim the power and grace of words."
Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required) 
I wake fearful
take a breath
realize
it is a
new day, we
can do this!

For more sherku and other verse I write visit https://www.quietpoet.com/


in our age of social media, words are often used as weapons. Poetry instead treats words with care
"in our age of social media, words are often used as weapons. Poetry instead treats words with care"


Edison Research: "streaming now accounts for 12% of AM/FM radio listening in the US"

"Edison Research’s Share of Ear® shows highest proportion ever of AM/FM Listening to streaming v. over-the-air

 The most recent Share of Ear® study from Edison Research finds that 12% of all AM/FM radio listening is via streaming, while 88% of listening is done to a traditional, over-the-air radio signal.

AM/FM radio content in the U.S. is now available through a variety of digital apps and devices, making radio listening possible on computers, smartphones, smart speakers, and through radio station websites, apps, and third party apps. Although streaming AM/FM content continues to see small amounts of incremental growth each year, and at 12% is the highest measure yet, the largest amount of listening goes to the over-the-air (OTA) signals from devices such as car radios and clock radios."


For more about Share of Ear®  
https://www.shareofear.com/

You can help increase the 12% by listening to Franklin Public Radio where ever you are on the internet at wfpr.fm

Edison Research’s Share of Ear® study is the only research that measures the entire world of audio, looking at platform of listening, time of day, device on which the audio was consumed, the kind of programming, and the location of listening
Edison Research’s Share of Ear® study is the only research that measures the entire world of audio, looking at platform of listening, time of day, device on which the audio was consumed, the kind of programming, and the location of listening

 

The Washington Post: "How the pandemic set back women’s progress in the global workforce"

"The first year of the pandemic knocked 54 million women around the world out of work, widening the gender gap in employment. It could take years for that gap to narrow again. 
Of the women who lost jobs in 2020, almost 90 percent exited the labor force completely, compared with around 70 percent of men. 
How did this happen? Country-level data offers clues. The Washington Post analyzed available data and focused on three countries that offered revealing case studies: Peru, Thailand and France."

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required) 

Found via Twitter:  https://t.co/oElQCSG1wO

Huapaya worked during the early months of the pandemic at a restaurant, where she cut her hand on a bottle. She now works as a house cleaner twice a month and as a nanny for another family and sells meals on Sundays. (Daniela Rivera Antara for The Washington Post)
Huapaya worked during the early months of the pandemic at a restaurant, where she cut her hand on a bottle. She now works as a house cleaner twice a month and as a nanny for another family and sells meals on Sundays. (Daniela Rivera Antara for The Washington Post)


Sunday, August 29, 2021

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 1, 2021

Town Council Meeting

September 1, 2021 - 7:00 PM
Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers
355 East Central Street


1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
a. Police Department:
i. Nick Palmieri, Promotion to Sergeant
ii. Jack Flynn, Promotion to Detective
iii. Victoria McVicar, New Hire Introduction & Ceremonial Swearing in
iv. Patrick MacDonald, New Hire Introduction & Ceremonial Swearing in
5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Richard C. Johnson, Conservation Commission   
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/5a._appointment_r_johnston.pdf
6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm
a. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 21-874: Amendment to Ch.185 Section 21 Parking, Loading, and Driveway Requirements proposed change to minimum parking requirements in Downtown Commercial and Commercial I zoning districts.
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 
a. Karen Maguire - Superintendent of Schools, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
a. 2020-2021 Town Council Goals Update  
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/11a._2020-2021_town_council_goals_update_as_we_go.pdf
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Considering the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board.
15. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
a. Discussion of possible land acquisition depending on the outcome of the Executive Session.
16. ADJOURN

Note:
  • Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
  • Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 1, 2021
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 1, 2021


Franklin High School: Back To School Newsletter

Franklin High School (@FranklinHS) tweeted Sat, Aug 28, 2021:
Back To School FHS Newsletter! 
https://t.co/Xck36Vxl12   or here ->   https://www.canva.com/design/DAEoOXzqzT8/of-9Lli6oUg8pVeQlZSRqg/view#1

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinHS/status/1431633435819487246?s=03

