Saturday, July 2, 2022

New England Muzzle awards contain a local interest

"A Boston mayor who trampled on a religious group’s right to freedom of expression. A Worcester city manager who trampled on the public’s right to know about police misconduct. A New Hampshire state legislator who trampled on teachers’ rights by demanding that they take a “loyalty oath” promising not to teach their students about racism.

These are just a few of the winners of the 2022 New England Muzzle Awards."

The former Worcester city manager (Augustus) is now the Chancellor at Dean College. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/06/dean-college-announces-elmore-as.html


New England Muzzle awards contain a local interest
New England Muzzle awards contain a local interest

Friday, July 1, 2022

4th of July Celebration - schedule for Friday, July 1, 2022

Friday, July 1

6:00pm - 4th July: Rides and food booths open

7:00pm - 4th July: Duppy Conquerors (the quintessential testimonial to Bob Marley's spirit and his music)



4th of July Coalition home page   https://www.franklin4th.com/

Franklin July 4th Coalition

c/o Dean Bank

P.O. Box 307

Franklin, MA 02038


Download a copy of the recent Franklin 4th July mailer with the complete schedule of events  ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sALIW_iu5PT84eQ_p3kUCncZaUnJB0NM/view?usp=sharing

yes, a Ferris wheel
yes, a Ferris wheel


Stay tuned for word on Fireworks for Saturday

With the forecast currently for thunderstorms on Saturday, if that holds up, it is possible the fireworks will be canceled. The decision needs to be made by 2 PM on Friday.  Stay tuned to the Celebration page for an update.

The good weather Thursday got the 4th of July Celebration off to a good start. Hopefully, that will hold for Friday and then after the storms pass on Saturday, allow for good weather on Sunday and Monday.

Stay tuned for word on Fireworks for Saturday
Stay tuned for word on Fireworks for Saturday

4th of July Coalition home page   https://www.franklin4th.com/

Franklin July 4th Coalition

c/o Dean Bank

P.O. Box 307

Franklin, MA 02038


Download a copy of the recent Franklin 4th July mailer with the complete schedule of events  ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sALIW_iu5PT84eQ_p3kUCncZaUnJB0NM/view?usp=sharing

CommonWealth Magazine: "State sets carbon targets for 2025, 2030"

 
"Hours after the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to the national climate effort, Massachusetts released an aggressive new blueprint that speeds up efforts to slash emissions by electrifying buildings and vehicles and transitioning the electricity supply rapidly from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. 
The new plan offers a detailed path for what the state must achieve by 2025 and 2030, presenting a vision for accelerating climate action in Massachusetts. 
“The Clean Energy and Climate Plan is a comprehensive and balanced plan that will serve as a guide for Massachusetts as we work to achieve ambitious emissions goals and reach Net Zero in 2050 in an equitable and affordable manner,” Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement."
Continue reading the Boston Globe article






CommonWealth Magazine also provides coverage on the updated net zero plan


Ted McIntyre and I have a series on "Making Sense of Climate." As it is based upon how the state is doing on meeting goals of the roadmap, this new update will be part of future discussions. You can listen to the prior episodes here

CommonWealth Magazine: "State sets carbon targets for 2025, 2030"
CommonWealth Magazine: "State sets carbon targets for 2025, 2030"

Attention Franklin: The curbside pickup schedule for the new fiscal year beginning July is in the mail

If you accidentally tossed it out, you can get a download a copy to keep handy from here ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t0rZzPPIsgdN3EgGRAT6e3Y1RSxKArnN/view?usp=sharing

For example, with the 4th of July falling on Monday, next week will be a one day delay in the normal trash/recycling schedule. If normally Monday, now Tuesday and so forth...

Additional info can be found on the Recycling & Solid Waste page


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t0rZzPPIsgdN3EgGRAT6e3Y1RSxKArnN/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t0rZzPPIsgdN3EgGRAT6e3Y1RSxKArnN/view?usp=sharing


MA Senate sends multiple legislative items to the House for their consideration

Please find four press releases related to legislation passed by the Massachusetts State Senate today. All the legislation referenced now goes to the House for their consideration.

