Thursday, November 25, 2021

On the fifth day before leaving Facebook, my true love sent to me

"On the fifth day before leaving Facebook 

My true love sent to me

Five regular meetings to report on"  (Town Council, Finance Committee, School Committee, Board of Health, Community Preservation Committee)


While I 'follow the money" with the Town Council, Finance Committee, and School Committee, the Board of Health and the Community Preservation Committee are usually scheduled such that I can regularly attend.


If you have an interesting in doing any reporting, please feel free to reach out and let me know.


The audio acknowledging the anniversary this November, and the leaving of Facebook.

There was life before Facebook and there will be life after. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/happy-anniversary-franklin-matters.html 

On the fifth day before leaving Facebook, my true love sent to me
On the fifth day before leaving Facebook, my true love sent to me

MetroWest Health Foundation awards Franklin Food Pantry grant

"The MetroWest Health Foundation announced it has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants to area organizations.

Based on the recommendations of the foundation’s Grant Panels and Distribution Committee, the Board of Trustees have approved the award of 29 new grants to MetroWest health and human service organizations. Included in this round of funding are grants to expand mental health services for youth, bolster organizational capacity building, and a new community engagement strategy focused on homeless Latinx youth.
....
Franklin Food Pantry $3,900 To provide trauma-informed nutrition training for staff and volunteers."

Continue reading the full article

Franklin vs. King Philip - The Thanksgiving Game - 11/25/21

Thanks to Hockomock Sports, for providing the Thanksgiving history for the Franklin vs. King Philip game -> https://t.co/RW612GY0eF #hockomock

"One last ROAR together for these Panthers tomorrow as they take on KP. 
Come on out as we celebrate our seniors @ 9:30 AM, Kickoff @ 10:00 AM. Tickets $10 for all. 
Live stream on Franklin TV:  EDU channel, Comcast 96 and Verizon 28 or click here:  https://franklintv.vod.castus.tv/vod/?live=ch2"

https://hockomocksports.com/history/thanksgiving/franklin-vs-king-philip/
https://hockomocksports.com/history/thanksgiving/franklin-vs-king-philip/


A Thanksgiving Thank You via the Neighbor Brigade

While this comes from the Neighbor Brigade home office, you can reach the Franklin group via this link ->  https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/d344e590-7541-488a-8594-34b5f451db96/1

Your support makes a difference in a neighbor's tomorrow
During a season where we celebrate thanks and gratitude, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank you. We are grateful to all of the staff, supporters, volunteers, and donors that support Neighbor Brigade and our mission to help our community neighbors in times of crisis. You are the lifeblood of our organization. We thank you and rely on your continued generosity for all we've done and continue to do.

Warmest wishes from all of us, to all of you, for a healthy and happy holiday season.
Volunteer
Join our team of 3,000+ caring volunteers and help your neighbors in crisis today.
Request Help
If you are need of our services and live in one of our 31 Chapter towns please apply online or call
(855)241-HELP
Neighbor Brigade
P.O. Box 735
Maynard, MA 01754
 855-241-HELP(4357)

Follow us on Social Media!
Neighbor Brigade | PO Box 735, Maynard, MA 01754

Sent by support@neighborbrigade.org powered by
Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.

"What’s One of the Most Dangerous Toys for Kids? The Internet." (video)

"We all know how difficult it can be to close our social media apps and walk away from our devices. Just one more scroll, we tell ourselves. Just one more peek at a link. And then, suddenly, we’re deep down the rabbit hole of yet another feed.

These apps are addictive by design. We know this. And we know full well who’s making a bundle off our weaknesses. (Howdy, Mark Zuckerberg!) But we still can’t help ourselves.

So, if we adults are seemingly powerless in the face of such digital temptation, where does that leave our kids?"

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/opinion/kids-internet-safety-social-apps.html

The video with this article is impressive. NY Times hosted it only on their site so, guess what, to see it, you need to go there. The irony of their complaint about the big tech companies is evident. Don't let it hinder the revelations of the article and video. The effect on kids we are paying for already (damage at FHS lavatories!).


Legislature Passes Genocide Education Bill

Legislature Passes Genocide Education Bill

LEGISLATURE PASSES GENOCIDE EDUCATION BILL

Establishes the Genocide Education Trust Fund to educate students on the history of genocide

The Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday passed An Act concerning genocide education to provide education to middle and high school students on the history of genocide and to promote the teaching of human rights issues.

"While past crimes against humanity cannot be undone, we must learn from them," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "After a rise in anti-Semitic incidences in our state and a noticeable decline in young people's understanding of the specifics or the seriousness of the Holocaust, it was clear something must be done. As a Jewish woman and daughter of a World War II veteran who liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure we educate our children on the many instances of genocide throughout history so that it is never repeated. I am grateful to Senator Rodrigues and his staff for their hard work on this legislation, to my Senate colleagues for their continued support, and to Speaker Mariano and our partners in the House for advancing this important legislation."

"As a former teacher, I recognize and value the importance of teaching about acts of genocide in an effort to stem bigotry and intolerance. This Genocide Education bill puts Massachusetts on a path to do exactly that," said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). "By requiring that all middle and high schools teach about the history of genocide, and how hatred and prejudice can lead to violence, we're taking a necessary step in the pursuit of increased education about the atrocities of the past, and how to avoid them in the future. I would like to thank chairs Michlewitz, Peisch and Roy for all of their work with the advocates to produce an impactful bill that will ensure meaningful change."

