Tuesday, December 21, 2021

An Update from Your Congressman - Jake Auchincloss


An Update from Your Congressman - Jake Auchincloss

 

Hello, I'm your representative in Congress, and I write to keep you informed.

I want to share with you three significant developments since I last wrote. 

Raising the Debt Ceiling 
Last week, the House addressed the debt limit and prevented a catastrophic debt default. Raising the debt ceiling is about meeting obligations we've already made. We should not be playing games with the full faith and credit of the United States. 

As Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, I am working to support a strong economy that works for everyone. I recently spoke with the Financial Times and penned an op-ed in FOX News about how we can work together to tackle inflation as the next major bipartisan policy initiative in Congress.  


Holding Big Tech Accountable for Vaccine Disinformation 
Last week, I led other Democratic members in a letter to PayPal urging the corporation to ban the use of its online payment system on websites that perpetuate COVID-19 vaccine and treatment disinformation. Specifically, the letter calls on PayPal to deactivate the accounts of the "Disinformation Dozen." More than 800,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. The majority of these deaths have come after the approval of safe, free, and effective vaccines. 

Throughout this pandemic, PayPal has played a role in financing vaccine disinformation spreaders and should consider banning the use of its online payments system on websites that perpetuate dangerous lies about COVID-19 treatment and immunization.

I spoke about the letter during a recent interview on MSNBC that you can watch here.


End of the Year Events  
On Saturday December 11th I hosted an in-person town hall in Brookline. It was a great opportunity to meet with constituents and hear about issues important to them. I was also able to give updates on how I'm representing our values and advancing our priorities. We discussed a wide range of topics from the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill to protecting voting rights. If you were not able to join us, you can watch a recording of the event here. Please continue to be on the lookout for future events my office will be hosting where we can meet in person to discuss what's happening in Congress. 

As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to close by sharing a report our office put together highlighting our accomplishments in Congress thus far. This year alone, despite the limitations of COVID-19, we've hosted over 30 district events, including more than 20 city and town-specific roundtables, traversed the MA-04 district conducting more than 100 in-person visits to each of our 34 cities and towns; responded to over 112,000 messages and successfully closed out over 1,100 casework requests in every city and town in the district; and successfully brought home federal funds including $154.8 million in tax cuts delivered to over 76,000 families in the Fourth District


As we look forward to the new year, my priorities remain:
  • Putting the pandemic behind us,
  • Putting a strong economy ahead of us, and
  • Protecting the integrity of our democracy

I hope you are able to take some time to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family.


To stay up to date on the state of play in Congress, please make sure to like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram. 

Sincerely,

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Jake Auchincloss
Member of Congress



OFFICE LOCATIONS

WASHINGTON DC OFFICE • 1524 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515 • Phone: (202) 225-5931

NEWTON DISTRICT OFFICE • 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 • Newton, MA 02458 • Phone : (617) 332-3333

ATTLEBORO DISTRICT OFFICE • 8 N. Main St. Suite 200 • Attleboro, MA 02703 • Phone : (508) 431-1110
 
WEBSITE  |  CONTACT
View Congressman Auchincloss's first year highlights on his webpage
https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/press-releases/memorandum-re-jake-auchincloss-first-year-office

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FHS boys basketball, boys hockey, and girls basketball teams all post wins on Monday; girls in Overtime!

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the FHS winter sports action on Monday:

Boys Basketball = Oliver Ames, 48 @ Franklin 64 – Final 
– Franklin saw its 22-point halftime lead shrink to single digits going into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers bounced back and closed out strong to get a win over visiting Oliver Ames. Franklin built a 37-15 lead by the break behind a balanced scoring attack and strong defense. Franklin hit half of its 12 three-pointers in the second quarter alone, two apiece from Geino Scaringello and Justin Allen (team-high 12 points) and one each from Andrew O’Neil and Hansy Jacques, to take a commanding lead. OA came roaring back in the third as Zach Tagliamonte scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the third and Dan Reilly had nine of his 12 points to make it 46-37 going into the fourth. Ben Harvey had half of his eight points in the fourth, Henry Digiorgio scored five of his seven, and Allen added another three to pull away.

