Talking about "Train Town Franklin" with Scott Mason (audio)

FM #892 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 892 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with current Historical Commission member Scott Mason. Scott is a former three term Town Councilor with a lifelong passion for model railroads. 

Scott is designing and building a diorama of the uptown area of the Franklin train station, circa 1932 for this first phase. Our conversation via conference bridge explores some of his Franklin story and then gets into the development of this first of a series of dioramas. We talk about the research, interesting findings, decisions on scale, etc.

The exhibit is scheduled to open Dec 18, 2022 and run through Feb 2, 2023 at the Historical Museum. The museum is open on Saturdays (10 AM to 1 PM), and Sundays (1 PM to 4 PM) during winter.

Our conversation runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Scott and his work on “Train Town Franklin” recorded Dec 5, 2022

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-892-train-town-franklin-with-scott-mason-12-05-22

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Historical Museum notification on "Train Town Franklin" 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/train-town-franklin-scheduled-to-arrive.html

Scott’s model railroad page on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/people/wwwScottyMasoncom/100063840514784/

The Heather McCarron article in Dec 2007 on “Model railroads are Mason's passion’ (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/2007/12/23/model-railroads-are-mason-s/41390388007/

From deep in the archives, my prior recordings with Scott

Sep 2009  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/09/fm-46-scott-mason.html

June 2010 (prep for override vote - which failed)   50 minutes split into 2 parts https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/05/fm-69-scott-mason-part-1-of-2.html

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/05/fm-69-b-scott-mason-part-2-of-2.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!

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

Talking about "Train Town Franklin" with Scott Mason (audio)

Franklin Historical Museum: Holiday program features NoteAble Blend (1:15 PM) & Mrs Claus (2 to 4 PM) Dec 11

There is a special holiday program at the Franklin Historical Museum scheduled for Sunday, December 11, 2022.

The Museum will host the return of the women’s barbershop chorus, NoteAble Blend, for a festive holiday musical presentation. The chorus regularly performs in a variety of venues in the southeastern Massachusetts area and is scheduled to begin at 1:15 PM. 

 

Get yourself in the spirit with this live holiday performance that will please audiences of all ages.

Then at 2:00 PM we are excited to once again welcome Mrs. Claus for story time and photo ops for young and old. Mrs. Claus will be available to read Christmas stories and have the children pose for a photo with their favorite lady of the North Pole.

Time is running out! 

 

Don’t miss your chance to purchase this year’s Ladybug ornament from the museum gift shop. Many additional items, mugs, pillows, maps, etc. Are available for that hard to buy for person on your list who just loves Franklin.

• NoteAble Blend at 1:15 PM
• Mrs. Claus 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  

Mrs. Claus to Visit the Franklin Historical Museum

Dec 6, 2022 - Community Preservation Committee meeting video available via YouTube

The Community Preservation Committee met Tuesday Dec 6, 2022 with 7 members participating (6 in Council Chambers, 1 remote).

The Franklin.TV recording is available for replay via YouTube

https://youtu.be/AwyxxvfEHYk

Quick Recap:

• Committee: Chair C Feeley, M Doyle, J Livingstone, P Malcolm,W Simarian, R Power (remote), L Oxford - [D McNeill, M Giardino absent]
• Town Administration: J Hellen, A Alleyne,  

The committee approved the minutes of the prior meeting via roll call vote (7-0-2; 7 for, 0 against, 2 absent). 

Motion to accept the proposed meeting scheduled for 2023, seconded, passes via voice vote (7 for, 0 against, 2 absent)

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides project updates on work underway

• Red Brick School exterior renovation - doors and windows backordered

• Nason St Tot lot site prep work being done now in advance of renovation in the spring

• King St Memorial Field estimate and draft depiction of the field layout and work proposed. Timeline and funding remains TBD. Would be adding pickleball courts, would be including a paved path all around the park, would also be adding parking; questioned on if handicap access for the community garden is considered? I added that when the garden opened in 2010, it did have a stonedust entrance and among the first four beds on each side of the main gate. It was covered with mulch a few years ago. The base likely could be restored.

Jamie also provided a financial update, it had a minor error and would be further enhanced to better reflect what was approved vs allocated vs. spent, etc.

Committee entered executive session via roll call vote not to return to open meeting  (7 for, 0 against, 2 absent)

depiction of proposed King St Memorial park improvements

Community Garden opening day, 2011 shows the stone dust (grey) around
 the first 8 garden beds at the entrance

 

St Mary's Franklin Women's Faith Formation exploring "The Catholic Faith Explained" - Dec 14

The St Mary's Franklin Women's Faith Formation group is pleased to announce that we will be viewing the Symbolon series: "The Catholic Faith Explained" by Dr. Edward Sri.  

This series from the Augustine Institute consists of ten videos on a variety of topics. We will view one 1/2 hour video each session and allow time for discussion and sharing.  

Our meetings will be via Zoom and are held on the second Wednesday of the month from 7 - 8 PM. Our next meeting is scheduled for December 14th.  

Please visit our web page (https://www.stmarysfranklin.org/womens-faith-formation)  for further information and to access the Zoom link. 

All women are welcome to attend!

"The Catholic Faith Explained" is explored by St Mary's Women's Faith Formation - Dec 14

Franklin Public Schools: Middle School Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Concert - Dec 7 at 6 PM

Horace Mann MS (@HMMSLightning) tweeted  Wed, Dec 07, 2022:

Happening TONIGHT! 

Good luck to all of our talented, hard-working Band, Chorus, and Orchestra members and ensemble directors! https://t.co/ssNzWdtCHj

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/HMMSLightning/status/1600474450310631424

Franklin Public Schools: Middle School Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Concert - Dec 7 at 6 PM

“Not only do masks protect you from the direct inhalation of viruses, but it’s also like wearing a sweater on your nose"

"A chill is in the air, and you all know what that means — it’s time for cold and flu season, when it seems everyone you know is suddenly sneezing, sniffling or worse. It’s almost as if those pesky cold and flu germs whirl in with the first blast of winter weather.

Yet germs are present year-round — just think back to your last summer cold. So why do people get more colds, flu and now Covid-19 when it’s chilly outside?

In what researchers are calling a scientific breakthrough, scientists behind a new study may have found the biological reason we get more respiratory illnesses in winter. It turns out the cold air itself damages the immune response occurring in the nose.

“This is the first time that we have a biologic, molecular explanation regarding one factor of our innate immune response that appears to be limited by colder temperatures,” said rhinologist Dr. Zara Patel, a professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. She was not involved in the new study."

Continue reading the article online ->

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/health/why-winter-colds-flu-wellness/index.html

Go directly to the Study -> https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(22)01423-3/fulltext

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/growingwisdom/status/1600153109312872448

Cold exposure impairs extracellular vesicle swarm–mediated nasal antiviral immunity

SAFE Coalition: 1 DAY AWAY, JACK FROST JUBILEE! - Dec 8

Buy your family ticket here! Buy your family ticket here! All proceeds from this event will support the work and mission of the SAFE Coalition. We look forward to celebrating the season with all of you! Copyright (C) 2022 SAFE Coalition. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is:  SAFE Coalition, PO Box 434 Franklin, MA 02038-0434

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the REAL ID full enforcement date from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025

"SAYING IT WANTED to alert the public, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles late Monday announced that the US Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID enforcement date from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025.

The extension means that beginning on May 7, 2025, air travelers 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or ID card, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, for domestic air travel and to enter certain federal facilities.

“The Registry continues to assist any residents seeking a REAL ID credential even though the federal government has extended the full enforcement date until May 7, 2025,” said Registrar Colleen Ogilvie. “While federal REAL ID travel requirements won’t take effect for a few years, and customers with a valid US passport may never need a REAL ID, the RMV and our partners at AAA stand ready to accommodate and provide plenty of time for customers to take advantage of a REAL ID upgrade.”

Continue reading the article online at CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/real-id-deadline-pushed-back-to-2025/ 

Visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles page for additional info on Read ID

https://www.mass.gov/guides/massachusetts-identification-id-requirements

https://www.mass.gov/guides/real-id

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Wednesday, Dec 7, 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

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 the recent Town Council Quarterbacking session condensing the Nov 30, 2022 Town Council meeting to less than 30 minutes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/this-town-council-quarterbacking.html

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

7:30 am It Takes A Village: 40 Percent Club

10:00 am Franklin Interfaith Thanksgiving 2022

11:30 am Comfort Food: Comfort Food

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Banana Bread

12:30 pm Sandhya: Cupcakes

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Safety on the Roads

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 9

3:30 pm Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

5:00 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Italian Cookies

5:30 pm Veterans' Call: Steve Crouteau

6:00 pm New England Irish Harp Orchestra 12-10-17

7:30 pm Veterans Oral History Project: Warren Sayer Green

10:30 pm ArtWeek: Airmen of Note

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 1 12-11-18

8:30 am Metrowest Arts & Culture Symposium

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Woody Geissman

11:00 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

1:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v Mansfield 10-03-22

3:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball: v Oliver Ames 09-07-22

5:30 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

7:30 pm Battleship Cove: Inside The History: Pt. 3

8:00 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Concord-Carlisle 10-06-22

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

8:00 am Town Council: 11-30-22

2:00 pm Town Council: 11-30-22

7:00 pm Finance committee, LIVE, Chambers, 823 2648 2902

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 High School: concert time scheduled for Tuesday & Thursday

The FHS Chorus and Orchestra Concert is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec 6, 2022 from 7 to 9 PM at Franklin High School.

