"Hey FHS! Girl Up, in partnership with ABD (@abdfranklin), organized a self defense course for 5/11!!! There’s limited space available for students and staff so sign up while you still can :)
It’s important that we learn how to defend ourselves in the hope that everyone feels comfortable and safe (although we hope you never have to use what you learn). If at all before, during, or after the event you need anyone to talk to please don’t be afraid to reach out <3 "
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
FHS Girl Up schedules a self defense course for May 11
SAFE 5K - THIS SATURDAY - still time to register and participate!
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Escape Into Fiction - Save the Date - April 30 - Independent Book Store Day celebrated
"#savethedate The #bookstore is participating in Independent Bookstore Day April 30th 10-5!!!
We will have 3 local vendors, an 11am #storytime with a #specialguest and of course #BOOKS."
@cravemead https://www.instagram.com/cravemead/
@teecuptreasures https://www.instagram.com/teecuptreasures/
@paperbackcandles https://www.instagram.com/paperbackcandles/
Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CcvaInTLICs/
Escape Into Fiction - Save the Date - April 30 - Independent Book Store Day celebrated |
Local Honey Dew Donuts Scholarship Award - FHS students should apply now! (due May 1)
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Massachusetts State Senate President Announces Hiring of Karen Adelman-Foster as Director of Community Engagement and Municipal Policy
Massachusetts Senate President Karen E. Spilka announced today that Karen Adelman-Foster has been hired as Director of Community Engagement and Municipal Policy in her office.
“Karen Adelman-Foster has extensive elected municipal experience and therefore really knows what makes municipalities tick—and what it takes to make local government effective,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Combined with her work with the greater MetroWest region, Karen will no doubt hit the ground running in engaging the communities in my district, as well as bringing their needs into focus as we craft policy on the state level.”
Adelman-Foster most recently worked as a Senior Communications Strategist at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), where she led external communications on the MetroCommon 2050 regional plan, co-led, with the New England Aquarium, the Community Partners for Resilience (CPR) project, coordinated the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (MWRC), and conceived and led the Regional Municipal Approaches to Diversity and Equity (reMADE) project. Before her work with MAPC, Adelman-Foster worked as a freelance writer and marketing consultant for a number of local and national clients.
In addition to her professional roles, Adelman-Foster served until last month as an elected member of the Natick Select Board, most recently as Chair. In this capacity, she collaborated with the Town Administrator on policy decisions and strategy on behalf of the Board, and was instrumental in establishing a new town-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and Chief Diversity Officer position.
From 2006 to 2012, Adelman-Foster served as an elected member of the Natick School Committee, where she helped oversee the hiring process for the then new Superintendent of Schools. She has also served in a number of other town positions, including as a member of Town Meeting, the Finance Committee, the Charter and Bylaw Review Committee, and the Strategic Planning Review Committee.
Adelman-Foster, who resides in Natick, holds a BA in Political Science from Swarthmore College and an MFA in Fiction Writing from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. Her first day in the Senate President’s office was April 4, 2022.
Alumni Restaurant not to reopen
Sad news on the small and local business front, the Alumni Restaurant will not be reopening and is being put up for sale. The owner's note to the patrons shared here.
On the other hand, there is an opportunity for someone who would like to operate a restaurant!
Shared from Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/204307558091/posts/10160476432138092/
Alumni Restaurant not to reopen |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, April 27, 2022
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Wednesday
Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)
- This slot features my conversation with Town of Franklin Health Director Cathleen Liberty https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/fm-782-health-director-cathleen-liberty.html
This hour features my conversation with Town of Franklin Finance Director/Comptroller Chris Sandini and Treasurer/Collector Kerri Bertone https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/the-town-of-franklin-budget-cycle.html
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY
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) |
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Senior Story Hour - WFPR: Baseball, Hockey, Spring, Meatloaf and So Much More (audio)
"In this episode, The Franklin Senior Center writers group presents stories and poems about growing up playing baseball, being a mother in a hockey family, the dawning of Spring, how meatloaf saved Zenobia's life and much more.