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 6 vs. St. John’s Shrewsbury, 3 – Final 
– Franklin saw its three-goal lead evaporate in a three-minute span in the second period but the Panthers bounced back with a big third period, scoring three more times to get the win over St. John’s Shrewsbury. Adam Quinn (from Ben Jarosz and Ben Paterson) and Ryan Sicchio (from Logan Marchand) scored for a 2-0 lead at the midway point of the first, and Siccio (from Dylan Marchand and Quinn) added a second just over two minutes into the second to make it 3-0. SJS scored three times within the next four minutes to tie the contest 3-3 through two periods. In the third, Quinn got his second of the day (from Paterson and Sicchio) at the midway point of the third and Dom Lampasona (from Anthony Lampasona) added a key insurance goal less than a minute later. Anthony Lampasona tacked on a key empty net goal (margin of victory) in the final seconds on an assist from Christian Shabbick. Cole Porter made 31 saves in net for the Panthers.

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 51 @ Oliver Ames, 48 – Final (OT)
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:
"Even though the winter has barely gotten underway, anticipation for a matchup of the defending league champions had been building for months. Franklin and Oliver Ames finished last year unbeaten in their respective divisions and unfortunately couldn’t find a date to play each other in the pandemic-shortened season. Ten months later, both teams were 2-0, both look like favorites to repeat as division champs, and on Monday night at the Nixon Gym they finally squared off. 
It was a game that lived up to all that hype.

Franklin extended its win streak to 38 games, dating back to the beginning of the 2019-20 season, with a 51-48 overtime victory. Neither team held a lead larger than six points at any stage and there were eight lead changes in the fourth quarter and overtime alone.

“We got a bounce,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “That bounce could’ve gone the other way and they could’ve won the game. That’s how close of a game it was."


Stefany Padula (21) buried a big three-pointer late in overtime that turned out to be the game-winner, lifting Franklin to a win at Oliver Ames. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Stefany Padula (21) buried a big three-pointer late in overtime that turned out to be the game-winner, lifting Franklin to a win at Oliver Ames. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Panther TV: FHS Band, Winter Concert - Dec 9, 2021 (video)


"FHS Band,Winter Concert, December 9, 2021
@FranklinHSMusic @FHSPantherbook @FranklinPSNews @FranklinHS"
https://t.co/bdL3rrfgyV or  https://youtu.be/NxIPLwBuJu4

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1472984916606529538



St Mary's Women's Faith Formation - January 8, 2020 Meeting

Please join the  St. Mary's Women's Faith Formation group on January 8, 2022 from 9:30 - 10:30 AM as we again have the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Aldona Lingertat, who will be speaking on the topic of "Types, Forms, and Examples of Prayer". 

Dr. Lingertat is Director of the Master of Arts in Ministry Program and the Master of Theological Studies Program at St. John's Seminary.   

We are extending an invitation to all women to join us either in person (One Church Square, Franklin - lower level Parish Hall) or via Zoom. 

Please email Deacon Guy (deaconguy@stmarysfranklin.org) if you are interested in the  Zoom link contact information. 

Also, please note that those attending in person will be required to wear a mask, as Cardinal O'Malley has requested for all parish events occurring through mid-January 2022.

