Register for Senate President Karen Spilka’s 55+ Health and Wellness Fair - Oct 22

THIS MONTH: Senate President Karen Spilka's Health and Wellness Fair

Return to in-person fair includes fun and informative activities for residents aged 55+

State Senate President Karen E. Spilka, a resident of Ashland, has held an annual health and wellness fair in the fall for over a decade. This fun and informative event returns to an in-person format this month with a revised name, a broadened focus that includes active older adults, a streamlined registration process, and an invitation for younger generations to accompany older family members. 

The fair will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Keefe Regional Technical School (Keefe Tech), located at 750 Winter Street in Framingham, Massachusetts. All who wish to attend are encouraged to register at karenspilka.com/fair to reserve a free lunch.

Called the Senior Health & Wellness Fair since its 2011 inception, the event has been renamed Senate President Spilka's 55+ Fair: Health and Wellness for Active Agers and Those Who Love Them. The popular event, open to all residents of the MetroWest region, will offer fun and informative activities as well as food, live music, vendors, and prize drawings.

"A significant percentage of our residents now aged 55 and older, and a large number of families are facing decisions about how to care for aging loved ones," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I am proud to offer this comprehensive event, which will combine our traditional offerings of free health screenings, workshops and socialization with expanded offerings for active seniors and the family members of older adults. We know that fostering connection and staying active are two effective tools for healthy aging, and I'm excited to convene members of our community to provide strategies for both."

Workshops and other activities will focus on all aspects of wellness, such as outdoor recreation, mental health resources, job-searching, and family decision-making, including estate planning and senior housing options. "Attendees can join in interactive fitness, art, and music activities."

Residents of Senate President Spilka's district and their family members are encouraged to register on karenspilka.com and learn about the workshops they may choose to attend on the day of the event. Registration is not mandatory, but meals and workshop seating are not guaranteed for those who don't register for this popular event. Residents are encouraged to call the office of Senate President Spilka at (617) 722-1500 with questions.   

Register for Senate President Karen Spilka’s 55+ Health and Wellness Fair - Oct 22

Save The Date! Evening of Inspired Leaders Reading their Favorite Poem - Nov 14 (hybrid fund raiser)

Mass Poetry warmly invites you to join us at the eighth annual Evening of Inspired Leaders an in-person and live streamed event that brings together exceptional leaders from diverse fields to each read their favorite poem and reflect on its connection to their life and work. 

The event will take place on Monday, November 14th from 7:30 - 9 PM at Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116. You can register, become a sponsor, RSVP, and more here, as well as view the attached save the date here with full details. 

Confirmed speakers for this year's event include:

• Lee Pelton | President & CEO, The Boston Foundation
• Michael Bobbitt | Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council
• Dr. Kimberly Frazier-Booth | Instructor, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
• Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak | CEO, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
• Bill McKibben | Author, Educator, Activist, Founder of the Third Act; The New Yorker
• emcee Rupa Shenoy, WBUR reporter  

• Josie Colon | Teen Council Member, Mass Poetry.

The night will be full of inspiring words, surrounded by our community as we celebrate poetry, uplift organizations in Massachusetts and elsewhere, as well as fundraise for our program. 

We appreciate your support and hope to see you there. 

Sincerely, 

Daniel Johnson

Executive Director/Tel: 617-600-6372

Save The Date! Evening of Inspired Leaders Reading their Favorite Poem - Nov 14 (hybrid fund raiser

Resist misinformation: Join the RumorGuard!

Stop falsehoods in their tracks.

The News Literacy Project has launched a new resource to help you stay informed and push back against misinformation: RumorGuard. RumorGuard empowers you to know what's safe to share and what should be stopped in its tracks. At RumorGuard.org, you'll see posts that debunk viral rumors, but we don't stop there: Our team lays out exactly how you can determine that a claim doesn't hold weight, based on five factors for credibility. Join the RumorGuard: Subscribe to receive emails about how you can help stop the spread of misinformation online. Each RumorGuard post takes you through the facts behind a specific viral rumor, then breaks down the five factors that you can use to verify any claim: Authenticity: Is it authentic? Source: Has it been posted or confirmed by a credible source? Evidence: Is there evidence that proves the claim? Context: Is the context accurate? Reasoning: Is it based on solid reasoning? You can dig deeper into news literacy techniques on RumorGuard and take action for facts. Join the RumorGuard We built RumorGuard to give you the ability to debunk viral falsehoods, but it's also the foundation for our shared future founded on facts. Help us push back against misinformation by signing up and sharing RumorGuard posts with your family and friends. For a future founded on facts, The News Literacy Project

Support news literacy by donating today.

"Half of all the refund money will go to the top 10 percent of households by income."

"THE STATE is preparing to pay out $1.4 billion in “illusory” funds under the tax cap law, giving wealthy taxpayers a huge windfall, according to a report from the left-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

Officials at the center say they are not accusing state officials of doing anything wrong or making a math error. Instead, they are saying a set of unusual circumstances are combining to inflate the amount of taxes collected in excess of the tax cap, and doing so in a way that shortchanges the state and allows wealthy taxpayers to gain an even bigger benefit than they normally would.

“The affluent win in every way,” said Phineas Baxandall, senior policy analyst and advocacy director at the Budget and Policy Center.

The broad outlines of the situation have been raised before, but the Budget and Policy Center report is the first time the dollar impact has been spelled out. The report calls on state leaders to address the situation, but they have shown little interest so far in intervening to change the tax cap law."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/report-calls-big-chunk-of-tax-cap-funds-illusory/

Reading between the lines, if the Governor wasn't so hasty in trying to the funds returned by check and used the tax rebate process, the 'illusion' might work itself out.  

The State House News Service, shared via Franklin Observer, tries to focus on the issue as party based:

Q1 State Tax Take Surpasses Record FY `22 Pace, but No Tax Relief in Sight

The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, Oct 6, 2022

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

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p   A Priest, A Minister and a Rabbi

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p   Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey and Jim Derick

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm   Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents 

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

7:30 am The Only Cure Is Education

8:00 am Veterans' Call: Steve Crouteau

9:00 am Celebrate With Pride: Pt. 1

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Sandhya: Eclairs

1:00 pm Physician Focus: Concussions and Brain Injury

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

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Show 3

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

3:30 pm Joe Landry: The Railroad of Franklin

4:30 pm Frank Presents: Jeff Roy

5:00 pm Frank's Musings: Martha's Vineyard

7:00 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 9 - Coronas

8:00 pm September 11th Remembrance 

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22

9:00 am U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

11:30 am Cultural District: Brent Selby

2:00 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

3:30 pm Let's Talk Sports: Youth Sports

4:00 pm FAA: Art From The Heart

8:00 pm FHS Varsity Football: v North Attleboro 09-30-22

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 09-29-22

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 09-29-22

7:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: LIVE, Chambers, 838 7711 2262

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 Cultural District: pumpkins, dancing, ghosts, story time, mime and more as #artshappenhere

The pumpkin patch at St John's is in full swing this week. Check out the ghosts and legends at the Library tonight. The story walk at DelCarte is open each day. Farmers Market on Friday, one of only a few left this month. 

Choices on Saturday with Bollywood dancing at the library, story time at Escape into Fiction featuring some of the FPAC Sound of Music cast and then back at the library with Halloween tricks and teats with a comic mime. Yes, there is a quite a variety of #artshappenhere in Franklin.

Wednesday, October 5

Schools Closed for Yom Kippur

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

1:00pm - Wizard Mystery Party (Franklin Public Library)

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch Sale (St John's Episcopal Church)

7:00pm - Franklin Art Association (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm - Ghosts and Legends with Jeff Belanger (Franklin Public Library)

Thursday, October 6

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch Sale (St John's Episcopal Church)

6:00pm - Ken Barney (live music)  (La Cantina Winery)

7:00pm - 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node (virtual meeting)

Friday, October 7

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

2:00pm - Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

2:15pm - Jennifer Tefft (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch Sale (St John's Episcopal Church)

4:30pm - Timeless Open House Workout  (Timeless Crossfit- Hayward St)

5:30pm - Timeless Open House (Timeless Crossfit- Hayward St)

6:00pm - BJ Knights (Solo acoustic guitarist) (67 Degrees Brewing)

6:00pm - AK Cody (live music)  (La Cantina Winery)

Saturday, October 8

10:00am - Pumpkin Patch Sale  (St John's Episcopal Church)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:30am - Story time w/cast of FPAC’s Sound of Music (Escape into Fiction)

11:00am - Bollywood Dance Party (Franklin Public Library)

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

1:00pm - Halloween Tricks and Treats with Robert Rivest, Comic Mime!  (Franklin Public Library)

4:00pm - Mike Santucci (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

6:00pm - Screen Door (Acoustic Duo Marc Tareila & Bridget Nault) (67 Degrees Brewing)

Sunday, October 9

12:00pm - Pumpkin Patch Sale (St John's Episcopal Church)

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

Monday, October 10

Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch Sale (St John's Episcopal Church)

Tuesday, October 11

12:00pm - Fall Storywalk (DelCarte Recreation)

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch Sale  (St John's Episcopal Church)

7:00pm - Yankee Quilters (Emma’s Quilt Cupboard)

7:00pm - FBRTC Meeting (67 Degrees Brewing)

-------------------

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events    https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin Cultural District: #Artshappenhere

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, October 6, 7:00 PM

Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be on Zoom, this Thursday, October 6, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

Zoom link for the meeting, Thursday, October 6, 7:00-9:00 pm.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09

Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

We welcome you to the meeting, whether you have participated in the past or not. Join our discussion of climate and energy developments locally, across the state, and nationally. Learn about planned advocacy and protest actions organized by 350 Mass and other groups. Help to plan for events in our Greater Franklin region.

One upcoming 350 Mass action will be a protest at Chase Bank, Downtown Crossing, Boston, on Saturday, October 15, 1:00 pm.  Chase is the #1 Worst Bank in the World for funding the fossil fuel industry, and hence the climate crisis. We're part of a national campaign letting Chase know– THIS IS NOT OK! RSVP here. Learn more about the national Stop The Money Pipeline campaign here.

