Spring into Ending Food Insecurity -> News from the Franklin Food Pantry

Spring means new beginnings

Spring 2022 Tina's Take New Beginnings! Spring is a time for new beginnings, and that is certainly the case for us at the Pantry. You may have heard our exciting news that we have purchased the former Edwin's building to be our new home. The new building will provide ample and accessible parking, warehouse, shopping, and community spaces needed to continue our programs as well as launch additional services to meet our neighbors' growing and changing needs. Renovations should begin later this year. In the meantime, we will continue to serve our neighbors at our current location.    Speaking of which, we are so happy to reopen our inside shopping again. We are returning to our hybrid distribution for our neighbors by offering curbside distribution one day/night a week and appointment-based shopping two days a week. Staff and volunteers have missed seeing our neighbors inside. We are excited to offer a gluten-free section with our inside reopening!    This April, we look forward to honoring our volunteers during volunteer appreciation month. While we appreciate our volunteers every day, we can't wait to celebrate them! Then we look forward to the annual Empty Bowls event on May 19. This year the event will be back in-person with a simple meal, events for kids, an auction, and more. Come join us and the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club to raise awareness about food insecurity.      We are so excited for spring and what will happen next at the Pantry! Thank you for all your support.  Best – Tina Powderly  New Building News We have purchased a new building to better serve our neighbors. The building, formerly known as Edwin's, is located at 341 West Central Street and will undergo renovations to convert it into a functional, accessible, and expanded Pantry.  Renovations should begin later this year. In the meantime, we will continue to operate at our current location and we appreciate the continued support of Rockland Trust. For more information visit here. New Building News Save the date for Empty Bowls 2022! Join us and the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club on Thursday, May 19. Attendees will receive a simple meal of soup and bread and leave with an empty bowl to remind them that somewhere, someone's bowl is empty. There will also be a silent auction, a giving wall, and a kids' art table! Buy your tickets here or at the door (cash or check only at the door!) #FranklinCanfillemptybowls. Empty Bowls Tickets We have a variety of Empty Bowls Sponsorships available for businesses and individuals who want to support The Pantry. Sponsorships range from "Soup Starter" at $500 to "Pot of Gold" at $3000. Visit here for more information or to sign up! Hybrid Distribution is Back! We are excited to return to our hybrid distribution model! Our neighbors can shop curbside on Tuesdays from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm and 5:30 - 6:30 pm or make an appointment and come inside the Pantry to shop on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 1:00 pm. Hybrid distribution allows our neighbors to receive food the way they like it and we are happy to help them! Annual Appeal! ‌ Keep an eye out for our 2022 Annual Appeal. This year you'll hear from our neighbor Laura about how much the Pantry has helped her and you'll learn all the ways you can help Laura and others like her! Food and Fund Drives!  We appreciate all of our community support! If you are interested in collecting food for the Pantry, please fill out our online food and fund drive form. This helps us plan and ensure that our neighbors get the food they need all year long! Thank you!   Volunteer Appreciation Month April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! While we appreciate our volunteers all year, we want to take a moment to thank all of our volunteers for their flexibility, time, and heart. We couldn't do what we do without you! Get ready for some fun surprises! Spring Cleaning Thank you to the Franklin Rotary Club for their donation of cleaning supplies for our neighbors! Each year they donate buckets full of cleaners, sponges, and supplies to help our neighbors with their spring cleaning!

Franklin Food Pantry | 43 WEST CENTRAL STREET, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by loften@franklinfoodpantry.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!

The Franklin Connection - Senior Center newsletter for April 2022

The April edition of The Franklin Connection, the Senior Center newsletter is available online and via postal mail for those subscribing.

Find a copy online: 
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/april_newsletter_full_2022_final.pdf

Call the Senior Center to subscribe for the mailing 508-520-4945

The April edition of The Franklin Connection

DPW Announcement: Annual Hydrant Flushing Begins week of April 4

"Hydrant flushing begins NEXT WEEK (April 4)!

This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin’s water quality and fire flows. Residents may experience temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area.

Please visit https://www.franklinma.gov/water.../pages/hydrant-flushing to find out where we will be working each day.

We appreciate your patience during flushing!"

Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/public-works/news/hydrant-flushing-begins-next-week-april-4-2022

hydrant flushing in action on Cottage St in 2014

Franklin Community Garden Updates

Happy Spring! 

Just a reminder: Opening day at the Franklin Community Garden is April 23. Volunteers are needed to help: put out hoses and sprayers, fill one of the flower boxes with soil, put down some clover and move the picnic benches to their proper location. Come and meet your fellow gardeners! Amend your soil, plant some seeds, put up some cages and plan out your garden! Hoping for a sunny day! 

May 14 is a seed and seedling exchange from 11-1. This is a time change from a previous email. White Barn Farm in Wrentham  is having their plant sale that same morning staring at 9. We like to be there to get the best selection. If you go and purchase some plants and then discover you have too many then you can exchange for something else at our exchange from 11-1. Sometimes plants come packed in 6's or 8's and you only want 3 or 4. Great time to exchange!

If you are planning to start your plants from seeds you should have already started your pepper plants, eggplants, and tomatoes indoors. If you are interested in a growing snap peas, then you now can plant the seeds right in your garden bed. If you are interested in growing greens (lettuce, arugula, kale, shard, etc.) and or root crops (carrots  and radishes) you can plant those in your garden beds. If you have a row cover, then you can cover them. If not, some straw or hay will protect them a bit.  At the end in the month you can start from seed indoors: squashes and flowers can be started indoors also (like zinnias and marigolds)!

See you on April 23rd! 

Franklin Community Garden Updates

Shared from Recreation Dept email update

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_XsC4PFbZ-9t-wryiFwaHERqkSyetFp6/view?usp=sharing

“Remote access is the latest instance of universal design"

"Many byproducts of the pandemic cannot disappear too soon – the illness, the social isolation, the toll constant anxiety is taking on our collective mental health. Yet some societal changes have become a silver lining to the pandemic – the realization that some jobs can be done as efficiently at home, the convenience of telehealth, and increased access to government by livestreaming public meetings.

The first real debate about whether to cut off that access has come from the Governor’s Council, the body that vets and confirms judicial nominees."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/should-remote-access-to-government-continue-2/ 