The FHS Band Concert is scheduled for Thursday, Dec 8, 2022 also from 8 to 9:30 PM at Franklin High School.  (updated after mailing on 12/06/22)

Franklin High School: concert time scheduled for Tuesday & Thursday

Franklin Recycling Center Hours begin their Winter schedule (no Tuesdays)

Winter Hours

The winter hours of operation for the Recycling Center are now in effect.

• Fridays 9-3
• Saturdays 9-3
• Sundays 8-1

- Franklin Environmental Affairs

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/news/recycling-center-hours-0

For more on solid waste, trash and recycling -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste

Beaver St. Recycling Center Open for Winter Hours (no Tuesdays)

Pantherbook: "A Closer Look at Franklin High’s Creative Media Team"

Lily Eattimo, has this write up for Pantherbook: 

"Fall Sports are now officially over – Photographers Sammy Patel and Hunter Smith are preparing for Winter Sports, including basketball, hockey, and indoor track, among others. 

You may have seen Patel and Smith’s work on Franklin High’s TV’s, or your Instagram and Twitter, as they run the Creative Media Team for Franklin High School.

The Creative Media Team is a subsection of Pantherbook, focused on creating, editing and designing graphics for Franklin High School sports. Their work, including both photo and video, is distributed on the Franklin High TVs, seen throughout the school, or on their Instagram and Twitter accounts. Their work keeps the community involved with Franklin sports, including some exciting shutouts and losses."

Continue reading about the Creative Media Team ->   https://franklinpanthers.us/clubs-activities/2022/12/04/a-closer-look-at-franklin-highs-creative-media-team/

Pantherbook: "A Closer Look at Franklin High’s Creative Media Team"

 

Franklin Cultural Council: Pamela Means (video)

If you missed the Circle of Friends concert in September 2022 featuring Pamela Means, you can view it via YouTube -> https://youtu.be/C8ykDPW1Hco

The concert was sponsored by four local Cultural Councils (Franklin, Bellingham, Norfolk and Wrentham) as well as the Mass Cultural Council. The concert was live streamed and recorded by Franklin TV.

Franklin Cultural Council: Pamela Means (video)

Note: This video is age-restricted and only available on YouTube

Support the Franklin Music Boosters! Get your meal(s) from Santa Fe Burrito Grill - Tues, Dec 6 from 5 to 9 PM

Mrs. Plouffe (@FranklinHSOrch) tweeted  Mon, Dec 05, 2022:

"Enjoy a great meal, support a local business and the Franklin Music Boosters!

Santa Fe Burrito Grill 

Tuesday, December 6 from 5 to 9 PM
30% of the event sales are donated back. 

Tell them it's for the Franklin Music Boosters!"

https://twitter.com/FranklinHSOrch/status/1599774433123573760

Support the Franklin Music Boosters!  Get your meal(s) from Santa Fe
Burrito Grill - Tues, Dec 6 from 5 to 9 PM

"more worried about what the implications of that lack of trust in public health" (audio)

"When the coronavirus vaccines first emerged, they were shown to have 94 to 95 percent efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.

It was a situation where the message from public health officials was fairly simple – get the shot and help prevent the spread of the disease. Vaccine mandates, passports, and other measures were all deemed smart public health policy.

But as variants of the disease began to appear and multiply, the vaccines couldn’t keep pace. Infections spread rapidly and Shira Doron, an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, said public health messaging couldn’t keep up."

Continue reading the article online at CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/epidemiologist-lays-out-her-covid-19-campaign-of-honesty-2/ 

Listen to the Codcast interview upon which the article is based ->   https://on.soundcloud.com/Sj45J

Shira Doron, an infectious disease physician and hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center

CommonWealth Magazine · Epidemiologist lays out her COVID-19 ‘campaign of honesty’

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Half Day for schools on Weds, Dec 7 for professional development

"Reminder: All Franklin Public Schools will operate on a HALF DAY schedule on Wednesday, December 7 , 2022 to accommodate for staff professional development, with the exception of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) which will have no school on half days."

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1599886582353481728

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Half Day for schools on Weds, Dec 7 for professional development

Franklin Police Department Toy Drive & Pictures with Santa - Dec 11

"Say cheese! 

This Sunday, December 11, 2022 the Franklin Police Department will host Pictures with Santa from 10 AM - 1 PM at the station! 

Franklin Police Department Toy Drive & Pictures with Santa - Dec 11

 

Pictures are free, but donations of new or unwrapped toys for all ages are requested as part of the FPD's Toy Drive.

Donations will be accepted at the station any time before Christmas!
Check out @franklinmapolice for more info!"

Toy Drive & Pictures with Santa - Dec 11

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cly8w7YOrWV/

’Tis the season to spot and avoid gift card scams

'Tis the season to spot and avoid gift card scams By Kira Krown Looking for a New Year's resolution? Here's one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too.  Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they're like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. But what do gift card scams look like?  Read more -> https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/12/tis-season-spot-and-avoid-gift-card-scams ’Tis the season to spot and avoid gift card scams