If you have items you would like to add to the agenda, please reply to our Node Co-coordinators, Carolyn Barthel (carolyncbarthel@gmail.com) and Ralph Halpern (ralph.halpern@comcast.net). 

We will send a reminder on Thursday. 

Thank you.

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, October 6, 7:00 PM

Escape into Fiction features story time with cast members of FPAC's Sound of Music

"I am SO EXCITED to announce our partnership with @franklin.performing.arts.co for a special #storytime this coming #weekend!!

10/8 at 10:30 AM we will have some cast members from their upcoming #TheSoundOfMusic production beginning 10/14!!

All ages welcome!! "

Shared from Instagram ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTSdBdOk8y/

Escape into Fiction features story time with cast members of FPAC's Sound of Music

Both FHS girls and boys cross country teams, and the golf team posted wins on Tuesday

FHS Panthers

Both FHS girls and boys cross country teams were scheduled to run against Milford on Tuesday and recognize the senior runners after the meet. Due to the weather the recognition moved indoor according to the Twitter stream. 

The meet did go off and both team won. Additional details are lacking at this time.

"Nice job by both the girls and boys XC teams today picking up W's. Both teams came in with solid 1-7 packs. Practice tomorrow: Boys at 8am Girls at 11:15"

Via tweet from Coach Bailey -> https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1577464200188035073 

On the golf course, the FHS golf team also posted a victory.

"Franklin beats Milford 142-160 Steel-35 Obrien-35 Hags-36 B.collins-36"

Via tweet from PantherGolf -> https://twitter.com/FHSGolfTeam/status/1577424468053749761 

Community Preservation Committee recommends purchase of Schmidt Farm with CPA funds (video)

The Community Preservation Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2022. The meeting recording is now available for replay and review from Franklin TV.  Video link -> https://youtu.be/htBcHT9SCp8

The full agenda and docs released for this meeting can be found:  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/10.04.22_cpc_agenda.pdf

My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter can be found in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aTK3-U4PeOUqI2qn-KDNUn49s72eh5jg/view?usp=sharing

Note: The Schmidt's Farm presentation document will be posted to the Town pages in advance of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday at 7 PM.  Photos of almost all of the slides shared were captured and can be found in one album.  ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/At7CqqHSEMYzG3Ah8

Community Preservation Committee recommends purchase of Schmidt Farm with CPA funds (video)

Wizard Mystery Party! Wednesday, October 5 at 1:00 PM

Come to the Franklin Public Library on Wednesday (no school). 

Welcome to Hyades School for Wizards and Witches! The Wands of Procyon have been stolen and we need your help to find them! 

Question the suspects and put your detective skills to the test! Secrets abound and not everyone is who they seem in this magical mystery!  

Ideal for ages 8+

Shared from the Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/bulletins/wizard-mystery-party-wednesday-october-5th-100pm

Wizard Mystery Party! Wednesday October 5 at 1:00 PM

Join the Fall Foliage Hike scheduled for the SNETT on Saturday, Oct 15

 Saturday, October 15th, at 11:00am, Grove St. Trailhead 

Hello fellow SNETT lovers!   We're gearing up for a great fall hike this year--right in the middle of peak foliage!  Come join us on Saturday, October 15th, at 11:00am (Grove St. Trailhead) as we set off for a leisurely hike down towards Bellingham and back.  Strollers and pets are most welcome!  You may want to have a jacket, and you'll definitely want to have a camera to catch all the fall colors.  🍂  And 67 Degrees Brewery will be open by the time we're back--not a bad start to the season!  😉 From your friendly, neighborhood Rail Trail Committee MEMBERSHIP! VOLUNTEER! Copyright © 2022 Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have opted in to stay informed about the Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee

Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan schedules a virtual public meeting for Oct 20 at 6 PM

Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) tweeted Mon, Oct 03, 2022:

How should #Massachusetts invest in transportation in the future? 

Join #BeyondMobilityMA, the statewide 2050 transportation plan, for a virtual public meeting on 10/20, at 6 PM to learn more.

More info and to register visit: https://t.co/vV7lghP0js   or  https://www.mass.gov/beyond-mobility

"Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan, is a planning process that will result in a blueprint for guiding transportation decision-making and investments in Massachusetts in a way that advances MassDOT’s goals and maximizes the equity and resiliency of the transportation system. 

Your input is needed to help develop this vision. The process for developing Beyond Mobility is underway." 

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/MassDOT/status/1576980555383595009

GATRA, electrifying the MBTA, bringing the double track to Franklin, improving the handicap access to the Franklin/Dean station; all of these topics should be part of this planning process. Oh, and 2050 is the key as this is part of the climate roadmap.  For more about the climate roadmap, check out the podcast series on "Making Sense of Climate" 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

Beyond Mobility, the Massachusetts 2050 Transportation Plan schedules a virtual public meeting  for Oct 20 at 6 PM