Monday, January 17, 2022

New January Workshops for 50+Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Groups


Roundtable Networking.png

Hello 50+ Job Seeker!

 

We have more exciting 50+ Job Seekers events and workshops for the rest of January!  

Tuesday, Jan 18, 10 - 11 am: Reinventors Support Group Kick-off,

Offered by Encore Boston Network and 50+ Job Seekers


What's a reinventor? It's our way of identifying people who are looking beyond traditional employee roles to use their skills and to generate income. Often, this takes the form of freelance, contract, consulting, or gig work. It can even involve starting a business or social venture. Registration -

Encore Boston Network presents...

LinkedIn for Entrepreneurs and Reinventors with

Dr. Elisse Barnes!


Entrepreneurs - Thursday, January 20, 1 - 4 pm

Reinventors - Thursday, January 27, 1 - 4 pm


In these two 3-hour hands-on workshops, Dr. Elisse Barnes will share best practices and help you rebuild your LinkedIn profile. You'll leave with a solid action plan for next steps. A fee is charged. Space is limited, so sign up now!


See flyer for details and registration

Thurs, Jan 20th, 2 pm - 4 pm: What are Recruiters Looking For?

Special Event - Recruiters Panel


At this session you will learn:

• How recruiters work to find candidates.

• What they expect and need from job seekers.

• How they interact and work with employers.

• How to tell a great recruiter from a decent recruiter.

 

Knowing how to work with recruiters significantly enhances your odds of landing a job sooner. Please Register in advance for this meeting:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpceipqjIvG9OBVt9p0h8Bf8xOYtpuxVCR

 

Tues, Jan 25th, 10 am - 12 pm: Resumes Part 2: Experience 

Interactive Workshop

In this session you will learn how to write distinctive, tight, lean, clean resume experience sections with meaning and power! (SEE ZOOM DETAIL BELOW)

Get to Know Age-Friendly Employers


Wednesday, Jan 26, 10-11:30 am


Moderated by Sandra Harris, State President of AARP Massachusetts

The panel will feature leading Certified Age-Friendly Employers (CAFE), according to Age-Friendly Institute, and have signed the AARP Employer Pledge. Registration -


Hosted by Encore Boston Network and brought to you in collaboration with AARP Massachusetts, Age Strong and Age-Friendly Boston, Age-Friendly Institute, 50+ Job Seekers in MA, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and Operation ABLE.

Starting Up Smarter ~

How to Build a Better Company @50+

Offered by Founders Over 55


Wednesday, Jan 26, 4 - 5:30 pm


Learn how your Purpose + Experience = Entrepreneurial Advantage, from a panel of older founders who are running million-dollar companies! - Registration -

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)


Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Thurs, Jan 27th, 11 am - 12 pm: 

Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment, Part I

Savvy Seeker Series with David Guydan!


David Guydan is Director of Discovery Centers for Civic Engagement, which supports volunteerism through Councils on Aging throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Combining purposeful volunteering as part of a job search can increase the chances of landing a paid position. Explore the possibilities in this one-hour virtual seminar, grounded in research on the benefits of volunteerism. Learn about the "new retirement" and an expanded set of options available today for encore careers, whether paid or unpaid. Seminar attendees will leave with new information on how volunteering leads to paid jobs and a roadmap of how to use meaningful volunteer activities as a pathway to employment.

Please Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIudu6rqj4iHdNmENiKT5G8hlg_UtslVC56


This seminar is the first part of a two-part series on volunteerism. Part 2, on February 24th from 10:30 am - 12 pm, will feature a panel discussion by experts in the fields of civic engagement, volunteerism, and employment.


Questions: Email us at 50plusjobseekersadmin@mcoaonline.com

 

 Join Zoom Meeting – USE THIS LINK FOR ALL PROGRAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE REGISTRATION DETAILS



https://zoom.us/j/97530553439?pwd=cW1lamFwL3o4RmVORnhMcW9zQXljdz09

 

Meeting ID: 975 3055 3439

Passcode: 828132

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Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging
|
116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306, Easthampton, MA 01027


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New York Times: "Sometimes, Life Stinks. So He Invented the Nasal Ranger"

"Chuck McGinley, a chemical engineer, stepped out of his car, eyed the smokestack of an animal processing plant rising above the treetops, and inhaled deeply. At first he smelled nothing except the faint, sweet fragrance of the nearby trees.

Suddenly, the wind picked up. “We have an oh-my-God smell!” Mr. McGinley exclaimed.

