Friday, October 7, 2022

Senator Becca Rausch and I had a wide ranging conversation on education, health care, elections & voting, and more (audio)

FM #857 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 857 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Senator Becca Rausch. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this post pandemic period.


We have a wide ranging conversation on education, health care, elections & voting, and of course climate. Links to the Senator’s pages as mentioned during our conversation are provided in the show notes.  


Our recording runs about 41 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Senator Becca Rausch.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-857-state-senator-becca-rausch-10-03-22


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Senator Becca Rausch home page:   https://www.beccarauschma.com/ 


Her issues page:  https://www.beccarausch.com/issues    


Constituent engagement opportunities


Newsletter archive  https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=09452b4d597ce95fe20563af4&id=c427233b9b  


Hey Sam - support line -> https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/ 


From the audio archives: 

The conversation recorded in March 2021

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/fm-492-senator-becca-rausch-031121-audio.html 

The conversation recorded in August 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-331-senator-becca-rausch-81420-audio.html 


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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!

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


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

 

what is your voting plan?
what is your voting plan?

FHS field hockey and volleyball teams post wins on Thursday

HockomockSports.com posted the results of Hockomock League competition on Thursday, October 6, 2022. We share the FHS results here and provide the link to the full set below.

Field hockey = Franklin, 4 vs. Concord-Carlisle, 1 – Final 
– In a battle of two teams ranked in the top 10 in Division 1 in the latest MIAA Rankings, Franklin emerged with an impressive 4-1 win over visiting Concord-Carlisle. Haley Wernig put the Panthers ahead just over two minutes into the game and Kaitlyn Carney doubled the lead at the midway point of the opening quarter. Franklin was held scoreless for the second and third quarters but Carney set Wernig up just 19 seconds into the fourth to make it 3-0. After C-C pulled one back a couple of minutes later, Carney iced the win with just over two minutes to play. Devon Barry made seven saves in net for the Panthers.

Volleyball = Franklin, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final 
– Franklin grabbed its second straight sweep, this time going on the road and returning home with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) win at Milford. Makayla Kuykendall (five aces, 12 kills) had 14 digs and Taylor Lacerda (12 kills, one ace) had 20 digs to anchor the Panthers’ defensive effort.

Golf = King Philip, 161 @ Franklin, 163 – Final 
– King Philip freshman Jason Silva fired a co-medalist round and the Warriors picked up their biggest win of the season, knocking off Franklin on the road. With the win, the Warriors clinch at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title; the Panthers can earn a share with a win in their final division match against Taunton. Silva shot a match-low round of 39, junior Ethan Sullivan shot a 40, and both Cam Hasenfus and Evan Regan shot 41 on the day. For Franklin, CJ Steel and Liam Lewandowski each shot 39 in the loss.

For other results around the Hockomock League

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Mike Lubin Named Franklin High School Varsity Girls’ Ice Hockey Coach

Franklin High School has appointed Mr. Mike Lubin as the school’s new Varsity Girls’ Ice Hockey Coach! Coach Lubin previously served as Assistant Coach for the Panthers.

He has been a part of the FHS Girls’ Ice Hockey program since 2018. Prior to joining the Franklin, Lubin was a member of the Auburn High School Ice Hockey coaching staff from 2008-2016.

“We are so excited to have Coach Lubin step into the head coach role for our Girls’ Varsity Ice Hockey program here at Franklin High School!” said Karrah Ellis, Franklin’s Director of Athletics. “Coach Lubin has an extensive hockey coaching background and we are looking forward to the upcoming season,'' said Ellis.

For more information please contact Karrah Ellis at ellisk@franklinps.net

About the Franklin Public School District:
The Franklin Public School District strives to nurture a safe, supportive, inclusive and collaborative learning environment in each of our 10 schools. We believe in providing an engaging and rigorous curriculum with exemplary instructional practices that will support and challenge students to reach their full potential through personalized learning opportunities. Our goal is to develop the necessary social-emotional, academic, and career skills for each Franklin student, so that they will be a productive citizen in an ever-changing world.
 
FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Franklin's Municipal Aggregation will help avoid the major electric rate increase

"Residents who did not opt-out of our Municipal Aggregation program will NOT see an increase in their electricity rate. 
Take a peek at your energy bill. If you see a column labeled "Other Supplier Service" you're enrolled.  
View a sample bill comparison: buff.ly/3e7wTLp
Want to enroll? Visit buff.ly/3RA93W5 to OPT-IN or call Dynegy at (866)220-5696. 
Learn more about Franklin's municipal aggregation here: buff.ly/2RJoPli"




Franklin's Municipal Aggregation will help avoid the major electric rate increase
Franklin's Municipal Aggregation will help avoid the major electric rate increase

Haunted house scheduled by Franklin Police Dept - Oct 23 from 2 to 6 PM

FPD HAUNTED HOUSE
Put it in your calendars, October 23rd from 2 pm-6 pm we’ll be hosting our annual Haunted Station Halloween Party. Kids of all ages are encouraged to come trick or treat in their costumes. 
We’ll release more info in the coming weeks but we hope to see you all there!

shared from Facebook and Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CjVoEqkLN8n

Haunted house scheduled by Franklin Police Dept - Oct 23 from 2 to 6 PM
Haunted house scheduled by Franklin Police Dept - Oct 23 from 2 to 6 PM


CommonWealth Magazine: ARPA funding for broadband expansion approved; is DPU proper agency for MBTA oversight; Sommerville's new municipal aggregation contract offers hope

"Massachusetts gets $145 million to expand broadband  
ARPA funding approved by White House"
"MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN awarded $145 million in federal money to expand broadband internet access, the White House announced Thursday. 

Jacob Leibenluft, US Treasury Chief Recovery Officer, said in a conference call with reporters that an estimated 16,000 Massachusetts locations, homes and businesses, will be connected to high-speed internet through these initiatives. That represents 27 percent of those in Massachusetts who still lack high-speed internet.  

Sen. Ed Markey, a longtime leader in Congress on telecommunications, said it is a “national tragedy” that people still lack access to high-speed internet, given how important connectivity is to modern life. “Massachusetts has cutting edge technological innovations, but we can still see the holes in the Berkshires, which is rural,” Markey said. “Black, brown, and immigrant families, they are left behind.” 

The money was allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act, part of a $10 billion Capital Projects Fund. The fund was intended to pay for projects that provide digital connectivity for people to participate in remote work, education, and health care, with a focus on broadband. "
Continue reading the article online -> 

Lawmakers question whether DPU is right for MBTA safety oversight
Agency officials blame most problems on difficulties in hiring

"TWO KEY Beacon Hill lawmakers on Thursday questioned whether the Department of Public Utilities is the right agency to hold the MBTA’s feet to the fire on safety issues.

At a legislative oversight hearing, the chair of the DPU and the head of the agency’s transportation oversight division acknowledged the arm of the agency that oversees the MBTA’s safety efforts is understaffed and has been understaffed for years.

The DPU, an agency known mostly for overseeing electric and gas utilities, is currently trying to double the size of the transportation division to roughly 14 people, and may need more employees. The Federal Transit Administration, in a recent safety inspection report, criticized the MBTA and the DPU’s transportation division.

“The division seems stuck,” said Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington. “Safety seems to have been submerged, seriously, within the DPU.”
Continue reading the article online -> 

"Somerville’s new electricity contract offers some hope"
(for those residents using municipal aggregation)
"SOMERVILLE THIS WEEK offered some hope to those worried about the high cost of electricity ever since National Grid said its basic service rate would be jumping to a record 33.9 cents per kilowatt hour on November 1.

The city said it signed a contract starting November 1 with Direct Energy that will provide electricity to residents at a much lower price — 14.9 cents a kilowatt hour for basic service, 15.7 cents a kilowatt hour for power with 20 percent more renewable energy, and 18.6 cents a kilowatt hour for all-renewable electricity.

