Community Preservation Committee - Public Hearing #2 - Jan 18, 2022

Community Preservation Committee - Public Hearing #2

The Franklin Community Preservation Committee will hold two public hearings, Hearing #1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 7:10 P.M. and Hearing #2, Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7:10pm. These informational hearings will involve a discussion of Franklin’s needs, possibilities and resources regarding community preservation and the use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to address these issues, as permitted by the CPA.

This meeting will be held in person in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Municipal Building at 355 East Central Street and remotely via the “ZOOM” platform. Residents can visit the Town Website (Franklinma.gov) and click on the Town Calendar for up to date information on how to access the meeting. If you have any questions, please call the Town Administrator’s Office at (508) 520-4949.

Submitted by,
Alecia Alleyne
Licensing Administrator

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2021-12-20_cpc_legal_ad__0.pdf

Community Preservation Committee - Public Hearing #2 - Jan 18, 2022

Wright Old School Chocolate will be at the Winter Farmers Market - Dec 18

Where do you #shopFranklin for chocolate? Wright Old School Chocolate is available at the Winter Farmers Market on Saturday, December 18th from 10 am - 2 pm. 

Get your "bean-to-bar artisan chocolate" at the Fairmount Farm Market at 885 Lincoln Street, Franklin, MA.

Listen to the Wright Old School  Chocolate Story ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/fm-577-inside-wright-old-school.html

Shop for Wright Chocolates online ->  https://wrightoldschoolchocolate.com/

Wright Old School Chocolate will be at the Winter Farmers Market - Dec 18

Winter 2022 Art Classes Starting Soon

Winter Watercolor PLUS

10 week class - $115

Find your 'me' time and immerse yourself in your own creations! Beginning watercolorists will learn the basics while more experienced watercolorists can enhance their skill and style at their level of watercolor. - Beginning Monday, January 10

The Art of Acrylic Painting

10 week class - $115

Just starting to paint? Or are you looking to continue to develop your painting skills? Well, this class is for you. Learn different painting techniques with acrylic paints using a toothbrush, cards, & more. - Beginning Wednesday, January 12

Hand Built Pottery

Two-Night Workshop - $65

Always wanted to try pottery, but couldn't find the time? Here's your chance! Spend two evenings molding and glazing clay into unique ceramic creations using hands-on techniques. NOTE: Fee includes materials, glazing and kiln fee.  - Beginning Tuesday, April 5

For more class options & additional details visit:  www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

Winter 2022 Art Classes Starting Soon

Request to add Diwali as an observed holiday

Copy of KP Sompally's statement made during Citizens Comment at the Franklin School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2021:

"Request to add Diwali as an observed holiday to the list of no-school days.

I am a community member, volunteer, and parent (my child attends Franklin High School.) I would like to request that the School Committee discuss at a future meeting about DIWALI as an observed holiday 

• The Town of Franklin observes numerous holidays – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and many more.

• We connected to each other through our different cultures with respective values. We have people from different ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We’re a growing town with good representation from several communities. Adopting an inclusive approach allows diversity to flourish

• Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by people of multiple faiths, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists

• Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The festival celebrates over 5 days, culminating on Diwali Day which is new moon day 

• About 800 Franklin families celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights and could celebrate well by being together, if it is a holiday 

Every year, I am one of 5 million Americans who celebrate Diwali across our nation. I think it’s all more important to educate people about other backgrounds so that we can all live more in harmony, tolerance and inclusion. A holiday for Diwali will be a great inspiration for students who are trying to fulfill Franklin public school’s mission of being a global citizen

Making it a school holiday would help people of the town better understand its cultural significance, it would definitely give a message to the world that Franklin is flourishing by giving significant importance to diversity. 

I appreciate the time and effort the school committee puts into our school wellness ultimately protecting our town's future and values. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter. If you would like to discuss this request further, 

Thank you for your time, service and consideration. 

Sincerely, 

KP Sompally"

 

For more about Diwali -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Congressman Jake Auchincloss joined to celebrate Diwali at the Franklin Library in November, 2021  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/diwali-festival-celebrated-at-franklin.html

Congressman Auchincloss poses with some of the gathering

Citizen Comment - about "punitive exclusionary consequences on disabled student"

If you listened/watched the School Committee meeting Tuesday (12/14/21), one of the parent comments was hard for me to follow but could be summarized as:

"Parent with policy issue, allowing schools to use punitive exclusionary consequences on disabled student for having symptom of a disability that they knowingly failed to support while claiming to be instituting restorative practices"

Did get a handout from the parent to share here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ftw_dHiDqx1j4j8OgwNPLxOpYU9JiCkw/view?usp=sharing

 

Citizen Comment - about "punitive exclusionary consequences on disabled student"

Franklin Public Schools: District Newsletter - December 2021

FHS Masking Updates, District Highlights and more!