St Mary's Women's Faith Formation - January 8, 2020 Meeting
St Mary's Women's Faith Formation - January 8, 2020 Meeting







 



December Holiday Hours for the Franklin Public Library

December Holiday Hours for the Franklin Public Library

December Holiday Hours 

Thursday, December 23. Closing at 2:00 PM

Friday, December 24. Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 PM

Saturday, December 25. Closed for Christmas Day

Sunday, December 26. OPEN 1:30-5:00 PM

Thursday, December 30. Closing at 2:00 PM

Friday, December 31. Closing at 2:00 PM

Saturday, January 1. Closed for New Year's Day

Sunday, January 2. OPEN 1:30-5:00 PM

Shared from the Town of Franklin page ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/imce/u231/december_2021_hours.png

December Holiday Hours for the Franklin Public Library
December Holiday Hours for the Franklin Public Library


No Trash Delay ~ Dec. 20-24 and Dec. 27-31

No Trash Delay ~ Dec. 20-24 and Dec. 27-31

No Trash Delay ~ Dec. 20-24 and Dec. 27-31
No Trash Delay ~ Dec. 20-24 and Dec. 27-31

Shared from the Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/news/no-trash-delay-dec-20-24-and-dec-27-31

Monday, December 20, 2021

Candlelight vigil coverage as the Franklin community came together Sunday evening

"Bethany Manning stood on the top step of the brick gazebo in the town common Sunday night and looked out over a sea of people wrapped in winter coats and holding candles in gloved hands, the small flames flickering in the cold, gentle breeze. 
Manning, speaking into a microphone so the crowd of several hundred could hear, remembered her friend, Shirley Branco Owen, who was killed Friday morning, allegedly at the hands of her former husband, Brendon J. Owen. 
Shirley Owen was a “daughter, a mother, a sister, an aunt, and a friend to everyone that had the blessing to know her,” Manning said. “She was the light in every room, and she was a hot ticket. She got things done. And boy, boy, did she advocate and do everything for her amazing children.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

Photos from the Milford Daily News coverage

Franklin Matters audio of the event 

Mourners at a candlelight vigil honored Shirley Branco Owen, who was killed Friday morning. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE
Mourners at a candlelight vigil honored Shirley Branco Owen, who was killed Friday morning.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Looking for films to view during the holidays? 'Return of the Jedi' One of 25 Added to National Film Registry

'Return of the Jedi' Among 25 Eclectic Films Joining National Film Registry

Library of Congress National Film RegistryLibrarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today the annual selection of 25 influential motion pictures to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Selected for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation's film heritage, the newest selections include epic trilogies, major roles for Jennifer Lopez and Cicely Tyson, extraordinary animated features, comedy and music, and films that took on racially-motivated violence against people of color decades ago.

The 2021 selections represent one of the most diverse classes of films to enter the registry, with movies dating back nearly 120 years and representing the work of Hollywood studios, independent filmmakers, documentarians, women directors, filmmakers of color, students and the silent era of film. The selections bring the number of films in the registry to 825, representing a portion of the 1.7 million films in the Library's collections.

"Films help reflect our cultural history and creativity — and show us new ways of looking at ourselves — though movies haven't always been deemed worthy of preservation. The National Film Registry will preserve our cinematic heritage, and we are proud to add 25 more films this year," said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. "The Library of Congress will work with our partners in the film community to ensure these films are preserved for generations to come."

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will host a television special Friday, Dec. 17, starting at 8 p.m. ET to screen a selection of motion pictures named to the registry this year. Hayden will join TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, to discuss the films. Also, select titles from 30 years of the National Film Registry are freely available online in the Library's National Screening Room. Follow the conversation about the 2021 National Film Registry on Twitter and Instagram at @librarycongress and #NatFilmRegistry.

Films Selected for the 2021 National Film Registry
(chronological order)

  • Ringling Brothers Parade Film (1902)
  • Jubilo (1919)
  • The Flying Ace (1926)
  • Hellbound Train (1930)
  • Flowers and Trees (1932)
  • Strangers on a Train (1951)
  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
  • Evergreen (1965)
  • Requiem-29 (1970)
  • The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971)
  • Pink Flamingos (1972)
  • Sounder (1972)
  • The Long Goodbye (1973)
  • Cooley High (1975)
  • Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)
  • Chicana (1979)
  • The Wobblies (1979)
  • Star Wars Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
  • Stop Making Sense (1984)
  • Who Killed Vincent Chin? (1987)
  • The Watermelon Woman (1996)
  • Selena (1997)
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  • WALL•E (2008)

Click here for more information on this year's entries to the National Film Registry.

