Town of Franklin: January 2021 E-Newsletter

Lots of news, updates, links and more! Stay informed about what is happening in Franklin!

Subscribe for News January 2022 Edition Community Preservation Act Funding & Public Hearings Applications to receive Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the 2023 fiscal year are now open. Applications are due on Monday, Feb. 28th, 2022 at 4pm. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is required by law to have one public hearing per year to hear input on how to allocate CPA funds. The Franklin CPC has decided on two public sessions. The first will be held on Jan 4th at 7pm and the second public forum will be on Jan. 18th at 4pm. Access all Community Preservation information here. Rezoning Franklin Downtown Franklin Introducing Franklin For All. A study with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council aimed at rezoning Franklin center for economic growth and diverse housing opportunities. Mark your calendars! The first Franklin for All public forum will take place on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 7pm. We want to hear from you! Sign up here for our email list to stay up to date on engagement opportunities.  Learn more at our Franklin For All website. Veterans' Services Veterans' Memorial Walkway Thank you to Richard Douglas, Bob Gardner, John Hefele, Dick Hynes, Jim Lane, Bob Markunis and Rose Turco for helping us hang holiday wreaths on the Veterans Memorial Walkway. Jan 11th –Tune It Out guitar classes will resume. Classes are held every Tuesday from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the Senior Center. This program is led by music instructor Jamie Barrett with the help of three other guitar instructors. Thank you to Jamie, Mike Allard, Charlie Brewer and Heath Nisbett for volunteering their time for this program! All vets are invited to the classes. Guitar experience is not required. Equipment is provided! Jan. 20 – Veterans' Council Meeting – 7pm at the Senior Center. All are invited. Jan. 27 – Vietnam Peace Day – On this day in 1973, the Paris Peace Accords arranged a ceasefire which officially ended America's involvement in the 20-year Vietnam War. Important Notice: The Senior Center will be closed to the public from Jan. 1st - Jan.10th. Unfortunately, this means the Jan 5th monthly coffee social has been cancelled. However, next social is Feb 2nd at 10am! The Cafe will be closed until further notice. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or mask will be required at all Veterans' events and activities. Franklin Fire Department Open Burning Notice The Franklin Fire Department would like to remind you that Open Burning Season runs from January 15th through May 1st. A permit is required and they will be available on our website starting January 15th. You must call the Burning Permit Hotline at 508-553-5574 in between 9am and noon each day to see if burning is allowed.  Additional information can be found here. Franklin Public Library Library Event Highlights Jan 8th. - The Saturday Binge Animation Nation is a meeting for the anime, cartoon, manga and graphic and novel obsessed. Join them for an afternoon anime watch party from 1pm-4pm. Jan. 11th - Girls Who Code Want to learn more about the Girls Who Code program? Come to the parent open house from 7pm-8pm to ask questions, see the curriculum and sign up early if you're interested! Jan. 22nd - "Drive In" Movie Families! Join us for a "Drive-In" movie (indoors of course) in our big program room at 10:30pm! First we'll decorate our "cars" (aka boxes we've been saving up for the event) then we'll relax and enjoy a movie and some popcorn in our spiffy new rides! You're welcome to bring your own box to decorate, or use one of ours! Jan. 22nd - Author Visit with Chris Woolf Author of Bumbling Through the Hindu Kush: A Memoir of Fear and Kindness in Afghanistan, Chris Woolf will be visiting the library at 3pm to discuss his memoir documents his personal experience of war and resilience, stuck behind rebel lines on the wrong side of the mountains, in 1991. In addition to writing, Woolf runs a voiceover company he co-founded here in Franklin in 2018, called The Voice Depot. This program is free and open to the public. Jan. 25th - Book Club Join the FPL Book Club as they discuss The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce at 7pm. Library Hours The Franklin Public Library will be closed on Monday, Jan.17th for Martin Luther King Day. The Library's regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 1:30-5pm. Library Calendar of Events - January 2022 Franklin Public School District FPS Return from Winter Break It was delightful to have students and staff in school on Monday, January 3 as we welcomed everyone back to the district this morning following our winter break. As a result of the recent spike in COVID cases due to the Omicron variant, we distributed DESE-supplied rapid antigen tests to faculty/staff, distributed DESE-supplied KN-95 masks to faculty/staff, and have shored up our effective mitigation strategies including fully stocking PPE and creating distance, where possible, among student desks. Managing case counts continues to be important as the health of our students and faculty/staff is paramount. Students needing to isolate or quarantine lose out on valuable, in-person learning time. Faculty and staff who need to isolate or quarantine for either themselves or as caregivers can not be in person for work limiting learning and also necessitating substitutes, which are in short supply. Having adequate staff to safely operate schools is a worry right now. COVID-19 doesn't just impact individuals and families, it affects the entire Franklin population. We have collectively learned so much as a community in managing COVID for these past 22 months. Indeed, with a collective effort, care and consideration for each other, and good communication, we will weather this spike in cases. FPS thanks you for your support and implementation of health and safety practices in the community. Visit our Back to School website for the Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard & Protocols Department of Public Works Christmas Tree Collection Notice The Franklin Department of Public Works will commence Christmas Tree Collection Jan. 10th- Jan. 14th during normal trash collection hours. Assessors FY 2022 3rd Quarter Tax Bills contain new valuations based mainly on the Calendar Year 2020 real estate market. Assessments are as of Jan.1st, 2021 using each property's physical status as of June 30th, 2021. Assessment challenges are submitted by the Abatement Application process. An Assessing Office available State Form must be received in the Assessors Office by 4pm on Feb.1st. 2022. Access the Abatement Application here. Water Sewer Division The Winter Season is upon us, so please be prepared! If your house has a history of frozen pipes please let the water drip! Even if you've never had trouble in the past, you may want to consider it. Get tips and tricks for keeping your pipes from freezing here. Franklin Historical Museum Second Sunday Speaker Series Jan. 9th at 1pm - Byzantine and Russian Icons: Dennis Sardella, docent at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA discusses the world of Byzantine and Russian Icons. As always, admission is free! Town of Franklin Calendar Keep up with meetings, departments & committees. The schedule and links can be found on our website calendar. Keep up with all things culture in Franklin! Arts, theater, dining, live music & more! Find out what's happening in town! Visit our website! Talk Franklin: Podcast from the TA's Office Subscribe to our Town podcast and listen to bi-weekly episodes detailing news and updates about our town. Town of Franklin 355 East Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 520-4949 Visit our Website