Criminal Justice Bills: Civil Asset Forfeiture, Juvenile Diversion, Juvenile Bail

DCF Bills_Safeguards4Children, Foster Parents Bill of Rights

PrEP

Archaic Laws

Boston Globe coverage on the archaic law legislation (subscription maybe required)

MA Senate sends multiple legislative items to the House for their consideration
MA Senate sends multiple legislative items to the House for their consideration

MA Attorney General asks DPU to dismiss request for 'renewable' natural gas

Via Priya (https://twitter.com/priyainmasswho is a clean energy attorney @CLF  Massachusetts, we share the following Twitter thread:

"Good news: @MassAGO has asked the Department of Public Utilities to dismiss Liberty Gas’ request for approval to receive so-called “renewable” natural gas (aka biomethane, yet another dangerous, polluting fuel) for the next 20 years. A thread: 1/6 #MAPoli

Right now, the DPU is considering what the role of gas companies will be in our clean energy future, which requires utility companies to present plans for their energy supply. (Spoiler: an ideal plan doesn’t include any climate-damaging, polluting fuels: just clean energy). 2/6

 

Much to no one’s surprise, utility companies presented plans that were fancy pretenses for business as usual. Liberty Gas was one of these companies, and like others, its plan relied heavily on using biomethane in its fuel mix. 3/6

 

According to @MassAGO, the DPU can’t approve Liberty’s request while it’s still investigating the “future of gas” And, by requesting DPU’s approval WHILE the investigation is happening, Liberty is trying to bypass thorough review of biomethane’s impacts. 4/6

 

We agree with the AG. Reality check: Biomethane used for home heating still pollutes our climate while clogging and dirtying our air. This isn’t a climate solution, this is a cover for maintaining the status quo. 5/6

 

Now, we wait to see what the DPU will do. Utility companies’ claims, especially regarding biomethane, are highly doubtful. And it won’t help MA reach our climate goals which, at this point, is a matter of our lives. Stay tuned for what the department decides. 6/6"


The thread can be found in the ThreadReader App

or at the start of the Twitter thread -> https://twitter.com/priyainmass/status/1542140059436064768


The Hill: "No miracle tech needed: How to switch to renewables now and lower costs doing it"

"The world is experiencing unprecedented fuel price increases, energy blackmail between countries, up to 7 million air pollution deaths per year worldwide and one climate-related disaster after another. Critics contend that a switch to renewable energy to solve these problems will create unstable electricity grids and drive prices up further. However, a new study from my research group at Stanford University concludes that these problems can be solved in each of the 145 countries we examined — without blackouts and at low cost using almost all existing technologies."
Continue reading the article on the report released

From the Opening of the report:

"Global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity are three of the greatest problems facing humanity. Roadmaps are developed and grid analyses are performed here for 145 countries to address these problems. The roadmaps call for a 100% transition of all-purpose business-as-usual (BAU) energy to wind-water-solar (WWS) energy, efficiency, and storage, ideally by 2035, but by no later than 2050, with at least 80% by 2030. Grid stability analyses find that the countries, grouped into 24 regions, can exactly match demand with 100% WWS supply and storage, from 2050–2052. Worldwide, WWS reduces enduse energy by 56.4%, private annual energy costs by 62.7% (from $17.8 to $6.6 trillion per year), and social (private plus health plus climate) annual energy costs by 92.0% (from $83.2 to $6.6 trillion per year) at a present-value cost of B$61.5 trillion. The mean payback times of the capital cost due to energy- and social-cost savings are 5.5 and 0.8 years, respectively. "
Download and read the full report ->

No miracle tech needed: How to switch to renewables now and lower costs doing it
No miracle tech needed: How to switch to renewables now and lower costs doing it

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, July 1, 2022

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

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

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


7:30 am ArtWeek: FHS Jazz & Kenny Hadley Band

9:00 am Frank Presents: Kathy McAdams

10:00 am Physician Focus: Telemedicine

11:00 am Senior Connection: Dementia

11:30 am Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Fire Safety

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa

12:30 pm Sandhya: Cupcakes

1:00:00 pm Mass Department of Public Health: CO-VID 19

1:30:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 1

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 show 4

3:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur

4:00 pm Senior Connection: Dementia

4:30 pm FHS: Senior Awards Night 2022

7:00 pm Metrowest Arts & Culture Symposium


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


7:00 am All-Town Showcase: Band

8:30 am It Takes A Village: Gretchen Scotland

9:30 am FHS Oskey 2022

11:30 am FHS Varsity Softball v Newton North 06-04-22

1:30 pm Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22

3:00 pm Let's Talk Sports: Brett Feldman

3:30 pm FHS: Senior Awards Night 2022

7:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse: v Lincoln-Sudbury 06-14-22

9:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball: State Finals v Taunton 06-18-22


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


8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 06-16-22 

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 06-16-22

 