Immediately one of his colleagues pressed a Nasal Ranger to his nose. The 14-inch-long smell-measuring device, which looks like a cross between a radar gun and a bugle, is one of Mr. McGinley’s most significant inventions.

Using terms from one of Mr. McGinley’s other standard tools, an odor wheel, a chart akin to an artist’s color wheel that he has been fine-tuning for decades, the team described the stink. “Sour,” one person said. “Decay, with possibly some petroleum,” said another."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/climate/nasal-ranger-chuck-mcginley.html

Chuck McGinley with his Nasal Ranger, a design inspired by the shape of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii.Credit...Caroline Yang for The New York Times
Chuck McGinley with his Nasal Ranger, a design inspired by the shape of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii.Credit...Caroline Yang for The New York Times

Washington Post: "Corporate America is coming around to remote work"

"Nearly two years after millions of Americans became abruptly acquainted with Zoom, questions about what the post-pandemic office will look like can be answered with a quick look around: It’s already here.

The case for the functionality of remote work has largely been settled: The wheels of productivity continued to hum on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley and other corporate strongholds even as their sprawling offices lay vacant. Employees stayed home and learned how to live at work. And throughout 2021, profits rolled in.

Corporate leaders attempting to coax employees back to the office have largely accepted the inevitability of the hybrid work model — a strategy buttressed by the reality of raging coronavirus rates, a tight labor market and the nation’s more than 10 million job openings. Now they are learning to leverage its benefits, according to Adam Galinsky, a professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School in New York. That includes more flexibility and less time commuting for employees, and lower real estate and operating costs for companies."
Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/15/remote-work-omicron/

Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York on Jan. 4. Wall Street’s push to refill office towers across the country was recently derailed by the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus. (Amir Hamja/Bloomberg)
Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York on Jan. 4. Wall Street’s push to refill office towers across the country was recently derailed by the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus. (Amir Hamja/Bloomberg)


Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, Jan 17, 2022

  •  wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Monday

9 AM 12 PM and 6 PM Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Todd Monjur
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM A More Perfect Union – with Dr. Michael Walker-Jones,
Representative Jeff Roy and Dr. Natalia Linos

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = MONDAY
7:59:00 am Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19
8:00:00 am SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur
9:00 am Concerts on the Common: Southbound Train
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles
12:30 pm Sandya: Pasta
1:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Appetizers
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Deep Dish
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 1
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 11
3:30 pm Physician Focus: Concussions and Brain Injury
4:00 pm Arts Advocacy: Impact
4:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Roberto Morbioli
5:30 pm Senior Connection: Sleep
6:00 pm Veterans' Call: Matt Ching Pt. 2
7:30 pm Frank Presents: Michael Walker-Jones
8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Phil Ochs

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Jazz Night 01-23-19
8:30 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2019
10:00 am Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2021
12:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v Hingham 01-12-22
2:30 pm SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur
3:30 pm Arts Advocacy: Impact
4:00 pm It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club
5:00 pm ArtWeek: Airmen of Note
9:30 pm FHS Varsity Swimming: v Mansfield 12-16-21

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

8:00 am Planning Board: 01-11-22
11:00 am Economic Development: 01-05-22
2:00 pm Planning Board: 01-11-22

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

Sunday, January 16, 2022

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 19, 2022

 
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
a. Proclamation/Recognition: Police Department: Retirement - Sgt. Brian Johnson
b. Proclamation/Recognition: Police Department: Retirement - Patrol Officer Rick Grover
c. Recognition: Police Department: Moving On - Kallie Montagano, Clinical Social Worker

5. APPOINTMENTS - None Scheduled
6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm - None Scheduled
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS- None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. FY23 Department of Public Works Budget & Enterprise Fund Preview Brutus Cantoreggi, Director of Public Works
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Resolution 22-04: Adoption of 2021-2022 Town Council Goals (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-74 - Majority Vote)  
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/10a._22-04.pdf
b. Resolution 22-05: FY22 Transfer of MECC Appropriation (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-74 - Majority Vote)  
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/10b._22-05.pdf
c. Resolution 22-06: Gift Acceptance - Senior Center ($1,700)  (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-74 - Majority Vote)  
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/10c._22-06.pdf

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEM

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

15. ADJOURN


Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Full agenda doc from Town of Franklin page (including remote connection info ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/tc_agenda_jan_19_2022.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 19, 2022
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 19, 2022