Franklin Public Schools District Newsletter December 2021 Food Services District Calendar School Committee Transportation 21-22 School Calendar There will be no school December 24th-31st. Classes will resume on January 3rd, 2022. FHS Masking Policy & District COVID-19 Dashboard The effort to lift masking for vaccinated Franklin High School students and staff only has been postponed until further notice. A mask mandate will go into effect on Friday, December 17th, 2021 at Franklin High School regardless of vaccination status. The Town of Franklin percent positivity rate is the driving factor for this decision. Please see the Letter to FHS Families sent on the evening of December 15th, 2021 below... Dear FHS Community, We have an update regarding our positivity rate within the Franklin community. We learned, through a conversation with the Franklin Health Department today, that our 14-day % positivity rate is 4.24% and we anticipate that this value is going to be reported in the MA DPH COVID dashboard tomorrow evening. As an adjustment we will be encouraging all vaccinated students and staff to wear masks tomorrow Thursday, December 16th. As you know, unvaccinated students and staff are required to wear masks. We will be returning to the school committee's policy mandate that all students and staff wear masks beginning Friday, December 17th, regardless of vaccination status. This mandate will be in place as long as our 14-day % positivity rate is above 4%. I can appreciate the varied responses to this message and would like to welcome anyone with any questions to email me directly.   Sincerely, Joshua Hanna, Principal You can access the latest supplemental informational videos, letters to FHS families and plan details here. Please note: The district weekly COVID-19 Dashboard is available on our back to school website and is updated the first day following a weekend or school break. MIAA Gymnastics Coach of the Year The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announced our very own Paula Lupien as the Gymnastics coach of the year! "Earning this prestigious honor does not surprise me in the least. When it comes to coaching, Coach Lupien is the total package. I attribute the success of our Gymnastics program to Coach Lupien's meticulous attention to detail, her love for her student-athletes, and overall dedication to the coaching profession." - Athletic Director, Tom Angelo Each coach will be recognized at the annual MIAA Awards Banquet in January and will be nominated for the NFHS Sectional and National Coach of the Year Award. View the full list of recipients here. Performing Arts: Upcoming Concerts Bravo to the students at FHS and ASMS who showcased their incredible talents at our concerts so far this month! Be sure to check out our upcoming performances. Upcoming Concerts 12/15 RMS Concert - 6pm at the HMMS 6pm. (snow date 12/20) 12/20 String School of Franklin Winter Concert - 6 PM at the HMMS Auditorium 1/19 FHS Jazz Concert - 7pm at the FHS Auditorium 1/20 Musical Theatre Showcase - 7pm at the FHS Auditorium For many, the winter months are a time of celebration, however, we recognize that these cold and dark months can have a negative impact on our mental health. For those in need of additional mental health support, we recommend utilizing the William James College INTERFACE Referral Service. Their website hosts a wide variety of community resources and their referral service can get you the specialized support you need without having to strain yourself looking for it. Access resources here. The FPS Inclement Weather Policy outlines the decision making process for school cancellation or delays in response to weather related incidents. Families are encouraged to review the policy as we enter the start of the winter season. View the policy here. Professional Teacher Status Ceremony 53 educators earned the honor of obtaining Professional Teachers Status over the last 2 years and the District was glad to be able to reconvene, recognize and celebrate them with a small ceremony on 12/7. These members are no longer considered "probationary" and embrace the necessary knowledge, skills, care, compassion and tenacity we look for in working with our Franklin children. We thank them and look forward to their continued success! Big thanks to our FPS Families, Faculty, Staff and Franklin Community for a great year thus far! Franklin Public Schools www.franklinps.net

Franklin Public Schools | 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 www.franklinps.net Sent by communications@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

FHS masking policy reverts to "Required" as of Dec 17th as positivity rate jumps past 4%

December 15, 2021

Dear FHS Community,

We have an update regarding our positivity rate within the Franklin community.  We learned, through a conversation with the Franklin Health Department today, that our 14-day % positivity rate is 4.24% and we anticipate that this value is going to be reported in the MA DPH COVID dashboard tomorrow evening.  

As an adjustment we will be encouraging all vaccinated students and staff to wear masks tomorrow Thursday, December 16th. As you know, unvaccinated students and staff are required to wear masks. 

We will be returning to the school committee’s policy mandate that all students and staff wear masks beginning Friday, December 17th, regardless of vaccination status.  

This mandate will be in place as long as our 14-day % positivity rate is above 4%.  I can appreciate the varied responses to this message and would like to welcome anyone with any questions to email me directly.
 
Sincerely,
Joshua Hanna, Principal 

FHS masking policy reverts to "Required" as of Dec 17th as positivity rate jumps past 4%

Escape Into Fiction announces lease agreement for Main St space

Escape Into Fiction (@EscapeIntoFictn) tweeted Tue, Dec 14, 2021:

We want to spread the word! With all of the support from #franklin and success of the #popupshop in #franklinma, We have secured a lease for our new permanent #bookstore!! 

More news to come as we close out the year!! 

#shoplocal #shopsmallbusiness #franklinmassachusetts #OnMainSt https://t.co/AWIHG4HsB0

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/EscapeIntoFictn/status/1470828305142235141

Escape Into Fiction announces lease agreement for Main St space

FHS Athletic Director Tom Angelo & All about FHS sports - 12/09/21 (audio)

FM #677 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 677 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin High School Athletic Director Tom Angelo. We had our conversation in person at FHS. The office was mostly quiet although you’ll catch the bell to change classes during our session.

We talk about: 

• How Tom got to FHS in 2016

• Program insights including the development of the Unified teams

• Credit goes to the coaches, the student athletes, and the community

• Shout outs to HockomockSports.com and Franklin TV for coverage of the sports

• Special shout outs to Trainer Jen (Jen Edmunds) and Athletics Secretary Susan Jacobson

• Retirement at end of school year and how Tom will keep busy 

Links to the key references are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 47 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Tom Angelo

** Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-677-fhs-athletic-director-tom-angelo-all-about-fhs-sports-12-09-21

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FHS Athletics link ->   https://www.franklinps.net/franklin-high-school/athletics-department 

 

FHS Athletics Twitter account ->  https://twitter.com/FHSSports 

FHS sports twitter listing -> https://twitter.com/i/lists/823290154886512641 

 

HockomockSports.com web page -> https://hockomocksports.com/ 

Franklin TV - event streaming ->  https://franklintv.vod.castus.tv/vod/?nav=live%2Fch2 

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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!

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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"

 

FHS Athletic Director Tom Angelo & All about FHS sports