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Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Jan 5, 2022

• wfpr.fm = Wednesday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone
All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points

11:00a/2:00p/8:00p Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events 

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:29:00 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19

7:30:00 am It Takes A Village: Janice Houlihan

8:30 am Cultural District: Brent Selby

10:00 am The Drummers Studio: 11th Anniversary Show One

11:30 am Whole Health Visions: Life Coaches Pt. 2

12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:30 pm Sandya: Crepes

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Fire Safety

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 8

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

3:30 pm Veterans' Call: Matt Ching Pt. 1

4:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

6:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples

6:30 pm Ben Gardner's Boat

9:30 pm Circle of Friends: Freebo, Alice Howe & Kirsten Maxwell

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am Public School Concert: Lifelong Winter Music 2021

8:30 am Public School Concert: FHS Winter Jazz 01-23-20

10:30 am FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Attleboro 12-17-21

12:30 pm Community Arts Advocacy Day: A Discussion

1:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey: v Longmeadow 12-31-21

3:01 pm Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 1 12-11-18

4:31 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling: v King Philip 12-22-21

8:30 pm Public School Event: Remington Winter Music 2021

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council: 12-15-21

2:00 pm Town Council: 12-15-21

5:45 pm Economic Development: LIVE, Chambers, 850 8016 4348

7:00 pm Town Council: LIVE, Chambers, 847 5950 4302

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

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Second Sunday Speaker Series & Benjamin Franklin's birthday party

Second Sunday Speaker Series

The Franklin Historical Museum is happy to welcome Dennis J. Sardella, PhD, as our guest speaker on Sunday January 9th for his presentation on Byzantine and Russian Icons.  

