Recap: Board of Health hears multiple updates; congratulates staff on vaccine clinic success (audio)

Quick Recap:

• Status update on 27 Winter St heard, keeping eye on progress, owner may need to appear for Feb 2022 meeting if no action taken for demolition of building
• Nurse picked up contact tracing as collaborative ended in November; starting health check for Central Park Terrace residents
• Both COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the youth went well with over 280 does delivered each time. Kudos to the team for great execution, thanks is not enough!

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter while I attended the meeting via the Zoom conf bridge. 

 

The Twitter hashtag #BoH1208 can be found online The thread begins with  

https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/status/1468704858089873419

Board of Health agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/12-8-21.pdf 

• Real time reporting for the Board of Health meeting underway, #BoH1208, approved minutes by 3-0 vote via roll call, status of 27 Winter St some evidence of work around building/property, should have an update for Jan 2022 from owner …
  
• Per carryover from prior meeting, if no progress owner due at Feb meeting. Update from nurse, COVID clinic success, some doses left over; also visiting Central Park Terrace to do health checks and address items as they arise. #BoH1208
  
• Contact tracing collaborative ended in Nov, nurse Alisha now picking up that contact tracing as needed. #BoH1208 discussion on monthly meeting dates, possible adjustments to Jun/Jul dates sliding one week; discussion non text around Title V change in language to clarify … 
  
• To be brought to a future agenda for a formal hearing, reading of potential change to alleviate duplication of effort. #BoH1208 worth noting that clinic performance was well done, staff, volunteers, etc.  very well done and received, thank you is hollow!
  
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0 via roll call #BoH1208

 Meeting audio -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0dae85a8-d883-4934-95af-cb93dcf9bdb4

Recap: Board of Health hears multiple updates

Cobi's Corner: A Time for Reflection

As my new term begins, I am reflecting on the progress we have made!

12/06/2021 Cobi's Corner Hey Neighbors! As the Fall comes to a close, the past few months have centered on reflection and community feedback. I am excited to share the continued progress we've made on pursuing our priorities. If you are joining us for the first time, welcome! Here are my past seasonal updates: Winter - Getting Started Spring - Collecting Information Summer - Taking Action In personal news... My State House work has been abuzz with all things offshore wind! I recently co-authored reports on workforce development and legislative recommendations. I was honored to be highlighted as a UMass Amherst alum. Reach out if you or a student ever have any questions about my experience! Feel free to follow along with what I'm reading! My latest books include The Bluest Eye and Between the World and Me. As always, please reach out if you ever have any thoughts or questions! Your Franklin neighbor, The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, follow this link ->    https://mailchi.mp/5abe6e3e42a1/a-time-for-reflection Copyright © 2021 Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo PO Box 562 Franklin, MA 02038-0562

Holiday Pop up Market at Fresh Start Market - Dec 18

"Come shop our Holiday Pop up Market and help support local artists. From stocking suffers to delicious local foods for your holiday gatherings, we'll have something for everyone's tastes. Local artists will be selling their wares, we'll be hosting food tastings, and Franklin's Girl Scouts will be outside selling cookies. 

We are New England's only premier 100% locally sourced New England healthy food grocery market and every purchase will help local businesses. "

Follow the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/437409904668301 

Holiday Pop up Market at Fresh Start Market - Dec 18

Holiday Happenings and Gift Guide 2021

Via the Franklin Downtown Partnership comes this Holiday Happenings and Gift Guide to remind residents to shop local! See the guide here -> 

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Holiday-Happenings-and-Gift-Guide-2021.html?soid=1120641810412&aid=RexW7tKUQpk

Holiday Happenings and Gift Guide 2021

Franklin.TV Open Meeting - Thursday Dec 9, 2021 - 5 PM

Franklin●TV Annual Open Board Meeting

This year our Annual Open Board Meeting will be conducted online only as a virtual meeting via Zoom.  The link is:   857  7708  6916

Join us, Thursday, December 9^th at 5:00pm.

Questions?  Email:  info@franklin.tv 

This brief meeting is open to all Franklin businesses and residents.  Learn more about Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm.  We'll review our progress during the past year and discuss plans for the future.  At the meeting you may cast a vote for new and/or renewing board positions.  This year we will vote to continue Jay Horrigan's board position for an additional three year term. 
 
Excerpt from FCCA bylaws:  (Available on our website.)

Section 15. Election of Director by the Membership (a) Members shall be notified by the Clerk of the election of a director by the Membership at the Annual Meeting. Said notice shall be in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4 of this Article IV. (b) Any eligible voting Member may be nominated for election to the position of Director by: (i) Written notification to the Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to Annual Meeting; or (ii) By nomination from the floor of the Annual Meeting made and seconded by no less than three (3) eligible voting members.

 
Our facility enables us to provide full production support for Franklin residents and groups who wish to create TV and radio programs.  Thanks to our board members who contribute their time and energy to help make Franklin●TV all that a public access studio can be.  If you would like to become involved either as a volunteer or produce your own TV or radio programs at Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm, just send an email to:  info@franklin.tv with your contact information.  You can also call us to discuss and help you develop your program ideas.  508-541-4118.

See you then

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf     

Franklin●TV Annual Meeting - Dec 9, 2021

Recap: Community Preservation Committee approves meeting schedule, reviews sample plans/applications, sets Jan 4 and 18 as public hearings

Quick Recap:

• A short 21 minute meeting saw the introduction of new member Rick Power. He will represent the Planning Board and was unable to vote until formally approved by the Town Council.
• The proposed schedule of meetings for 2022 mostly Tuesday nights to avoid conflict with School Committee and other meetings in the Council Chambers was approved by 8-0 vote.
• Discussion on sample plans and applications used by other communities. Watertown's plan and Concord's application were touted and generally received agreement to be used as the 'template' for the Franklin version
• Public hearings scheduled for Jan 4 and Jan 18 to allow the community to provide input and suggestions to develop the 'wish list' for how the CPA funds can be used.