Franklin.TV: Finding Ben Franklin, Part 1

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 01/16/2022

Our town seal is uncommon. It features a portrait – a likeness of Ben Franklin. The town of Hamilton, MA followed suit. Town seals appear in many places. The visual challenges of portraiture are many. Every portrait artist understands the most essential challenge; producing a likeness of the subject that is at once accurate yet flattering. How to cast someone in their very best light. That can be a reach in some instances.
Finding Ben Franklin
You look so wonderful in this light.
Too bad you’re so seldom in this light. – Groucho Marx
In attempting to meet the first visual challenge (flattery), the mechanics of reproducing a town seal as that – a notary seal – pose the second challenge that comes with limited resolution and clarity. This is where things can turn ugly (literally).  

God is in the details. So too, is good portraiture that faithfully captures the uniqueness and nuance of a person’s likeness. When photography first emerged in the early 1800’s it was considered a bane on the art world. In short order, artists discovered its great value as a tool of their work. They could document their subjects from several viewpoints and have an
ever-patient record of all that nuance and detail to work from.

Unfortunately, photography came too late for Ben and the other founding fathers. This leaves us with only the interpretive record of their portraits. There are portraits, and then there are portraits of portraits – and so on – reinterpretations.

If there is a signature within every human face, it is often in the eyes. It’s where we gaze when we see others. It’s how we interpret their emotions and thoughts. If the eyes are indeed the window to the soul, I seek to understand Ben Franklin’s soul.

This is where my journey of portraiture begins.


And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfprfm.
And, thank you for watching. 

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

Senator Becca Rausch’s Mid-Session Beacon Hill Review

As your voice and advocate in the State Senate, I am very proud to share several 2021 accomplishments, including a robust COVID-19 response, billions of dollars invested into our communities, and the advancement of critically needed reforms through the legislative process on Beacon Hill.

Safety for You and Your Family: My top priority has been advocating for measures that keep you and your family safe and stable throughout this public health crisis. Last year alone, my team and I helped more than 500 constituents access government benefits and supports, including unemployment assistance and food security. I also hosted monthly virtual office hours, senior coffees, and two youth legislative forums to remain accessible to constituents through the ups and downs of this pandemic.   

In addition to crafting and advocating for school masking legislation and the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Act, I also worked in partnership with public health experts, community organizations, and my legislative colleagues to pressure the Baker Administration to implement policies to keep our communities safe and local economy afloat through this crisis. Our achievements included universal masking in all K-12 schools, paid time off for families and caregivers taking children to COVID-19 vaccination appointments, implementing a COVID vaccine pre-registration system for mass vaccination sites, and delivering a multi-pronged COVID-19 Action Plan to the Governor.

Safety during these difficult times also means addressing violence and discrimination. Amid the rise of conspiracy theories and disinformation about vaccines and COVID-19, we have also seen an alarming spike in antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia on social media, in our public schools, and from elected officials. It is our collective responsibility to call out hate and injustice whenever we see it. I collaborated with Robert Trestan, Executive Director of ADL New England, to pen a GBH commentary piece explaining the rise in antisemitism within the antivax movement here in Massachusetts and across our nation. As your State Senator, I have publicly condemned abject acts of hate, offered to engage in constructive dialogue in communities, secured tens of thousands of dollars to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion work in our district, and voted to support the Genocide Education Act, now law, which requires that genocide education be taught in Massachusetts public schools before the end of high school. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not the only pandemic we’re up against.

Funding Our Communities’ Recovery: The Legislature passed a $4 billion bill to allocate federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to equitably invest in our continued recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. This bill delivers broad spectrum supports for our communities’ health, including mental and behavioral health, housing security, our environment, and workforce development. I secured numerous amendments to support our district and the Commonwealth at large, including targeted funding to assist women re-entering the workforce, providing post-traumatic stress care for medical personnel, and $1,000,000 in investments for local housing, transportation, water infrastructure, and other projects in our district.

I secured several victories in the FY 2022 budget as well, including $500,000 for local projects across our district, a pilot program for a statewide youth mental health support text line, funding for the Department of Public Health to hire personnel with expertise in combatting vaccine hesitancy, and funding for New Hope’s new domestic violence shelter and an updated facility for the Attleboro Center for Children.

Legislative Victories: The gears of the legislative process are turning, and many bills are moving through their respective committees. Committees must take action on every timely filed bill by February 2, 2022, so we can expect an increase in floor votes and legislation headed to the governor’s desk in the coming months.