Franklin High School: Back To School Newsletter
Franklin High School: Back To School Newsletter




FHS Baseball Boosters schedule golf tournament fund raiser - Oct 18

Jill Lyons (@JillLyons21) tweeted at 9:18 AM on Fri, Aug 27, 2021:
Come join us for a Fall morning of golf and support FHS baseball!  
It's sure to be a fun time!⚾️⛳️ https://t.co/kFTJUUdwcr
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillLyons21/status/1431244659746123780?s=03

FHS Baseball Boosters schedule golf tournament fund raiser - Oct 18
FHS Baseball Boosters schedule golf tournament fund raiser - Oct 18


International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31, 2021

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted Sat, Aug 28, 2021:
The SAFE Coalition and local leaders will gather for a vigil on Tuesday, August 31st at 6:30 PM in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day. 
All are welcome to attend. https://t.co/8U5XPVNfj6
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1431713966003208193?s=03

International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31, 2021
International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31, 2021


"Mass. should require vaccination for all teachers and eligible students"

Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) tweeted Sun, Aug 29, 2021:
I was honored to be asked by the vice chair of the Worcester Board of Health Dr. Jerry Gurwitz to jointly write a piece calling for a state vaccine mandate for all eligible in our schools.
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1431920387990904833?s=03

"LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH, school committees, and municipal leaders are struggling to navigate through the challenges of assuring that all eligible school children and teachers are vaccinated. Increased urgency around the need for vaccination follows from the alarming turn the pandemic has taken. The highly contagious Delta variant has very rapidly become the dominant strain across Massachusetts and the country as a whole.

While vaccination efforts across the Commonwealth continue, low vaccination rates in adolescents are extremely concerning, especially in our largest cities. In Worcester, among those ages 12 to 19, 6 out of 10 have not been fully vaccinated. Even with enhanced vaccination efforts, including the opening of new clinics over the coming weeks, these numbers are unlikely to change substantially prior to the opening of schools or in the first weeks of the school year unless the state mandates vaccinations for eligible students — as well as for teachers and staff."

 Continue to read the article online  https://t.co/SUuTTGWwRl

"Mass. should require vaccination for all teachers and eligible students"
"Mass. should require vaccination for all teachers and eligible students"


Dean College is looking for part-time Academic Coaches, is that calling for you?

Dean College is looking for part-time Academic Coaches


ACADEMIC COACH (PART TIME DAYTIME)

"The Academic Coach at Dean College provides a strategy-based approach to academic support for students enrolled in Academic Coaching, a fee-based learning program open to all students at the institution. Academic Coaches work both in person with students to address immediate academic needs while developing long-term independent skills in studying, reading, and organization. Academic Coaches help students become independent learners. Time management, organization and long-term planning are some of the skills that students gain through their experience in Academic Coaching. 
This is a fall-spring semester, part-time position fifteen to twenty-nine hours per week for 14 weeks each semester. Prospective candidates' must be available to work at least three days per week."

https://dean.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=135372

ACADEMIC COACH (PART TIME EVENINGS)

"The Academic Coach at Dean College provides a strategy-based approach to academic support for students enrolled in Academic Coaching, a fee-based learning program open to all students at the institution. Academic Coaches work with students to address immediate academic needs, while developing long-term independent skills in studying, reading, and organization. Academic Coaches help students become independent learners and to eventually transition away from tutorial support. Time management, organization and long-term planning are some of the skills that students gain through their experience in Academic Coaching.

This is a fall-spring semester, part-time position; eight to twelve hours per week for 14 weeks each semester. Prospective candidates' must be available to work at least two evenings per week for extended hours. Must be able to work additional days/evenings (or occasional weekends) to make up hours when necessary."

https://dean.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=133191

 
Dean College is looking for part-time Academic Coaches, is that calling for you?
Dean College is looking for part-time Academic Coaches, is that calling for you?