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter while I attended the meeting in the Council Chambers. 

 

The Twitter hashtag #CPC1207 can be found online The thread begins with  

https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/status/1468368023450968065 

• getting ready for the Community Preservation Committee meeting tonight - agenda doc -> https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2021-12-07_cpc_packet.pdf…  #cpc1207
• meeting opens, motion to approve minutes of Oct 2021, passes 8-0 - new member representing the planning board is here listening/observing, can't officially vote yet (requires Town Council approval). #cpc1207
• discussion on proposed scheduled for meetings for 2022; motion to approve, passes 8-0 #cpc1207  (BTW - Rick Power is the representative from the Planning Board)
• discussion on CPC application and sample plans from other communities - see links in the agenda doc https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2021-12-07_cpc_packet.pdf…  #cpc1207
• two public hearings scheduled for Jan 4 and 18 to enable community input for the 'wish list' for which to use the CPA funds available in Nov/Dec 2022 #cpc1207
• Watertown plan touted as a good sample (side note, Watertown leveraged our charter once upon a time) #cpc1207 Concord application touted as a good one for consideration as a guide for Franklin's development
• The Town does have their own items for the 'wish list' one can look to the capital requests and see what of those make sense to use with CPA vs. remaining on the list for use with capital funds (i.e. free cash) #ccp1207
• consideration of applications as 'rolling' but have some level of 'cutoff' to enable the due diligence and prioritization to being before CPC for approval and then the Town Council #cpc1207
• expectation of the 4th and 18th is to open the listening session for ideas of possible use of the CPA funds #cpc1207
• motion to adjourn, passes 8-0 #cpc1207

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2c5102d4-6125-4beb-8e01-6732cdff24de

Recap: Community Preservation Committee

2022 Spring Registration for Franklin Girls Softball is Now Open!

Click on the "Register" button in the top right corner of the https://www.fgsafastpitch.org/ page to get started!

2022 Spring Registration for Franklin Girls Softball is Now Open!

Franklin, MA is a location for COVID-19 Testing for Child Care

COVID-19 Testing for Child Care

Department of Early Education & Care (EEC) will be offering No-Cost COVID-19 drive-through testing for the child care community at locations across Massachusetts. Get Tested. Testing for COVID-19 is widely available in Massachusetts and critically important to preventing the spread.

 

For additional information on the testing process and requirements

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-testing-for-child-care

Franklin is a location for COVID-19 Testing for Child Care

Add MBTA bus drivers to the growing list of driver shortages

"THE MBTA is paring back service on 31 bus routes and the Mattapan trolley because it doesn’t have enough workers to provide the scheduled service.

Starting December 19, T officials said some service will be added on a handful of routes, but overall service levels during the winter will be declining by about 3 percent to reflect a large dropoff in the number of drivers available. The transit authority on Monday put out a call on Twitter for more drivers, saying 300 positions need to be filled. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/lacking-drivers-t-starts-paring-back-service/

Add MBTA bus drivers to the growing list of driver shortages

 

MyFM 101.3 Wins Coveted “Station of the Year” Award

“I will never take winning this award lightly or for granted.  To win this award once is an amazing accomplishment, but to win it a record 11 times is simply unheard of in the industry.  I can’t say enough about my staff, our listeners, fans and followers, and all the local partners we’ve developed over the years” said Tom McAuliffe, owner of MyFM Media. 

With a commitment to community, and a little light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, MyFM Media launched their first ever MyFM Quest for the Best Contest.  This initiative was designed to inject some serious positivity back into the community by shining a spotlight on the incredible local businesses who have endured, innovated, and found new and better ways to serve their customers and clients during the toughest economic period in almost 100 years.

The MyFM Quest for the Best Contest simply exploded and grew into the biggest promotion this region had ever seen with over 1,200 local businesses nominated in over 234 categories, and then over 256,000 votes in just 2 weeks!  

“We believed our listeners, fans and followers were sick and tired of toxic politics and pandemic talk and we were right.  I think this was the number one reason why the judges from the Wyoming Broadcasters Association selected MyFM,” McAuliffe said.

"The Station of the Year Award is the one award that every station strives to win.  It's the most cherished station award the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association presents,” explained Jordan Walton, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association.  “My FM 101.3 truly epitomizes what 

LOCAL radio, and service to the community is all about, and we're proud to salute them with this honor for a record 11th time.”

“The Station of the Year” award is presented annually by the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association to the most outstanding radio station in the Commonwealth, and is open to all of the more than 200 radio stations.

The “Station of the Year” award is given to the top station in Massachusetts that exemplifies overall excellence in all phases of operation.  The judges, members of the Wyoming Broadcasters Association, cited MyFM 101.3 had experienced extraordinary growth of audience, client base, but most importantly, MyFM was providing exceptional service to their listeners, community officials, and local organizations.

About MyFM 101.3

My FM 101.3 & WMRC 1490AM have been on the air since 1956, making it one of the oldest, continuously locally owned and operated radio stations in Massachusetts. 

Tom McAuliffe II owns and operates the station with his wife Megan. MyFM 101.3 is located right “In the Heart of It all” between Boston, Worcester & Providence with a population exceeding 750,000 people.  For more information of the station visit MyFMMedia.com.

 

MyFM 101.3 staff photo