This episode aired on Franklin Radio for April 2022"
Senior Story Hour - WFPR: Baseball, Hockey, Spring, Meatloaf and So Much More (audio) |
Franklin Food Pantry: Stamp Out Hunger on May 14 #FranklinCANStampOutHunger
After a two-year absence, Stamp Out Hunger has returned to Franklin. On Saturday, May 14, Franklin letter carriers will pick up donated goods from town residents at their mailboxes and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry. The Franklin Food Pantry is appealing to the community for some very specific items in this year's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive:
- Tomato Paste
- Assorted Cereal Boxes 10oz - 20oz
- Coffee - Cans or Bags 12oz - 16oz.
- Shampoo 8oz-24oz
- Conditioner 8oz-24oz
- Body / Hand Lotion 8oz- 16oz
- Baby Wipes
- Foil / Plastic Wrap/ Ziplock Baggies
"In our current building, we have very limited space to store a surplus of items," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. "That's why we are asking the community for these very specific items, as well as no expired food. We are so appreciative of all the donations we receive, but given our space constraints, we hope to focus donations on items currently in highest need."
The Pantry is emphasizing its request to please check expiration dates on every item donated. Processing expired items is resource intensive. Volunteers must check every donated item's expiration dates. The expired food must be sorted separately and then disposed of, which costs the Pantry time and money. According to Powderly, "We plan for 10,000 pounds of food during Stamp Out Hunger. Even with the 100 volunteers we hope to have over the entire day, each volunteer will need to handle one item each minute to keep up. It's an incredible amount of work, and expired items slow down the process, create waste, and lead to volunteer burnout. Checking donated food for expired items would be a huge help to us, and much appreciated by our hard-working volunteers."
Volunteers are still needed for the event. If anyone is interested, they can sign up online here.
Franklin residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food and hygiene items where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail on Saturday, May 14. Letter carriers will pick up the bags during their normal mail rounds and will deliver the food to the Franklin Food Pantry.
"We are so thankful to the letter carriers, and a supportive community, for helping us acquire the items that are most needed," said Powderly. "We have almost 1,100 individuals who count on us for food and supplies on a regular basis. We could not provide for them without the support of such a generous community."
In lieu of donating goods, individuals who want to support the Pantry can donate online.
"Monetary donations give us the flexibility to purchase what we need, when we need it," said Powderly. "We can also purchase fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products to supplement the canned and boxed food donations. We count on both types of donations to provide a wholesome and balanced inventory of products for our neighbors."
For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive . The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries that would otherwise be faced with depleted stocks during the summer months.
About the Franklin Food Pantry
The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to almost 1,100 individuals per year. The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. As a private, nonprofit organization, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other strategic partners. We are grateful for our many partnerships, including that with the Greater Boston Food Bank, that allow us to achieve greater buying power and lower our costs. Donations and grants fund our food purchases, keep our lights on, and put gas in our food truck. Other programs include home delivery, Weekend Backpack Program for Franklin school children in need, mobile pantry, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. The Pantry is located at 43 W. Central St. in Franklin on Route 140 across from the Franklin Fire Station.
Visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.
Franklin Food Pantry: Stamp Out Hunger on May 14 |
Updated Agenda doc for Special School Committee meeting - remote option added
Update:
Agenda for 6 PM meeting -> (live stream or cable broadcast as well as in person in the Council Chambers plus The Zoom option as added during the day on Monday and agenda revised to include it) https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-26-22_special_mtg-revised.pdf
Franklin, MA: School Committee - Special Agenda UPDATED - Apr 26, 2022 |
Letter from Register O'Donnell: Appealing for Commonsense Action on Registry IT
April 25, 2022
Dear Registry Stakeholders and Citizens,
AN APPEAL FOR COMMONSENSE ACTION ON REGISTRY IT
Please listen to the professional staff that runs the Norfolk Registry of Deeds as to why the Registry needs its Information (IT) Technology Department. (click here to listen to the Registry staff at a Norfolk County Commissioners Meeting). The Registry staff who did a compelling job in arguing on behalf of all Registry users in this video have over 149 years of legal and land document recording experience. Shouldn't the words of a professional Registry staff that takes care of the land records to your house count more than some consultant who come in like "a hired gun" to say whatever they get paid to say? Doesn't the words in this video of staff that has given reliable service mean something when assessed against consultants who have never visited a Registry of Deeds or knew anything about Registry operations until they got paid as a consultant?