FHS' Zub, Anderson, Welch, and Regan recognized with soccer awards by HockomockSports.com

HockomockSports.com has posted the Girls Soccer Awards for the fall 2021 season. Franklin High School was well represented by the following individuals: 

On the first eleven:

Anya Zub – Franklin – Forward
Franklin sophomore forward Anya Zub followed up her stellar rookie season by becoming one of the league’s most prolific forwards. Zub led the Panthers with 20 goals and added six assists, helping them retain the Kelley-Rex division title and reach the Round of 16 in the Div. 1 state tournament. Her 26 points were the fourth-highest total in the league during the regular season. She was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches and as the HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year (see below). Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Anya just keeps getting better. She is a very effective striker, composed in front of the goal and makes excellent decisions on whether to shoot or pass. She eagerly accepts the pressure of being our top scorer.”

Norah Anderson – Franklin – Defense
Franklin junior Norah Anderson was dominant in the heart of the Panthers’ back line this season, helping Franklin secure back-to-back Kelley-Rex division titles and reach the Div. 1 Round of 16. Anderson’s leadership and athleticism were instrumental in the Panthers recording nine clean sheets this season and allowing only 11 goals in 18 games. Only twice this season did teams manage to score more than one goal in a game against the Panthers and no one scored more than two. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said of Anderson, “The captain of our defense. One of the toughest and smartest defenders I have ever had the pleasure to coach. Virtually unbeatable one-on-one, directs play from the back, and a leader on and off the field.”

Rachel Welch – Franklin – Goalie
Franklin sophomore Rachel Welch is the next in a long line of talented goalkeepers for the Panthers and she played a key role in retaining the Kelley-Rex division title and reaching the Round of 16 in the Div. 1 state tournament. Welch had a goals against average of just 0.60 this season, recording nine clean sheets, and allowing only nine goals in 15 games this season. Only twice this season did a team score more than one goal in a game against the Panthers. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Rachel is an incredibly talented goalkeeper and has an impressive level of poise and maturity in the goal for just her second high school season. She still has two more years at the high school level and she will continue to be a player to watch leading our team from the back.”

On the second eleven:

Stella Regan – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin senior midfielder Stella Regan was one of the top playmakers for the Panthers, creating scoring chances for herself and for teammates as Franklin won a second straight Kelley-Rex division title and reached the Round of 16 in the state tournament. After suffering a horrible injury as a sophomore, Regan was finally back to 100 percent this year and finished the season with 11 goals and six assists, none bigger than her perfectly weighted chip that led to the overtime goal against Reading in the opening round of the playoffs. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said of Regan, “She creates multiple scoring opportunities in every game, has an unstoppable engine, and a perfect touch allowing her to consistently create attacking chances.”

Underclassman of the Year:

Anya Zub – Franklin
"Franklin sophomore Anya Zub has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year, as the top performing freshman or sophomore player. The sophomore forward was one of the leading scorers in the league, as the Panthers won a second straight Kelley-Rex division title.

After a breakout season last year on the wing, Zub moved into a center forward role this fall and scored 20 goals and had six assists, making her the fourth-leading scorer in the league during the regular season and the top scoring underclassman. She also came through in big games, scoring against both Mansfield and King Philip in the final games of the season to ensure Franklin won the league title outright.

“Anya just keeps getting better,” said Franklin coach Jodi Klein. “She is a very effective striker, composed in front of the goal, and makes excellent decisions on whether to shoot or pass. She eagerly accepts the pressure of being our top scorer.”
Continue reading the details on these and others from around the Hockomock League  ->  https://hockomocksports.com/awards/girls-soccer/2021-2/

2021 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year
2021 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year

FM #683 - Town Council Meeting - 12/15/21 (audio)

This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about one hour and twenty minutes (1:20 )

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of Dec 15, 2021

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-683-town-council-meeting-12-15-21