Saturday, August 28, 2021

COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine updates, including Franklin's vaccine stats - a quick recap

1 - Maura George (@maurageorgemd) tweeted Fri, Aug 27, 2021:
As a mom of 3 little boys, I am desperate to get my kids' childhood back to normal. As a doctor, I want data to know that what we're doing is actually effective. I was floored when I graphed these numbers from ATL schools this week. #maskmandate https://t.co/7prNuI7XAQ
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/maurageorgemd/status/1431368291948302347?s=03

Georgia Dept. of Public Health data -> https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report

COVID-19 cases in Atlanta students, mask mandate
COVID-19 cases in Atlanta students, mask mandate


2. "Children’s hospitals around the country are seeing a surge in Covid-19 patients"
"As the Delta variant grips the country, children who are not yet eligible for vaccination are at higher risk of being infected — especially in places where the virus is surging. A New Orleans children’s hospital had so many Covid-19 patients that a federal “surge team” was called in to bolster an exhausted staff.

Children under 12 may have to wait until the end of the year to get vaccinated. Half of the adolescents in the U.S. have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, the White House said on Friday."
Via the New York Times Friday highlights->    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/briefing/kabul-evictions-candyman.html

The full article and heart rendering photos can be found ->


3 -  "Why Provincetown’s Response to Its COVID Outbreak Was So Effective"
"Source investigation complements standard contact tracing; it’s not a substitute. When outbreaks are detected, people need to be informed immediately, so they can get tested and ensure they are not unknowingly spreading the virus. Once a cluster is detected, venues should re-evaluate their COVID mitigation measures and ensure that staff are vaccinated and ventilation systems refresh indoor air at least four to six times per hour. High-risk venues should keep lists of patrons, and outreach to customers through social media can be very effective. Mandating that customers are vaccinated, as New York, San Francisco and New Orleans have done, may not suffice to prevent outbreaks. Some European countries are requiring evidence of a negative coronavirus test for unvaccinated people entering indoor entertainment venues.

The Provincetown outbreak occurred as thousands of people arrived to celebrate the Fourth of July, believing their vaccinations would protect them against infection. When infected people began feeling ill, some didn’t immediately attribute their symptoms to COVID-19 because of the widespread belief that breakthrough infections were almost impossible. After the cases emerged, the local health department’s investigation was undoubtedly helped by strong word-of-mouth communication, as many infections affected members of the gay community, a group that for decades has witnessed the effects of the AIDS pandemic. Since then, many local businesses have reassessed their COVID mitigation measures, the town reinstituted an indoor mask mandate and new cases have leveled off."
Also from the New York Times, where the full article can be found ->  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/opinion/provincetown-covid-contact-tracing.html


4 -CNN’s Leana Wen: ‘Public health is now under attack in a way that it has not been before’

An excerpt from the full interview (which is definitely worth reading to get the full context:
"Yeah. It’s the height of American exceptionalism that we are where we are. I have family in other parts of the world where health-care workers and vulnerable elderly people are begging to get the vaccine. And here, we’re sitting on stockpiles and begging people to take the vaccine.

I think how we got here is complicated, right? I agree with the surgeon general in issuing the advisory about misinformation and disinformation — certainly that plays a big role here. There are individuals out there who are knowingly spreading misinformation. There are others who are clicking and then, unfortunately, sharing misinformation that’s leading to question that and the efficacy of vaccines. That misinformation is taking away people’s freedom to make decisions for themselves and their families.

And I think the Biden administration needs to take some responsibility here, also, for their miscalculation and misjudgment in being so uneasy about vaccine verification and relying on the honor code. Come on. Did they really think that the honor system was going to work during a pandemic when many people behaved so dishonorably? The honor system did not work. And, of course, the unvaccinated are now running around living their lives as if they are vaccinated. And that’s led to the surge that we are now seeing. We lost the powerful incentive to increase vaccines in that really important window."

5 - Via the MA.gov DPH weekly updates, here is the vaccine statistics by age group for Franklin, Not that the population up to 11 years old is excluded as the vaccine is not yet authorized for them.

Boston Globe article with their coverage on this week's data

My downloaded copy filtered for Franklin data (as of 8/26/21)

The full data file can be found on the MA Gov page

Franklin's vaccine stats as of 8/26/21
Franklin's vaccine stats as of 8/26/21


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

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


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