"With today's passage, the Legislature has taken decisive action to make sure young people are meaningfully educated about the history of genocide and stand ready to oppose its root causes, now and forever," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "Thank you to Senate President Spilka for her leadership and strong support, Senator Lewis for his commitment to this matter, my respective Senate colleagues, and our partners in the House for boldly standing with us to say that we will never forget the lessons of the past and will stand against the forces of division and ignorance. I would also like to thank my constituent, Dr. Ron Weisberger, the ADL, JCRC, MASC, MASS and the dedicated advocates for their support and tremendous efforts. Thanks to their collaboration with the legislature, Massachusetts will use the power of education to oppose hate in our communities, broaden public awareness, and shape our collective future."

The bill requires middle schools and high schools in the Commonwealth to include instruction on the history of genocide. This most recent iteration of the legislation comes as incidences of hate and anti-Semitism are on the rise across the country, with several incidents reported in Massachusetts over the past year.

In 2020, a widely reported survey commissioned by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which gauged Holocaust knowledge among millennials and Generation Z populations, found that 63 percent of survey respondents in the United States did not know six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. The survey also found that nearly half were unfamiliar with Nazi concentration camps like Auschwitz. Massachusetts does not currently require Holocaust education or other genocides as part of classroom curriculum.

"It is shocking how many young people today have never heard of the Auschwitz concentration camp, the Holocaust, or other heinous genocides perpetrated in the past," said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. "This important legislation will ensure that more students understand the history of genocide so that it never happens again. I'm grateful to Senator Michael Rodrigues for championing this legislation and to all of the educators and advocates who have worked to see this bill passed."

"While racial, ethnic, national, and religious violence has existed throughout the past and continues in the present, recent events suggest our collective knowledge of some of history's worst atrocities is waning. It is our responsibility to take steps to ensure we do not forget the past so that we can continue to build a better future, while still respecting the ability of individual school districts to shape the curricula of their students," said Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. "I'd like to thank Speaker Mariano, Chairman Michlewitz, and Chairman Roy for their leadership on this critical piece of legislation."

"With this law, we can arm our students with the knowledge they will need to recognize the warning signs and feel empowered to prevent genocides in the future," Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin), lead sponsor of the House bill and House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. "Making genocide education a mandatory topic for teaching in our schools is a reaffirmation of the commitment of free peoples from all nations to never again permit the occurrence of another genocide, and to deter indifference to crimes against humanity and human suffering wherever they occur."

This bill would establish a Genocide Education Trust Fund to promote and educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide. Funds in this trust would be used for the instruction of middle and high school students on the history of genocide and ensure the development of curricular materials, as well as to provide professional development training to assist educators in the teaching of genocide.

The legislation requires each school district to annually file a description of their lesson plan and programs related to genocide education with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The bill also establishes a competitive grant program that schools, and districts can apply to for additional programming support.

An Act concerning genocide education now moves to the governor's desk.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Talk Franklin - Thanksgiving and that extra piece of pie (audio)

FM #665 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 665 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing Communication Specialist Lily Rivera. We had our conversation in person in Jamie’s office in the Franklin Municipal Building.


We talk about: 

  • Thanksgiving, time for recap, time for thanks

  • Council recap

  • Council look ahead – tax rate hearing


Links to the key references are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 37 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Lily.

*** Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/68a3f469-8ed6-4806-a87d-8b4f679698b8


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


Town Council Agenda 11/17/21 document ->  

https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_meeting_agenda_nov_17_2021.pdf

 

My notes from the meeting 11/17/21 -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-town-council-hears-about-waiting.html

Agenda for the Dec 1, 2021 Town Council meeting is not yet available. It will be shared as soon as it is.


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


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"


Talk Franklin - Thanksgiving and that extra piece of pie (audio)
Talk Franklin - Thanksgiving and that extra piece of pie (audio)


Franklin Food Pantry: How you can help with a food drive

via the Franklin Food Pantry

"In this season of giving, we appreciate all who wish to donate food to us. Due to our neighbor needs and our staff capacity we are not able to accept unscheduled food drop offs.  
If you would like to schedule a food drive please visit our food and fund donation form and work with us to find out what our neighbors need the most and what time works to drop off the food. 
Thank you for your support and understanding."
Food drive form: 

Shared from Facebook: 
https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4960421323992442&id=105762322791724

Franklin Food Pantry: How you can help with a food drive
Franklin Food Pantry: How you can help with a food drive


Franklin Athletics announces broadcast of FHS football game vs. KP on Thanksgiving

"Our Thanksgiving Day Football game will be live-streamed on Franklin TV:  EDU channel, Comcast channel 96 and Verizon channel 28
Or go to https://franklintv.vod.castus.tv/vod/ and click on the button for "Pride TV". @FHSFAN @fhs_gridiron @KPSchoolDist @KPHSwarrior"

Franklin Athletics announces broadcast of FHS football game vs. KP on Thanksgiving
Franklin Athletics announces broadcast of FHS football game vs. KP on Thanksgiving

MIAA continues mask policy used for Fall sports to start Winter season


"This #MIAA memo regarding Winter Masking guidelines was recently sent to schools. #patience #understanding #OneTeamOneMIAA" 

 Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/LZBxAHutWu

MIAA continues mask policy used for Fall sports to start Winter season
MIAA continues mask policy used for Fall sports to start Winter season