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/december_15_town_council_agenda.pdf 

My notes from the meeting  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/recap-town-council-hears-update-on.html 

Town Council Quarterbacking with Chair Tom Mercer -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/12/town-council-quarterbacking-with-chair.html 

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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 www.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"

Town Council hears update on Human Resources from Director Karen Bratt
Town Council hears update on Human Resources from Director Karen Bratt


FHS' O'Connor recognized with "Goal of the Year" (video)

Via HockomockSports.com: 

"This year we teamed up with Beautiful Game Soccer Academy for our first ever Goal of the Year contest for boys and girls soccer. We narrowed down over 50 submissions to the top 16 for each, setting up a bracket style contest over the past couple of weeks. The final round came to a close last night and the winners are listed below. Thank you to BGSA for sponsoring this and to all the coaches, players, and everyone else involved for their submissions, votes, and support throughout our first go at this."

There are two videos of the top goals, one from the boys and one from the girls. FHS' Kelly O'Connor took the top honors for the girls goal of the year.

Video link ->  https://youtu.be/XrgmxzJRFUE

Link to full article on HokcomockSports.com ->    https://hockomocksports.com/hockomocksports-soccer-goal-of-the-year-winners/


Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry of Deeds Internet Research

Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell again reminds Norfolk County residents that you do not have to spend time and money driving to the Registry to view land records since they are available online via the Registry's internet-based document research system at www.norfolkdeeds.org.

"Providing secure, accurate and accessible land record information, coupled with our on-site customer service center, is central to our work here at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds," stated Register O'Donnell.

Elaborating on the Registry's research capabilities, O'Donnell noted, "Users are able to research land record information by multiple options, including the name of the property owner and property address. Members of the public can access our internet-based document research system for many endeavors such as determining property ownership, researching land titles, reviewing land plans (only plans which are recorded at the Registry) and finally to confirm that documents affecting a person's property, such as mortgage discharges, have been recorded."

Through technology and the Registry of Deeds modernization initiatives there are a tremendous amount of documents for viewing.  For example, our website  www.norfolkdeeds.org allows people to look up and view over 13 million scanned images with some 41 million pages of land documents dating back to the Registry's beginnings in 1793.  Our Registry on-site IT Technology Department and Customer Service Center work to help anyone in need of internet research help find what they are looking for.

"A few years back, the Registry of Deeds completed a project which transcribed all our hand-written land documents that were recorded from 1793 to 1900. Prior to this effort, these hand-written documents were in many cases difficult to near impossible to read. With the transcription project completed, over 450,000 hand written documents were transcribed.  Both the handwritten and the transcribed text can be viewed from the comfort of your home or business via our website www.norfolkdeeds.org."

It should be noted that while the transcribers made a best effort to translate these hard to read documents, their accuracy is not guaranteed. "These transcribed documents," noted O'Donnell, "are not legal documents in and of itself, and are not considered binding on the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds or its employees. It is considered merely a convenient reference for Registry users. For documentation purposes, users should refer to the scanned image of the original document instead of the transcribed image."

The Registry's website also provides information on how to obtain certified copies of land documents. The Registry's certified copy charges are $1.00 per page plus an additional $1.00 per document for postage.

In conclusion, Register O'Donnell stated, "Our core mission here at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds includes providing our users with first-class customer service each and every day. Norfolk County residents and businesses deserve a Registry of Deeds that provides them with access to land record information in an easily accessible and consumer friendly manner. The Registry website www.norfolkdeeds.org does that by bringing the Registry records into your homes and businesses."

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 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 Registry of Deeds Internet Research
Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry of Deeds Internet Research


Boston Globe: "What happens when students remove masks? These Mass. schools are finding out"

"By lunchtime Thursday, word had spread through Hopkinton High School about a slew of basketball players testing positive for COVID-19. Already far more students had begun wearing face-coverings in the school, which in November became the first in Massachusetts to allow vaccinated students to go mask-less.