My Senate colleagues and I have already advanced some game-changing bills. In October, we passed comprehensive election reform legislation, strengthened by adoption of several amendments I filed. The bill provides election day voter registration, permanent mail-in voting, improved jail-based voting access, and upgrades to our elections infrastructure. My amendment work also elevated issues still left to address, like ballot drop box ratios and paid time off for voting. We also passed the Mental Health ABC Act to improve access to culturally competent care, support and boost our Commonwealth’s mental health care workforce, reduce barriers to emergency treatment, and more. This month, we again passed a bill to make government-issued IDs more accessible to people experiencing homelessness to facilitate access to critically needed services across our Commonwealth. These bills now await action by the House.  

As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA), I also worked to pass the law that improves conditions for egg-laying hens while keeping our egg supply available and affordable.  

Moving Forward: There is still so much work to be done. This session I filed more than 40 bills designed to advance election reform, good governance, public health, reproductive justice, climate action, and intersectional justice and equity. This month, my lead climate action legislation cleared the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, and I anticipate more favorable reports on my bills in the coming weeks. My team and I continue working hard on your behalf to shepherd these bills through the legislative process.  

It is my great honor to represent the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District in the Massachusetts State Senate, and I’ll continue putting my proven leadership to work for you. Please reach out to me if you need assistance, have thoughts on policy, or want to check in. My office phone number is 617-722-1555, my email is becca.rausch@masenate.gov, and you can sign up for a personal office hours appointment at beccarauschma.com/office-hours. I also invite you to join me for my district-wide virtual town hall conversation on Monday, January 24 at 7 PM (sign up at www.beccarauschma.com/town-hall).

As we begin 2022, I wish you and your loved ones strength, health, resilience, and joy. I look forward to everything we will accomplish together this year.  

Senator Becca Rausch represents the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District, comprised of Attleboro, Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley, and Wrentham. Senator Rausch serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture and the Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. 

Senator Rausch to host Virtual Town Hall - Jan 24, 2022 - Register now to participate!
Senator Rausch to host Virtual Town Hall - Jan 24, 2022 - Register now to participate!

FHS gymnastics and wrestling teams post wins on Saturday; girls hockey skates to a 3-3 tie

 
Girls Hockey = Franklin, 3 @ Medway/Ashland, 3 – Final (OT) 
– Franklin freshman Julia Flynn scored a hat trick to help the Panthers erase a two-goal deficit and earn a tie. Flynn tipped in a shot from Shaw Downing to put the Panthers ahead but Medway/Ashland scored three straight to stake a 3-1 in the third period. Flynn scored twice in short succession (assists from Katie LeBlanc and Ava Vilella) to tie it 3-3, where it stayed through an extra overtime period. Izzy Brown had a strong game in net for Franklin.

Wrestling = Westford Academy Tri-meet (Franklin) 
– Franklin had a successful showing on Saturday, pinning down wins over both Westford Academy (66-18) and Algonquin (40-36). Matthew Leaman, Riley Carlucci, Brendan Collins, Ahmed Jawando, Jonathan Owen, Alex Fracassa, Alex Foley, Augustus Granata, Ryan Parlon and Nolan Sheridan each had a pinfall victory on the day.

Gymnastics = Franklin, 142.5 @ Canton, 127.7 – Final


For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-15-22/


FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Globe (unofficial) MIAA power ratings available for high school hockey (and basketball)

Jim Clark (@In_The_Slot) tweeted on Fri, Jan 14, 2022:
You asked ... we delivered.

We unveiled the wildly popular Globe (unofficial) MIAA power ratings during the fall, and now we are rolling them out for winter sports.

Now available for hockey:
BOYS: https://t.co/xO0v4kiuVw   or https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/power-rankings/?sport=boys-hockey

GIRLS: https://t.co/3GM0HbIEBH

@MSHCA1 @GlobeSchools
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/In_The_Slot/status/1482025155769651201



high school power rankings
high school power rankings


Franklin Garden Club Features Program on Interior Plant Landscape Design - Feb 1, 2022

The Franklin Garden Club will sponsor a program on “Interior Plant Landscape Design“ on Tuesday, February 1, at 7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, MA.  The program will be presented by Bellingham resident Jen Kuse, who is experienced in designing indoor and outdoor plantscapes and gardens for both private homes and commercial buildings. She also oversees the highly successful Franklin Food Pantry community garden.  The program is open to the public at no charge.  