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)

Thursday, June 30, 2022

4th July Celebration - schedule for Thursday, June 30, 2022

Thursday, June 30

6:00pm - 4th July: Rides and food booths open (WRIST BANDS 6-10 - save $ buy the wristband/card online -> https://www.franklin4th.com/)

7:00pm - 4th July: Mo Bounce (Boston's uncut Funk, Soul and R&B party band)



4th of July Coalition home page   https://www.franklin4th.com/

Franklin July 4th Coalition

c/o Dean Bank

P.O. Box 307

Franklin, MA 02038


Download a copy of the recent Franklin 4th July mailer with the complete schedule of events  ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sALIW_iu5PT84eQ_p3kUCncZaUnJB0NM/view?usp=sharing

the Fun Slide is back
the Fun Slide is back


Franklin Food Pantry Awarded Community Investment Grant from The Greater Boston Food Bank

Franklin-based Non-Profit to Use Community Investment Funds to Advance Local Hunger-Relief Efforts

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, awarded $13,831 to Franklin Food Pantry of Franklin, MA to support its ability to combat hunger in the area, bolstering GBFB's network of food agencies and advancing hunger-relief efforts across Eastern Massachusetts in response to an increased need for food in the state.

The annual grant program, originally founded in 2013, pivoted this year to strategically identify and invest in communities facing a heightened need for food. This investment aims to strengthen Franklin Food Pantry's ability to provide nutritious food to the Franklin community.

The grant will be used to fund technology upgrades and supplies for the Franklin Food Pantry's community garden which grows fresh vegetables for the Pantry to distribute to its neighbors.

A GBFB partner, the Franklin Food Pantry provides choice-based shopping to over 1,100 people in the Franklin community. The Pantry offers a unique hybrid model offering its neighbors appointment-based indoor shopping or a curbside distribution. Neighbors can shop weekly. Other programs include weekend backpacks for Franklin school students, home-delivery, mobile pantries, three holiday distributions and a robust community garden.

"We are so grateful to The Greater Boston Food Bank for awarding us the Community Investment grant. Franklin Food Pantry is focused on providing our neighbors with the highest quality of fruits and vegetables is committed to programming that improves our neighbor's quality of life," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. "Ninety percent of our donations go directly to supporting our neighbors.  The GBFB grant enables us to invest in much needed technology to enhance our client service operations and improve our organizational efficiency, enabling our staff and volunteers to spend more time directly assisting our neighbors and fulfilling our mission. We are also grateful for the support to our Community Garden. Our neighbors enjoy receiving freshly grown organic produce each week. The GBFB support is critical as the Community Garden grows into a core Pantry program supporting the overall health of our neighbors."

This grant follows the release of GBFB's second annual report on food insecurity, equity and access in Massachusetts. The study, "Opportunities to Improve Food Equity & Access in Massachusetts," reveals rising rates of food insecurity in the state and sustained disparities in food access for communities of color; with Latinx, Black and LGBTQ+-identifying adults experiencing the highest rates of food insecurity.

"It is solely through collaboration with our network of partner agencies that we are able to address food insecurity across Eastern Massachusetts on such a large scale," said Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO at GBFB. "In response to the sustained inequities in food access, we aim to invest in those communities facing a heightened need for food and drive equitable progress towards hunger relief through strategic grantmaking to our network of partner agencies. As food costs continue to rise nationwide, we look forward to seeing how these funds bolster the Franklin Food Pantry's ability to provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in Franklin.

 

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.   

About The Greater Boston Food Bank:
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, GBFB distributed the equivalent of nearly 97 million meals in fiscal year 2021 through its network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs in the 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts. A member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network, GBFB's mission is to end hunger here and it is committed to providing at least three healthy meals a day to everyone in need. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200.

Community garden harvest at a Franklin Food Pantry distribution
Community garden harvest at a Franklin Food Pantry distribution

FHS' O'Rourke, Baker, Carney, Grasso, O'Neil, Peterson, Regan, & Tanner recognized for Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse; O'Rourke as MVP

Below are the official 2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.  We share the Franklin selections and provide links to the full league list.

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP
Kate O’Rourke, Franklin

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS
Kenzie Baker, Franklin
Kaitlyn Carney, Franklin
Anna Grasso, Franklin
Jackie O’Neil, Franklin
Kate O’Rourke, Franklin
Katie Peterson, Franklin
Stella Regan, Franklin

Honorable Mentions
Jamie Tanner, Franklin

For the complete Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse listing

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers