Franklin Food Pantry is Honored by the Community and Honors Volunteers

The Franklin Food Pantry is pleased to announce that it has been honored with the 2022 MyFM Quest for the Best Gold Award for Best Place to Volunteer! 

The 2022 MyFM Quest for the Best highlights the very finest organizations that the area has to offer – from burgers and pizza to nonprofits and building contractors. It's an opportunity for owners, employees, customers and fans throughout the community to let their   voices be heard. And the people spoke up in a big way, with over 1,300 nominations received across 250 categories this year.  More than 450,000 votes were cast.   

The Pantry will celebrate the amazing contributions of its award-winning volunteers at the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, September 28 at 11:30 AM at the Mount   Street Farm in Franklin.  Special attendees will include Representative Jeff Roy and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen.   

The Pantry will bestow its 2021 President's Volunteer Service Award to three volunteers who served over 500 hours, one volunteer who served over 300 hours, and seven volunteers   who served over 100 hours.  This prestigious award was founded in 2003 by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to honor individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them   to take action, too.  Led by AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers. 

Tina Powderly said, "We are so grateful that the community recognized the dedication and passion of The Pantry's volunteers with the Quest for the Best Gold Award!  The Pantry   simply could not serve all of the families that shop with us each week without the hard work and commitment of each one of our 125 volunteers. We can't think of a better reason to celebrate them this year!"  

Tom McAuliffe II, President & CEO of MyFM Media, said, "This contest is a celebration of the local businesses that have endured, innovated and found new and better ways to serve   their customers. Small businesses in particular play a critical role in the community, and the pandemic presented extraordinary challenges for many."   

  Congratulations to our 2022 award winners: 

  Gold  

  Community Gardens 

  Jen Kuse 

  Molly Kilburn 

  Silver 

  Diane Daddario 

  Bronze 

  Mary Anne Dean 

  Suzanne Gendreau 

  Chris Kilburn 

  Donna O'Neill 

  Kym Pruitt 

  Jim Roche 

  Dave Strittmatter 

   

  To join this wonderful volunteer cadre, contact Kayla Sines, Pantry Volunteer Coordinator, at  ksines@franklinfoodpantry.org. 

About the Franklin Food Pantry 

The Franklin Food Pantry provides healthy grocery items, fresh produce, proteins, household cleaning products and personal care items to more than 1,100 people in more than 500   local households each year. The Pantry is supported by more than 125 volunteers each year.  Visit  www.franklingfoodpantry.org   for more information. 

Franklin Food Pantry is Honored by the Community and Honors Volunteers

The pumpkin patch returns to St John's for October!

Pumpkin season is here. St. John’s Church is ready with its 3rd Annual Pumpkin and Gourd Sale for the entire month of October, from Sunday, October 2nd through the 30th.

Hours for business:

• Monday-Friday 4:00-6:00
• Saturday 10:00-4:00
• Sunday noon-4:00

The pumpkin patch will be on the front lawn at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin MA. Great photo opportunity for your friends, kids and family!

You can feel good about purchasing St. John’s pumpkins. The pumpkins are grown using sustainable agricultural practices that help benefit the environment. They are grown in a region of New Mexico with 42% unemployment, providing jobs for Navajo people.  

In addition to supporting the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, your purchase also supports St. John’s Church and its work right here in our community.

For more information:

Call 508-528-2387

Email: Admin@StJohnsFranklinMA.org

Visit us on Facebook at St John’s Episcopal Church

See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org

The pumpkin patch returns to St John's for October!

Franklin TV: School Committee meeting of Sep 27, 2022 (video replay)

The Franklin School Committee meeting of Tuesday, Sep 27, 2022 is available for replay on YouTube.  Link -> https://youtu.be/buy1Dv9_HUk

Meeting agenda ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_9-27-22.pdf

Meeting Packet Folder ->

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-27-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

opening slide for the District Improvement Plan

NEW Language Learning Opportunities Coming in October, register now

Happening Soon. Register Now

NEW Opportunities Coming In October Don't Miss Out REGISTER TODAY For additional details visit: www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

CommonWealth Magazine: Here are some ways to lower your electric bill

If you are in Franklin and not already with a contract for service, or with a solar system, you should be part of the municipal aggregation plan with National Grid.  

The plan began in Nov 2020 and the current contract extends through Nov 2023. The plan should remain in effective after that time, the contract renewal rate will be determined next year. 

How can you tell if you are part of municipal aggregation? Looks at your most recent NationalGrid invoice/statement. There are two sections, one for delivery and one for supply. The suppler for municipal aggregation is Dynegy (Franklin Agg) and the rate should show as 0.10725 cents/kwh.

A copy of my redacted September invoice is shared with the delivery and supply sections circled.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/102IZ-zrPhP0L_FmmJxBGbpBCCThSwGYW/view?usp=sharing

Here are some ways to lower your electric bill as shared by CommonWealth Magazine

"MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS HAVE some options to avoid – or at least sidestep for awhile — the sky-high electricity rates coming this winter.

National Grid provided a glimpse of what’s coming last week, when it announced its basic service rate would jump to a record 39 cents a kilowatt hour starting November 1. That’s nearly four times the current 11.5-cent rate and close to three times last winter’s 14.8-cent rate. The new winter rate, if approved by state regulators, will increase the typical customer’s utility bill by $114 a month, or 64 percent., for the next six months.

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/here-are-some-ways-to-lower-your-electric-bill-2/

CommonWealth Magazine: Here are some ways to lower your electric bill

For more about Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program, visit the town page

https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/municipal-aggregation

Insights on Ballot Question 3 from MASSter List

"Go to www.foodstoresma.org. You won't find anything. Neither will you if you check the bank account of Food Stores for Consumer Choice, the ballot committee formed to oppose Question 3.

That's because after losing a Supreme Judicial Court case where companies, including Cumberland Farms, sought to have Question 3 disqualified from the ballot, the stores are not fighting passage of the question that will remake the rules around alcohol sales and licensing in Massachusetts.

Question 3 proposes to increase the combined number of licenses a retailer can hold for the sale of all alcoholic beverages and beer and wine from nine to 18 by 2031, but will reduce the cap on licenses for the sale of all-alcoholic-beverage from nine to seven. It will also prohibit self check-out of alcoholic beverages, make out-of-state licenses an acceptable form of ID for alcohol purchasing, and change the formula under which fines for selling to minors are calculated (something food stores opposed).

The question was proposed and is backed by independent package stores. It was pitched as a compromise with the food stores to avoid a fight over simply lifting the cap on licenses altogether.

While Cumberland Farms and other chains didn't necessarily see it that way, Louis Rizoli - former counsel to the House and the chair and attorney for the Food Stores for Consumer Choice - said there will be no last minute infusion of corporate cash to fight the measure.

"There's no coordinated opposition to this ballot question," Rizoli said. "Some food stores like certain provisions of question three and oppose others." 

A statement of opposition was printed in the "Information for Voters" guide mailed to homes, but Rizoli said food stores like Cumberland Farms and Stop & Shop are "more interested in obtaining a separate license," which was proposed in a bill (H 318) this session and will be refiled next year. 

In 2020, Cumberland Farms pursued a ballot question that proposed to create a new food store license for the sale of alcohol and eventually lift all license caps, but it ultimately dropped its campaign amidst the pandemic and chose to fight for a legislative solution this cycle instead.

That bill did not gain traction with lawmakers as an alternative to the ballot question, but depending on what happens in November a new bill cycle begins in January.

Meanwhile, the 21st Century Alcohol Retail Reform Committee has raised $823,450 over the past two years in support of its ballot measure, mostly from the Massachusetts Package Store Association, and spent $723,565 to make its case to voters. In its Sept. 20 report to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, it reported having $99,884 left in the bank.

Probably more than enough when no one's spending to fight you on the other side. "

Shared from the MASSter List of Tuesday, Sep 27, 2022

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Q3-going-off-without-a-fight.html?soid=1107496303234&aid=NdIOPZmYad0

 

Insights on Ballot Question 3 from MASSter List

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Sep 28, 2022

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
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/2022/09/conversation-with-town-of-franklin-ma.html

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

11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)

• This hour features our most recent Talk Franklin episode with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & Marketing Communications Specialist Lily Rivera https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/09/october-events-and-town-council-agenda.html

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

7:30 am It Takes A Village: Gretchen Scotland

8:30 am September 11th Remembrance

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Vincent Crotty

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Sweet Corn Risotto

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

12:30 pm Sandhya: Macaroons

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: FireSense

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Black Bean, Roasted Pepper & Garlic Pizzetta

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Show 3

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 5

3:30 pm Veterans' Call: Steve Crouteau

4:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Wolfgang Bauer

7:00 pm 4th of July 2022: Matt Zajac

9:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Ken DoRosario

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

8:30 am Cultural District: Brent Selby

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness

11:00 am All-Town Showcase: Chorus & Orchestra

1:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v North Attleboro 09-23-22

3:00 pm Let's Talk Sports: Youth Sports

6:00 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 1 03-14-18

7:30 pm Public School Concert: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-14-19

9:30 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Sharon 09-20-22

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

8:00 am Town Council 09-07-22

2:00 pm Town Council 09-07-22

6:00 pm Finance Committee: LIVE, Chambers, 819 0024 5664

7:00 pm Town Council: LIVE, Chambers, 843 3081 5267

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)

Escape into Fiction hosts People's Poetry - Sep 28 at 6 PM; Library hosts Teen Poets Society at 6:30

1 - People's poetry 

An open mic event at the Escape Into Fiction book store facilitated by jamil adams. 

I was planning on being there myself until the Town Council meeting moved from last week to this. And then I found the Finance Committee meeting scheduled for 6 PM. Yes, the same start time.

Oh well. I'll do the meetings, you can do the poetry, we'll meet later and compare notes.

Or as Rumi said:

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing

and rightdoing there is a field.

I'll meet you there."

 

Escape into Fictions hosts People's Poetry - Sep 28 at 6 PM

Shared from Escape Into Fiction's Instagram -> 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci-DZWYBCRi/

You can visit Escape Into Fiction online -> https://www.escapeintofiction.com/

or on Main St

2 - Teen Poets Society

Teens! Join us for our very own version of the Dead Poets Society! Come share your favorite poems, prose, or lyrics, or just come to listen! 

Library hosts Teen Poets Society at 6:30

Direction for Issuance of Request for Proposals for Town Property Containing “South Franklin Congregational Meeting House”

September 23, 2022

To: Town Council

From: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

Alecia Alleyne, Assistant to the Town Administrator

Re: Resolution 22-61: Direction for Issuance of Request for Proposals for Town Property Containing “South Franklin Congregational Meeting House” Located at 762 Washington Street

________________________________________________________________

The action before the Council is to allow the Town Administration to release a Request for Proposals on the South Franklin Meeting House, which will include a provision for both a permanent affordable housing restriction and a historic preservation restriction.

At the July 20th Town Council meeting there was a discussion regarding the disposition of the Town-owned land that contains the South Franklin Meeting House, and Council decided to accept the recommendation from the EDC to move forward with affordable housing.

As a reminder, an Expression of Interest went out for a two month period in the Spring to see if there were any interested parties willing to take on this preservation project. The Town received two formal, non-binding written proposals. At the May EDC meeting, the committee weighed both proposals, in addition to other qualitative information from the two open houses, and had a detailed discussion. They voted 3-1 (Yes: Hamblen, Jones and Frongillo; No: Sheridan) to recommend to the full Town Council to instruct the staff to put an RFP out for parties to bid on affordable housing projects only.

The Expressions of Interest we received are attached, as is the Solicitation Document that was posted on the Town website.

Please see below for links to related materials:

● 2020 Old South Church Existing Conditions report   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/20-0930_sfmh_existing_conditions_report_issued_2.pdf

● 2015 Old South Church Existing Conditions report   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/old_south_meeting_house_on_washington_street_1.pdf

● Old South Church document website   https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/special-projects

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Note: This is one of the key items on the Town Council agenda for Sep 28, 2022   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/september_28_town_council_mtg_agenda.pdf

Old South Meeting House, Washington St

Manufacturing Caucus Hosts 7th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony at Polar Park

TE Connectivity of Medway, Massachusetts received the Manufacturer of the Year Award at the 7th Annual Manufacturing Awards Ceremony held in the DCU Club at Polar Park in Worcester. 

TE Connectivity was nominated by State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus.  “TE Connectivity was one of 55 manufacturers and honorees from across the state who are truly ‘making it’ in Massachusetts, exemplifying how government and industry can work together to have a meaningful impact on society,” said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), who nominated TE Connectivity. “For more than 75 years, TE Connectivity has helped to solve tomorrow's toughest challenges with advanced connectivity and sensor solutions. Their solutions power electric vehicles, aircraft, digital factories, and smart homes as well as enabling life-saving medical care, sustainable communities, efficient utility networks, and the global communications infrastructure. These represent great contributions to the Massachusetts economy and ecosystem and I was delighted that we could honor TE Connectivity’s work.”