On May 4, 2022 there will be a vote by the Finance Committee of the Norfolk County Advisory Board made up of Avon, Randolph, Plainville, Brookline and Milton from the attached list of Advisory Board members (click here for a list of members). Please tell these Finance Committee representatives and the Advisory Board representative from your community who will be voting on May 11, 2022 to vote to keep the on-site direct report high level Registry IT staff in place.
Commonsense in this day and age would mean the Norfolk Registry of Deeds would keep its on-site direct report in the Registry budget Registry IT staff. This Registry IT Department has been in existence at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds for well over 35 years paid for by the Registry of Deeds.
Commonsense would say why jeopardize the land records that authenticate the legal title to your home. Commonsense would take note of all the fraud and cybersecurity risks in today's world and keep the Registry IT Department as is. Commonsense would say we use the Registry of Deeds dedicated revenues to pay for this IT technology staff which has played a key role in the modernization initiatives implemented at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.
The Norfolk County Commissioners chose Plymouth and Bristol counties as the "benchmarks" to compare Norfolk County. The Registries of Deeds in these counties do have on-site direct report IT Departments. This should logically mean that Norfolk Registry should keep its on-site direct report IT Department. It did not. Why not? If this was a fair and impartial process the fact that the Registries in Plymouth and Bristol have on-site Registry IT staff should have ended all debate about the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds not keeping its on-site IT Department. Why should residents and taxpayers of Norfolk County get less service than what the people of Plymouth County and Bristol County get?
Thank you for your attention to this very important issue. Any action you take is appreciated by all who use and rely on the operations and services of your Norfolk Registry of Deeds.
Sincerely yours,
Norfolk Register of Deeds
Appealing for Commonsense Action on Registry IT |
The ECDC is looking to hire a full-time Educational Support Professional (classroom assistant)
"We are hiring! Need a full-time Educational Support Professional (classroom assistant) at ECDC!
This is a school year position, but there is also an opportunity to work during our 6-week summer program!
Email me for more information kelleyk@franklinps.net ! "
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinECDC/status/1518392993513938950
https://www.franklinps.net/ecdc |
CommonWealth Magazine: MBTA gets to buying electric buses; Codcast episode
On the climate front, the T is getting to buying electric buses, and 2 Conservation Law officials question the progress bring made by ISO-New England. Both items also covered in our "Making Sense of Climate" series.
"THE MBTA is beginning the process of electrifying its bus fleet, launching a long-awaited procurement that could lead to the purchase of 460 battery-electric buses over the next five years.
The T’s request for proposal went out on Friday, with the transit authority seeking a battery-powered bus supplemented with a diesel-power heating system and capable of going 150 miles on a single charge."
"Challenging the status quo on electricity, heating" |
"Two top officials with the Conservation Law Foundation say the region’s power grid operator and the state’s utilities are in some ways part of the problem instead of the solution to dealing with climate change.Greg Cunningham, the vice president and director of CLF’s clean energy and climate change program, and Caitlin Peale Sloan, the vice president for Massachusetts, said on The Codcast that they are concerned the institutions that should be leading the fight against climate change are not doing so."
The Guardian: Oil company execs raking in the cash; "‘What we now know … they lied"
"While gas prices soar for consumers, one group of people isn’t faring so badly.
Chief executives from the largest oil and gas companies received nearly $45m more in combined total compensation in 2021 as compared to 2020 amid the steep rise in gasoline prices across the US over the last year, a new report states.
Twenty-eight major oil and gas companies, such as Shell, Exxon, BP and Marathon Petroleum, gave out $394m in total to their chief executives in 2021, according to an exclusive analysis provided to the Guardian."
"There is a moment in the revelatory PBS Frontline docuseries The Power of Big Oil, about the industry’s long campaign to stall action on the climate crisis, in which the former Republican senator Chuck Hagel reflects on his part in killing US ratification of the Kyoto climate treaty.In 1997, Hagel joined with the Democratic senator Robert Byrd to promote a resolution opposing the international agreement to limit greenhouse gases, on the grounds that it was unfair to Americans. The measure passed the US Senate without a single dissenting vote, after a vigorous campaign by big oil to mischaracterize the Kyoto protocol as a threat to jobs and the economy while falsely claiming that China and India could go on polluting to their heart’s content.The resolution effectively put a block on US ratification of any climate treaty ever since."
A sign displays the price of gas at an Exxon gas station in Washington DC, in March. Photograph: Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Tuesday
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era
Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = TUESDAY
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = TUESDAY
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) |