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 *
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Reminder: AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market - Dec 3
Franklin Town Council meeting of Nov 30, 2022 video replay available (YouTube)
Members of the Elks Riders presented a donation to the Veterans Fund |
After a 2nd discussion, Economic Development still finds no consensus on approach to inclusionary zoning proposal
the zoning map shared on the screen attempted to focus the discussion |
"The commission’s report also highlighted the many challenges that stand in the way of decarbonization efforts"
"A COMMISSION that spent the last 11 months studying ways to help the state meet its emissions reduction requirements by shifting to cleaner buildings and addressing heating fuels that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions released its final recommendations Wednesday, but was not able to come to consensus around a timeline for phasing out new fossil fuel heating equipment.The Commission on Clean Heat’s final report recommends that Massachusetts develop and implement a “clean heat standard” that could incentivize cleaner heating technology and promote the electrification of building stock, encourage joint natural gas and electric system planning, and reorganize existing energy efficiency and clean energy transition programs to be more user-friendly for residents, businesses, and contractors.The commission’s report attached some urgency to the recommendations. The residential and commercial building sector-specific sublimits established in keeping with the state’s 2021 climate law require a 28 percent reduction in emissions by 2025 and a 47 percent reduction by 2030, all compared to the baseline of 1990 emissions. As of 2020, the commission said, emissions for the residential and commercial buildings sector were 18 percent below 1990 levels."
A heating oil truck makes a delivery in downtown Boston with the old city hall in the background. (Photo by Andy Metzger) |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, Dec 1, 2022
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Thursday
11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = Thursday
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = Thursday
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = Thursday
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Franklin Cultural District: The Nutcracker, holiday fairs, winter farmers market and more
Wednesday, November 30
Escape Into Fiction |
6:30pm - Pointy Strip Star (quilt $kit & class) (Emma’s Quilt & Cupboard)
Thursday, December 1
4:00pm - Tree Lighting (Dean College)
4:00pm - Lego Masters Club (4 weeks $) (Creative Corner Art Studio)
5:30pm - Ken Barney (live music) (La Cantina Winery)
6:30pm - Franklin LGBTQ Alliance (monthly meeting) (Franklin TV Studio)
7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)
Dean College |
Friday, December 2
5:00pm - Cousins Maine Lobster (food Truck) (La Cantina Winery)
5:30pm - Joshua David (live music) (67 Degrees Brewing)
7:30pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)
Saturday, December 3
9:00am - Christmas Fair (St John’s Episcopal Church)
10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Market)
10:00am - AcuPUNKture's Local Artisan Holiday Market (AcuPUNKture)
10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
11:00am - Bollywood Dancing (Franklin Public Library)
2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)
2:00pm - New Dancer Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)
FPAC Holiday Productions |
7:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)
7:30pm - New Thespian Showcase (ticketed event) (Dean College)
Sunday, December 4
7:00am - “Finding the Light” (free art scavenger hunt, find clues on Facebook @PaintingVenus)
1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
2:00pm - The Nutcracker (ticketed event) (FPAC Holiday Productions at Franklin High School)
Tuesday, December 6
6:30pm - Popcorn & Pride (LGBTQ Pride event at 99 Restaurant)
7:00pm - Christmas Trivia Night (St Mary’s Parish)
The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)
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: Arts are happening here! |
FPAC announces guest artists for The Nutcracker performances Dec 3-4
Melissa Chapski |
Melissa danced with the Dutch National Ballet for five years and now dances in Munich, Germany with the Bayerisches Staatsballett (Bavarian State Ballet). Most recently, Melissa performed ‘Embers’ in the Opening Gala at Beijing International Ballet Competition in China.
She was also featured as ‘Emma’ in the movie High Strung: Free Dance and has done ad campaigns for Huawei Mobile, Nikon Europe, TCL Electronics, Discount Dance Supply, Capezio, Body Wrappers, and Russian Pointe. She is currently working towards an undergraduate degree in social sciences at Harvard University's Extension school.