Somerville’s contract will last two years, while National Grid’s rate will remain in place for only six months. A lot can happen over the next two years in energy markets, so locking a price in for that length of time carries some risk. But Somerville’s new rates suggest municipalities and individuals may be able to find some relief for soaring electricity prices by shopping around."
Continue reading the article online ->

Franklin's Municipal aggregation information

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


Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program
Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program

Health Department: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 
There is a 1 in 8 chance a woman will develop breast cancer. 
Learn more: cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Oct 7, 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 Franklin Art Association: Dave Kaphammer
9:00 am Frank Presents: Jeff Roy
9:30 am Frank's Musings: Martha's Vineyard
10:00 am Physician Focus: Concussions and Brain Injury
11:00 am Senior Connection: Maggie Gundersen
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast
12:30 pm Sandhya: Eclairs
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 Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: FireSense
4:00 pm Concerts on the Common: Ken DoRosario

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1
8:30 am It Takes A Village: Philip Hulbig
9:30 am Cultural District: Brent Selby
11:30 am FHS Varsity Volleyball: v Sharon 09-21-22
1:00 pm All-Town Showcase: Chorus & Orchestra
2:40 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19
6:00 pm Let's Talk Sports: Youth Sports
9:30 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v North Attleboro 09-22-22

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 09-08-22
2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 09-08-22

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, October 6, 2022

Second Sunday Speaker Series with Chronicle's Ted Reinstein - Oct 9

October 9 features the Second Sunday Speaker Series with Chronicle's Ted Reinstein discussing his latest book, Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier

The Franklin Historical Museum opens at 1:00 PM on Sunday with the presentation beginning at 1:15. The Second Sunday Speaker Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. Admission is always free.

When visiting the museum, shop many unique items in our Museum Gift Shop including this year's edition of the Holiday Ornament featuring adorable ladybugs. A nod to Franklin's participation in securing the ladybug as our state insect.  Come in and find your history!

You can also visit the museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com/

Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier
Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier

Franklin Cultural District Partners to meet with Massachusetts Cultural Council - Oct 20

Greetings Franklin Cultural District Partners!


The Cultural District Committee (CDC) invites you to join us on October 20, 2022 at 3:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX (TBB), our Regional Theater, to meet Carolyn Cole and Guelmi Espinal, Program Directors from Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). They will be in Town for a quick tour of the Franklin Cultural District (FCD) and to meet with the Cultural District’s Partners.


Please take time for this meet and greet, followed by some light refreshments and an FCD Partners meeting. This will be one of our Quarterly meetings for the year. We welcome you to come and share with the CDC ways that we can promote and share the arts with you. 


We have established goals for the FCD and hope you might have some thoughts on how these can assist you. 


As examples:

  • Coordinate resources to assist FCD Partners, local businesses and local artists and arts and cultural organizations to recover from negative impacts of COVID.


  • Work to increase economic activity and attract new businesses, including artists and cultural enterprises, to the Franklin Cultural Council.


  • Continue to strengthen the Franklin Cultural District Partnership, broaden ethnic diversity of the arts and culture in Franklin.


  • Continue to broaden our Social Media presence to help the FCD become more accessible and engaging on a level that will help us connect with and expand our audience as well as the diversity of our audience.


We hope you will be able to join us at THE BLACK BOX at 3:00 PM on Thursday October 20,  2022  to meet MCC Program Directors Carolyn Cole and Guelmi Espinal, and to discuss our common goals.



With appreciation, 

Roberta Trahan & Dr. Pandora Carlucci, Co-Chairs, FCDC

John LoPresti, Vice Chair, FCDC

Katherine Botelho, Clerk, FCDC

Amy Adams, Artist, Member FCDC 

Town Council holds hearing on purchase of Schmidt Farm using CPA funds, moves parking bylaws to 2nd reading; hears from Norfolk County, and more in 3 hour plus session (video)

The Town Council meeting went over 3 hours long on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2022 in the process of reviewing multiple topics. 