Over lunch, five senior boys expressed anxiety. They hoped the school board that night would temporarily reinstate the school’s mask mandate. But other students wanted the relaxed mask policies, which they didn’t believe caused the outbreak, to continue. Two sophomore girls in the library studied without masks, happy to see each other’s smiles. They felt the mask-choice policy gave them something elusive in the past two years: a typical high school experience.

“Last year, it felt like you couldn’t talk to anyone who wasn’t your friend,” said Sophie Weeden, 15. “This year, it’s gotten back to a little more normal — it’s so much better.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)


Recap of Franklin High School status:
The Franklin policy on unmasking was approved by a 4-3 vote at the Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 meeting. The application to DESE had been approved. Students were more than 82% vaccinated at time of the application. The vote discussion revolved around the start date. The four wanting to start as proposed on Dec 13. The three against seemed to be looking to avoid the holidays and start in January 2022. The policy was written to provide the District the capability to revert to masks if the positivity numbers rose above 4% without an additional School Committee vote. 

The unmasking did begin Monday, Dec 13 and by Weds, Dec 15, the Franklin Board of Health informed the District that the positivity numbers were going to posted with the State report on Thursday as over 4. The District notified the FHS community that masks were encouraged for Dec 16, and required Dec 17. 

We will all need to wait and see what the positivity rate does to find out when they can again go mask optional for the vaccinated.

Reporting on the Nov 23 meeting and vote (including the audio)

Reporting on the Dec 14 meeting

Notification on Dec 15 to revert to masks

What happens when students remove masks?
What happens when students remove masks? 


"a chaotic “ripple effect” around the world"

"In Britain it’s alcohol, in Canada it’s maple syrup, while in Australia it’s a crucial additive for diesel trucks, and in New Zealand it’s brown sugar. These are just some of the many shortages affecting consumers and businesses around the world as industry experts warn that the supply chain crisis prompted by the coronavirus pandemic could last for many more months and even up to two years.

Although there are signs that some bottlenecks are easing, the onset of the Omicron Covid variant could lead to new shutdowns, sending another disruptive spasm through the global system.

The gravest appears to be an outbreak of Covid this week in the Chinese manufacturing hub of Zhejiang, which is home to the world’s largest cargo port, Ningbo-Zhoushan. Tens of thousands are in quarantine under China’s strict zero-Covid policy and some local authorities have urged workers not to travel home “unnecessarily” for lunar new year festival in February. “Further supply chain disruption is a significant possibility,” economic analysts at Capital Economics said in a note.

Industry experts and economists believe the problems could persist as the finely calibrated network of world trade, already weakened by months of shipping backlogs, labour shortages and geopolitical tensions, remains “discombobulated”."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/18/global-supply-chain-crisis-could-last-another-two-years-warn-experts

China’s Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, a key shipping hub. A new Covid outbreak in the region has raised fears of further delays in the global shipping system. Photograph: China Stringer Network/Reuters
China’s Ningbo Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province, a key shipping hub. A new Covid outbreak in the region has raised fears of further delays in the global shipping system. Photograph: China Stringer Network/Reuters

Senior Parking Pass for MA Residents good for use at MA State Parks

Massachusetts residents aged 62 or older are eligible for a discounted lifetime parking pass. This pass covers the cost of parking at most state parks.

If you are eligible for a Senior Parking Pass, you can order it by mail.

Send a request for a Senior Parking Pass to your closest regional office:

Central Regional Office
355 West Boylston Street, Route 110
Clinton, MA 01510
Attention: Senior Pass 

Include:
  • A copy of your Massachusetts driver’s license or other official proof of state residency and age.
  • A check for $10 made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  • A contact phone number or email in case we need to reach you. (Optional)
  • Senior passes may take 4-7 weeks before they are mailed.

For additional info on this program, use this MA Gov link ->  https://www.mass.gov/how-to/get-a-senior-parking-pass

Senior Parking Pass for MA Residents good for use at MA State Parks
Senior Parking Pass for MA Residents good for use at MA State Parks