Kuse’s presentation will include the following topics: information on the benefits of plants, including tropical plants, the most commonly used interior plants; examples of plants that do the best indoors; conditions and care required for plants; how to deal with common diseases and pest problems; organic methods for integrated pest management; basic design ideas for the home and office; and where to obtain tropical plants.  The program will include an opportunity to obtain plants used in the presentation with proceeds going to the Franklin Food Pantry.

Kuse, a graduate of Dean College, has more than 25 years of experience in designing plantscapes and gardens, primarily through her affiliation with the Interiorscapes Division of Central Nurseries of Johnston, RI 

In addition to its monthly programs, the Garden Club supports several service activities including planting and maintaining the Franklin Town Common gardens and the planters at the Franklin Library, sponsoring an annual scholarship, distributing pine tree seedlings in the elementary schools, and sponsoring special projects with other community organizations. The Franklin Garden Club, founded in 1987, became a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts in 2015.       

 

Franklin Garden Club Features Program on Interior Plant Landscape Design  - Feb 1, 2022
Franklin Garden Club Features Program on Interior Plant Landscape Design  - Feb 1, 2022

Tri-County students complete wire ties for NASA HUNCH Program

Tri-County RVTHS’s Engineering majors participate in the HUNCH Designing and Prototyping Competition each year and was proud to have three teams of finalists in 2021. Their hard work and dedication was evident to Stacy Hale, HUNCH Founder, when he selected Tri-County as one of the school’s to participate in a special project, the designing and building of EVA Wire Ties. These wire ties are used on the International Space Station (ISS) when an astronaut goes on a spacewalk for a repair. Wire ties are wrapped around cable bundles used during battery replacements.

Hale visited Tri-County in November of 2019 to work with the students for three days. During this time students learned the specific and critical specifications required for the wire ties and created a computer-aided design (CAD). The students worked alongside Stacy building, inspecting, and performing quality control measures to ensure each piece was the exact size and shape required. 

L to R are: Maxwell Rounds (Franklin), Tony Botteri (Walpole), Rick Hamilton (North Attleboro), Stacy Hale (NASA), Tyler McKinnon (Franklin), James Gingras (Millis), Brian Belanger (Plainville)
L to R are: Maxwell Rounds (Franklin), Tony Botteri (Walpole), Rick Hamilton (North Attleboro), Stacy Hale (NASA), Tyler McKinnon (Franklin), James Gingras (Millis), Brian Belanger (Plainville)


Tri-County was one of a handful of schools selected throughout the country to work on this project. Our students from the class of 2021 and 2022 manufactured approximately 250 wire ties using an assembly line process. Most, if not all, are currently being used on the ISS.

Hale returned to Tri-County to have a storage locker used in the ISS signed. The honor is used to recognize the hard work and dedication during the manufacturing. The storage lockers are filled with goods that are being shipped up to the ISS and then used to send refuse back to Earth.

 

  • What is NASA HUNCH?  

NASA High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) Program 

The HUNCH mission is to empower and inspire students through a Project Based Learning program where high school students learn 21st century skills and have the opportunity to launch their careers through the participation in the design and fabrication of real world valued products for NASA.  Find out more on the NASA HUNCH web page -> https://nasahunch.com/

Franklin Fire: open burning permits available online

Franklin Fire (@FranklinMAfire) tweeted on Fri, Jan 14, 2022:
Open Burning Season runs from January 15th through May 1st.  You can apply for a permit through our website:  https://t.co/wnJHPBePeU   or -> https://www.franklinma.gov/fire-department/pages/burning-permits-2022

 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/F4VTfF7XDA

Franklin Fire: open burning permits available online
Franklin Fire: open burning permits available online


Get ready for taxes: Bookmark IRS.gov resources and online tools to use before, during and after filing

The Internal Revenue Service today (1/14/22) encouraged taxpayers to use IRS online tools and resources to find the information they need to be ready to file their 2021 federal tax returns, including important special steps related to Economic Impact Payments and advance Child Tax Credit payments.

Individuals, especially those who don't usually file a tax return, are urged to file their 2021 tax return electronically beginning Jan. 24, 2022. Using tax preparation software or a trusted tax professional will help guide people through the process and avoid making errors. Filing an incomplete or inaccurate return may mean a processing delay that slows the resulting tax refund.