Sava Milojević |
Some of his most notable performances include tours to Japan and South Korea with the Stuttgart Ballet in productions of both Onegin and Romeo and Juliet. He also danced in Romeo and Juliet at the famous Salzburg Festspiel. Later on Sava toured to Hong Kong with the Bavarian State Ballet dancing in La Bayadere.
Reminder: Franklin Garden Club to Sell Decorated Holiday Wreaths and Arrangements - Dec 3
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, December 1, 7:00 PM
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node |
Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be on Zoom, this Thursday, December 1, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Please see below for information about this meeting and an upcoming march and rally in Boston on December 10.
Here are the Zoom details.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923
As always, 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. If you have items you would like to announce or add to the agenda, please reply to our Node Co-coordinators, Carolyn Barthel (carolyncbarthel@gmail.com) and Ralph Halpern (ralph.halpern@comcast.net).
350 Mass and other climate organizations in the Mass Power Forward coalition are deciding on campaigns and legislative priorities for 2023-2024. At our Thursday meeting we will discuss the status of these deliberations.
On a related matter, Massachusetts should see progress on climate and energy policy with the change in the Governor's office. One department that must change is the Department of Public Utilities (DPU): for the last four years, the three Baker-appointed DPU Commissioners have acted as if protecting the natural gas industry and slow-walking the transition to renewable energy is their most important job. We are asking incoming Governor Maura Healey to establish DPU leadership that works FOR the ratepayers to reduce energy costs instead of those who have been in sync with the utilities working AGAINST ratepayers!
The Climate Courage Working Group of 350 MA is calling for a rally and march against the actions of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The march will be SATURDAY, December 10 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in Dewey Square across from South Station in Boston. We encourage you to join us there. Information and registration here.
We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.
We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday.
Thank you.
Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern
Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)
Reminder: "Finding the Light" in Franklin through Dec 18
"Greetings art lovers!
Beginning on holiday weekend, Nov 27- December 18, I will leave a piece of art at an undisclosed location for the Franklin community members to find.
This collection is called "Finding the Light" and it is part 2 of last year’s kick off.
I created this series during my Artist in Residence role for Natick 2021. I had just lost my father. This prompted me to imagine how many others are coping through pain and loss around the holiday season, sparking the need to share "light".
In that same spirit, I mean for it to be uplifting, bring hope, joy and giving around the holidays.
Come to this page for clues and an image to help you find it easily. The clues may be released early each week, but the art will be placed on Sunday mornings. "
"Finding the Light" in Franklin through Dec 18 |
Inclusionary zoning and tax rate hearing on tap for meetings Wednesday night
1. Discussion: Zoning
a. Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw
"The decision clears another hurdle"
"MASSACHUSETTS MADE some headway on its clean energy goals on Tuesday, but moving forward on key offshore wind and hydro-electricity projects remains an uncertain process.A Massachusetts-financed transmission line carrying hydroelectricity from Quebec into Maine cleared another legal hurdle on Tuesday as the Maine Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision that had blocked the state from leasing 32.4 acres of public land for the line.The Maine Supreme Court held that the Bureau of Parks and Lands acted within its authority in granting the lease to Avangrid and concluded the public land would not be “substantially altered” by the project."
A photo of new work done on New England Clean Energy Connect after the referendum that shut down the project. All work was subsequently halted. (Photo taken November 12 by Edwin Buzzell) |
Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Nov 30, 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 Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Lucas Giguere https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/conversation-with-franklin-ma-school.html
This hour features the combined discussion of Town Council Quarterbacking and Talk Franklin - Town Council Chair Tom Mercer along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Asst Administrator Alecia Alleyne https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/town-council-meeting-recapped-more-as.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
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Good news, the tax rate is going down; however, that doesn't mean our taxes are decreasing
commercial/industrial valuation split vs. residential |
So bottom line, while we do need more commercial/industrial growth, whether the tax rate goes up or down (as it does this year), the one other constant in the mix is that the tax bills do increase. This last chart shows that relationship.
whether the tax rate goes up or down the tax bills do increase |