hybrid Town Council meeting early in March 2022

Town of Franklin: April 2022 E-Newsletter

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

Subscribe for News April 2022 Edition Franklin for All - Stay Involved! We had incredible participation in the Franklin for All public forum. Over 600 residents contributed to the Visioning Survey. Our project consultants at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council will use feedback to create the zoning recommendations. The draft recommendations will be presented to the public again some time in May - June. Franklin for All is a study with the MAPC aimed at rezoning Franklin center for economic growth and diverse housing opportunities. Sign up for the Franklin for All email list to be updated on all future engagement opportunities! April Break with the Rec Department! Looking to keep the kiddos entertained this upcoming April break? The Recreation department has you covered. Their April break programs includes street hockey, flag football, art explorations and even a Snapology Robot Extravaganza where kids can explore robotics! Register for their programs here! Department of Public Works Hydrant Flushing - April 4 This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin's water quality and fire flows. Residents may experience temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area. Please visit our website to find out where we will be working each day. We appreciate your patience during flushing! See where Hydrant Flushing is happening! Storm Water & Rain Barrels The Spring Residential Rain Barrel Program is currently open to residents - residents can order directly from The Great American Rain Barrel Company. The deadline to order is May 9th and pick up will be at the DPW on May 18 from 4-6pm. Order your rain barrel today! The rain barrel program is one of many residential and commercial credit incentives to support Storm Water Utility. Learn more about the Storm Water Utility and what it may mean for you here. Franklin Police Department Autism Awareness Month The FPD is providing Autism Awareness Seatbelt Covers at the station to anyone who may need one. These covers serve to help first responders when interacting with persons with autism. In addition, we encourage everyone to fill out the Autism Elopement Alert Form. This form is used to help first responders understands a person's typically behavior, preferred method of communication, tracking information, etc. Access the Autism Elopement Alert Form here. International Women's Day On March 8, the FPD recognized International Women's Day. Since 2016, the FPD made it a goal to diversify its hiring standards including hiring more female officers. The department currently has 6 full-time police officers; Officer Tara Lagoa, Detective Leanna Baker, Officer Amanda Ayer, Officer Andressa Rosa, Detective Laura Canavan, and Officer Victoria McVicar. Promotions & New Hire This past month we formally welcomed Officer Derek Mackey to the FPD. Officer Mackey joined the department in December 2021 after serving with the Blackstone and Pittsfield Police Departments. Officer Laura Canavan was promoted to Detective and Officer Connor Crosman was promoted to Patrol Sergeant. Congratulations and good luck to Officer Mackey, Detective Canavan, and Sgt. Crosman.  Connect with FPD Facebook & Instagram: @franklinmapolice Twitter: @franklinpolice Veterans' Services & Senior Center April 6 – Veterans' Coffee Social – 10am at the Senior Center. Please join us for a celebration of the Starbucks team this month! All veterans are welcome to join us for coffee and conversation! April 14 – Veterans' Council Meeting – 7pm at the Senior Center. All members of the community interested in veterans' activities are invited. April 14 – Air Force Reserve 74th Birthday April 23 – Army Reserve 114th Birthday The Tune It Out guitar lessons program for veterans meets on Tuesdays at 5:30pm at the Senior Center. There is no charge for lessons and no guitar experience is required. Call the Veterans' Services Office for details. Stay tuned for info about our Memorial Day Celebrations – May 27 (Breakfast), May 30 (Parade & Ceremony on the Town Common). Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or mask will be required at all Veterans' events and activities. Common Grounds Cafe at the Senior Center! The Grand Re-Opening of the Common Grounds Cafe will take place April 11. Breakfast 8:30am - 10:30am and lunch 11:00am- 1:00pm. We are excited to welcome our new Chef Anne Scungio! Stay connected with the Senior Center! Franklin Public Schools Superintendent's Recommended Budget Our FY23 Budget also continues services to support "Pandemic Recovery" utilizing both Operating Funds as well as Federal Grant funding to prioritize: social-emotional supports, academic interventions, health and safety practices, and continued support of technology integration. The budget also prioritizes and recognizes growing needs within our student body. Despite overall student enrollment going down, we are seeing more intensive needs by students receiving special education services. We are also experiencing an increase in our English learner population, with more students overall and more students with limited or interrupted formal education and/or earlier language proficiency. The budget is an iterative process. It is anticipated the School Committee will vote on a final budget on April 12. Finance and Town Council budget meetings will be in May. Learn more about the FY 23 Budget here. Franklin Public Library Library Event Highlights April 8 & 9 - Book Sale Calling all bookworms! There will be a book sale Friday from 1pm-5pm and Saturday from 9am-12pm the $5 bag of books promotion will also be on the 9th from 1pm-4pm. April 11 - I.D.E.A. Club Inclusion, Diversity and Equity are Awesome Club meets the 2nd Monday of every month at 4pm. Our story times celebrate all of the ways we are different and wonderful. Come read, sing, play and learn with us! April 16 - Baby Sensory Join us at 9:30am for a 45 minute immersive sensory experience, best for babies under 2. Got older siblings? they can bring along a stuffed toy or baby and play along! April 30 - Author Talk: Letters from Red Farm Join our Author Talk with Elizabeth Emerson at 3pm as she dives into the Untold Story of the Friendship between Helen Keller and Journalist Joseph Edgar Chamberlin. Library Hours The Library's regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 1:30-5pm. The Library will be closed on Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18 in Observance of Easter Sunday and Patriots' Day . Library Calendar of Events - April 2022 Real Estate Exemption Application Forms Franklin Residential Property Owners, certain blind, senior, veteran or widowed owners may be eligible for an exemption if they haven't already applied since July 1, 2021; these applications are due by Friday, April 1, 2022 at 1pm. The FY23 Exemption Application Forms will be available after July 4th. FY23 Business Asset Forms of List were due by March 1st; and FY23 Commercial-Industrial-Apartment (4 or more)-Mixed Use (Commercial & Residential) Income & Expense forms were due by March 11th. Late filings on the latter two (2) forms should be done immediately. Questions on Forms of List, Income & Expense Forms, or Exemption Applications should be directed to the Assessors Office, 1st Floor Municipal Building, or phone (508) 520-4920. Thanks very much to all owners & residents for your continued cooperation in our efforts to assure you of fair & equitable taxation. - Franklin Board of Assessors 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

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