"There are some simple steps people can take to make sure they avoid delays and receive a quick refund," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "It's critical this year to avoid a paper tax return whenever possible and file electronically with direct deposit. And it's more important than ever to make sure you're filing an accurate tax return. The IRS urges people to review some straightforward tips that can help them avoid problems and get their tax refunds quickly."

This is the third in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A special page, updated and available on IRS.gov, outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier.

IRS.gov tools are easy to use and available 24 hours a day. Millions of people use them to find information about their accounts, get answers to tax questions or file and pay taxes.

Recovery Rebate Credit / Economic Impact Payments
Individuals who didn't qualify for a third Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. They will need to know the total amount of their third Economic Impact Payments received to calculate their correct 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit amount when they file their 2021 tax return. Ensuring they use the correct payment amounts will help them avoid a processing delay that may slow their refund. Beginning in late January, the IRS will send Letter 6475 with the total amount of the third Economic Impact Payment received. People can also view their economic impact payments using their Online Account.

Advance Child Tax Credit payments
People will need to know the total amount of advance payments they received in 2021 to compare them with the full amount of the Child Tax Credit that they can properly claim when they file their 2021 tax return. People who received the advance payments can access their online account to check the total amount of their payments. The IRS is also sending Letter 6419 to provide the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments received in 2021. Eligible families who did not get monthly advance payments in 2021 can still get a lump-sum payment by claiming the Child Tax Credit when they file a 2021 federal income tax return this year. This includes families who don't normally need to file a return.

Interactive Tax Assistant
The Interactive Tax Assistant answers general tax law questions, including helping to determine if a type of income is taxable or if someone is eligible to claim certain credits and deductions. With changes to income and other life events for many in 2021, tax credits and deductions can mean more money in a taxpayer's pocket. Thinking about eligibility now can help make tax filing easier.

Online Account
Taxpayers can use their Online Account to securely see important information when preparing to file their tax return or following up on balances or notices. Taxpayers can view the amount they owe, make and track payments and view payment plan details. Taxpayers can now also manage their communication preferences to go paperless for certain notices from the IRS, or to receive email notifications when the IRS sends them a new digital notice. They can also access information about Economic Impact Payments and advance Child Tax Credit payments needed to file a complete and accurate return. Act now to create an account.

Where's My Refund?
Taxpayers can check the status of their refund using the Where's My Refund? tool. The status is available within 24 hours after the IRS accepts their e-filed tax return or up to four weeks after they mailed a paper return. The Where's My Refund? tool updates once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so taxpayers only need to check once a day.

Get ready to use direct deposit for tax refunds
Direct deposit gives taxpayers access to their refund faster than a paper check. Individuals can use a bank account, prepaid debit card or mobile app to use direct deposit and will need to provide routing and account numbers. Learn how to open an account at an FDIC-Insured bank or through the National Credit Union Locator Tool. Veterans should see the Veterans Benefits Banking Program for access to financial services at participating banks.

IRS Free File
Everyone can file electronically for free. Starting January 14, the IRS Free File program, available only through IRS.gov or the IRS2Go app, offers brand-name tax preparation software packages. For those who earned $73,000 or less in 2021, they may qualify for Free File guided tax software. The software does all the work of finding deductions, credits and exemptions. Some of the Free File offers may include a free state tax return. Taxpayers comfortable filling out tax forms, can use Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic federal tax forms paper version to file their tax returns online, regardless of income.

Members of the military and qualifying veterans can use MilTax, a Department of Defense program that generally offers free online tax preparation and e-filing software for federal returns and up to three state returns.

Free Tax Return preparation site
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free tax help and e-file for taxpayers who qualify.

Choosing a preparer
The IRS has several options for finding a tax preparer. The IRS provides an online database to help taxpayers locate an authorized e-file provider in their area who can electronically file their tax return. Choosing a Tax Professional provides information for selecting a tax professional. The Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can help taxpayers find preparers in their area who currently hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS, or who hold an Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion. Taxpayers need to remember that they, not the tax preparer, are responsible for information on their tax return once they sign it.

IRS.gov/getready
Links to online tools, publications, and other helpful resources are available on the IRS.gov/getready page. For more information about planning ahead, see Publication 5348, Get Ready to File and Publication 5349, Year-Round Tax Planning is for Everyone.

Get ready for taxes: Bookmark IRS.gov resources and online tools to use before, during and after filing
Get ready for taxes: Bookmark IRS.gov resources and online tools to use before, during and after filing