Norfolk County Commissioners provided some updates on what they do and how they do it. Some councilors appear stuck on the Federal decision to award the ARPA funds to the county and not directly to the Town but that is neither in control of the Town nor the County. The 3% management fee the County collects they are working for in managing the funds and they clearly stated the case during the evening. 

The best Council move was to approve The Town Council held a pubic hearing on the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding. There was no vote on the purchase. Several Councilors acknowledged they approved but the vote will come at a future meeting.  A number of residents in person and via Zoom spoke in favor of this move as it is perfectly was the CPA funds were meant to be used for.  The presentation doc (shared at the CPC meeting on Tuesday is now on the Town page)   (updated 10/13/22)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/schmidt_farm_61a_presentation.pdf

A passionate discussion raised issues that are mostly still to be resolved on parking. The set of 4 bylaws did all move forward to a second reading; one only by a 5-4 vote, the others by 9-0. Open question on should the Council allow the Town Administrator to set the rate. On what the rate should be? (It should be at least equal to the MBTA parking rate, otherwise the MBTA commuters albeit less of them, will park in these spaces and save money - which won't provide the spaces for what they were provided for - to enable shoppers downtown).

A 6-3 vote approved a request to obtain the 'authority' to issue an all liquor license to replace a beer/wine license already held which would put two all liquor license establishments within .3 mile of each other and near the Keller Sullivan schools. The legislation if approved by the State would still require a formal hearing and vote by the Council to actually approve the license. Tonight is only a step in the process.


Franklin TV - YouTube Video link -> https://youtu.be/N6qHB7PJMq8 

My notes taken during the meeting via Twitter can be found in one PDF ->

The best Council move was to approve the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding
The best Council move was to approve the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding


Detailed results for FHS cross country meet vs. Milford on Tuesday

Catching up to the additional details on the cross Country meet results from Tuesday.

Boys cross country:  FHS 25, Milford 36

Great win against Milford! 25-36 Top 7 Franklin finishers: 3. Diehl (18:04) 4. Apicella (18:19) 5. Pink (18:25) 6. Vaccarezza (18:39) 7. Boozang (18:45) 8. Baird (18:49) 9. Sackley (18:50) Baton goes to Diehl for running a 6 second PR and placing third overall. Onto NA! https://twitter.com/FHSPanthersTF/status/1577794407490736129

Girls cross country: FHS 20, Milford 43

Congrats to the girls on a big win vs Milford yesterday! Scoring runners were:  
Ashley Tighe (2)
Abby Baker (3) 
Alex Batla (4)
Fiona Morrison (5) 
Carli Walbert (6) https://twitter.com/FranklinXCTrack/status/1577691515266138113


FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

 

Board of Health gets updates on September activities, new health resources page, Health Fair (Oct 19) and more (audio)

FM #856 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 856 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. One board member was absent, the remainder of the Board and all Health Dept staff present were in the 3rd floor training room. 


  • Metacomet Shared Service grant regional inspector report

  • Metacomet Shared Service grant Public health nurse report

  • Metacomet Shared Service grant Epidemiologist report

  • Health fair discussion


Brief view of new page to share mapped info on health resources in the area  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7a79d8f9979f4709ad5b7311c91c8258 


Current issue with a local restaurant who had started expanding their operation into additional space without proper permits or inspections from Building or Health Depts. They can still operate but not in their expanded space until properly permitted.


The meeting runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting Oct 5, 2022.


Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-856-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-10-05-22


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Agenda document ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_10052022.pdf   

My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WFxBpFfQB0co4vcN-MJ7tj56cFbIdmQG/view?usp=sharing


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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!

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


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


mapped info on health resources in the area  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7a79d8f9979f4709ad5b7311c91c8258
mapped info on health resources in the area  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7a79d8f9979f4709ad5b7311c91c8258