Dennis has been a docent at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Massachusetts since 2012, where he leads gallery tours and introduces visitors to the world of Russian icons. He also writes and speaks regularly to area groups on the topics of religious icons and the role they play in Eastern Christian spirituality. He was a professor at Boston College from 1967 until 2012. In 1990 he became the founding director of the Boston College Presidential Scholars Program, which he directed until his retirement in 2010. For 17 years he and his wife led groups of Boston College Presidential Scholars on month-long study trips to France, and they have continued to travel extensively throughout Western Europe.

Please join us for this informative talk as our Second Sunday Speaker Series continues in 2022. Doors open at 1:00PM, presentation starts at 1:15PM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN! 

On Sunday January 16th we celebrate Benjamin Franklin's Birthday. The man whose name inspired the naming of our town was born January 17th, 1706. Come learn about Ben and how Franklin came to be named for him. Hear about the story of a Toad and it's tail, how 'sense is preferable to sound' and how his donation started the first public lending library in America. Join us for birthday cake from 1:30-3:00 in the research room of the museum. All are welcome.

Admission is always free. We are ADA compliant with an elevator access in the back of the building. Our gift shop is open year round. 

Second Sunday Speaker Series & Benjamin Franklin's birthday party

Town of Franklin goal setting discussion scheduled for Town Council meeting Jan 5

"Attached is a draft of the proposed 2022-2023 biennial goals for the Town Council and Town Administration. These goals represent the high level projects from the organization. As you can see, the list is very long already and will need to be prioritized. We look forward to the discussion and are excited to continue the great work of the town staff! "

Goal memo with draft listing

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8a._1_and_2_ta_memo_2022-2023_goals.pdf  

Full agenda for Town Council meeting Jan 5

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_mtg_agenda_-_jan_5_2022_0.pdf

 

Town of Franklin goal setting discussion scheduled for Town Council meeting Jan 5

St. Mary's Church Franklin Men's Formation - Jan 15

The St. Mary's Men's Faith Formation group will be starting our monthly meetings again. Our first meeting of the New Year will be January 15 from 8:45 - 9:45 am virtually via Zoom and in person.

We will be learning and discussing the topic of Prayer. We really look forward to welcoming you back or hopefully welcoming you for the first time to our group. Please email Deacon Guy (deaconguy@stmarysfranklin.org) if you are interested in the Zoom link contact information. Either way you join us – we are glad you are there. 

All Men are welcome. https://www.stmarysfranklin.org/mens-faith-formation

St. Mary's Church Franklin Men's Formation - Jan 15

Franklin Food Pantry: Consider volunteering to help out this year

"Make your New Year's resolution to #volunteer more. Our volunteer application is now open. 

Learn more here: https://t.co/eRBroYWS5E "

Shared from Twitter https://t.co/j3oFqu0H1K  or here ->

https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1478046658801844228

Franklin Food Pantry: Consider volunteering to help out this year

 

SAFE Radio: Tyler Powderly & Nipun Goel (audio)

"In this episode, Jim Derrick and Anne Bergen sit down with Tyler Powderly and Nipun Goel, two FHS students, to talk about the challenges of being a student, stress, the pandemic, mental health and so much more"

Audio link -> https://safe-coalition.captivate.fm/episode/tyler-powderly-nepon-goil

 

SAFE Radio: Tyler Powderly & Nipun Goel (audio)

Franklin (MA) School Committee: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Jan 5, 2022

Policy Sub Committee Meeting

Municipal Building - Training Room (Virtual Link in Agenda)

Jan 5, 2022 -6 to 7:30 PM

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may, in fact, be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by

law.”

I. Electronic Distribution of Approved Policies

A. none

II. Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

A. none

III. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

A. Overview of Policy Review and Development

1. Review Section B - Board Governance, specifically, BG, BGB, BGC, BGC-E, BGD, BGE, BGF, BGG

B. EBCFA - Face Coverings

C. JICFB - Bullying

D. Continued review of G policies

E. GDCC - Staff Family & Medical Leave

F. GDCC-E - Family & Medical Leave of Absence

G. GDJ - Support Staff Assignments & Transfers

H. GDQD - Suspension and dismissal of Support Staff Members

Full agenda can be found on the FPS page ->
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/1_5_22_policy_subcom_agenda.pdf

 

Policy Sub Committee Meeting - Jan 5, 2022