Left to Right  -    State Senator Eric P. Lesser (D-Longmeadow), Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus, TE Quality Manager Sid Jayaraman and State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin), House Chair of the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus

The Legislature, under the leadership of Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka, has spearheaded several major economic development packages which focus on improving the renaissance of manufacturing, with the goal of making Massachusetts the best place to build things. 

Rep. Roy noted during his opening remarks that Massachusetts is an ideal ecosystem for manufacturing. “Our world class universities, highly skilled workforce, availability of venture capital, and strong government support all come together to create a pro-business atmosphere that fosters a system that encourages manufacturing,” he said.

The event was the state’s 7th Annual Manufacturing Award Ceremony hosted by the Legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus.  Sponsored by MassMEP and MassTech Collaborative, this was the second time the event was held in the DCU Club at Polar Park. 

Group photo of the awardees and legislators at Polar Park, Worcester

Christine Nolan, Director for the Center of Advanced Manufacturing and Kathie Mahoney Killam, President and CEO of MassMEP offered remarks at the ceremony.  In addition, House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka and Secretary of Housing & Economic Development Michael Kennealy addressed the audience via pre-recorded video.  

After the successful event Rep. Roy added, “Manufacturing output here is at its highest level in history and accounts for about 11 percent of the state’s economy. It is the sixth largest employment sector here and $26 billion in manufactured goods are exported from the Commonwealth each year.  We celebrated some truly great companies who make our economy roar and contribute to those statistics. We offer heartfelt congratulations to all the outstanding Manufacturers who were honored for excellence.”

Formed in August 2014, the Manufacturing Caucus includes more than 60 legislators from around the Commonwealth. Lawmakers focus on training for manufacturing employees; encouraging innovation by helping start-ups access resources; and expanding apprenticeship opportunities in key manufacturing sectors.

Visit TE Connectivity online to find out more about what they do ->     https://www.te.com/usa-en/home.html

Conversation with Town of Franklin (MA) Health Director Cathleen Liberty (audio)

FM #848 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 848 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town of Franklin (MA) Health Director Cathleen Liberty on September 22, 2022. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-848-town-of-franklin-health-director-cathleen-liberty-09-22-22

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Metacomet Health page -> https://www.metacometpha.org/

Health Fair as mentioned is Wednesday, Oct 19 from 3 to 6 PM at the Public Library

Health Dept page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Health Dept - COVID reporting dashboard -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal 

Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

Sign up for Health alerts via Regroup -> https://franklintown.regroup.com/signup 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

The Health Fair as mentioned is Wednesday, Oct 19 from 3 to 6 PM at the Public Library

Hear about the Veterans' Bonuses available on the new "Veterans' Call" (video)

Hello all,

Please watch my recent interview with Steven Croteau, state Veterans' Bonus Manager, on Franklin TV's YouTube Channel!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPWo7SlM47A

We've also posted the link to the video on our website under News and Announcements.  https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services

Please spread the word and share this info with other veterans.  If you want to apply for a bonus, just give our office a call!

Sincerely, Shannon

--

Shannon Nisbett

Veterans' Services Officer

10 Daniel McCahill Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Email: snisbett@franklinma.gov

T: 508.613.1315

veterans memorial son the Franklin Town Common at night

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance schedules monthly meeting - Oct 4

You're Invited to our Upcoming Meeting

 

When: Tuesday, October 4 at 6:30 PM

Where: In-person and Virtual

• In-person: Timeless CrossFit & Fitness
  • 90 Hayward St, Franklin 
  • Behind Patti Eisenhauer Dance Studio
• Virtual: Join Zoom Meeting

Who: LGBTQIA+ community and allies who are interested in getting more involved

What: Our group's vision, some potential leadership changes, greet new and thank all volunteers, go over future volunteer opportunities, and brainstorm what's next.

Contact us at FranklinLGBTQAlliance@gmail.com

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance schedules monthly meeting - Oct 4

Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web?

Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web? By Seena Gressin People are telling us they've gotten emails warning that their sensitive personal information is being sold in the shadowy marketplaces of the dark web.  Some emails list the stolen information, like all or part of the person's Social Security number, date of birth, and driver's license number. If you've gotten one of these emails, take steps to help protect yourself against financial loss from identity theft. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/09/did-you-get-email-saying-your-personal-info-sale-dark-web

Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web?