Franklin Matters

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Franklin Public Library: Library News & Events for January 2023

Library Hours

The Library's hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library will be closed on Sunday, January 1st and Monday, January 2nd for News Year's Day. The library will be closed Monday, January 16th for Martin Luther King Day.

Book Sale

Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, January 20th, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21st , 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
All books are just one dollar!

Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, January 21st, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!

Featured Databases

Transparent Language Online for Libraries empowers anyone to learn 110+ languages anytime, anywhere, on any device — with unlimited simultaneous usage. Creating an account will let you save your progress and learned vocab, as well as access the mobile apps!

Universal Class offers free and unlimited access to over 500 online courses. Interested in continuing your education, expanding your horizons or just learning something for fun? Choose from a diverse range of subjects including computer training, resume writing, home and garden, health and medicine, hobbies, self-help and more. Universal Class virtual classrooms are extremely easy to use and they are available any time, anyplace with an internet connection. To get started you'll need an email address and your library card. Universal Class is also available through the Libby App.

Creativebug has more than 1,000 award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.

Volunteer Tutors Needed for ESL & Adult Literacy Program

The Franklin Public Library is starting an English as a Second Language and Adult Literacy Program to serve Franklin and its surrounding communities. If you have the time and interest to help adult learners improve their English reading, writing, speaking and listening, please consider volunteering!

To volunteer, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent, have patience, and be able to speak English clearly. Prior teaching experience is not required. Volunteer Tutors will be given training and all supporting materials will be provided. The time commitment is one orientation session, 18 hours of tutor training, and to meet with your student 2 hours per week for one year. Volunteers and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please contact Assistant Library Director Kim Shipala at kshipala@minlib.net, or fill out the registration form on the library's website

Volunteers Needed for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

Volunteers are always needed for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs… better known as VITA and TCE. Many volunteer roles are available. You can help as a greeter, an interpreter or a computer specialist. Most of all, we need tax preparers!

Learn more & Sign up at: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers

Massachusetts Center for the Book 2023 Reading Challenge

January: A book with 100 pages or less

Do you have a cozy reading corner you've been wanting to spend more time in? Do you have a group of friends who like to select books together? Maybe a little constraint helps you choose what to read next.

If you are looking for a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2023, Massachusetts Center for the Book has you covered.

Check it out today! https://www.massbook.org/readingchallenge

From the Friends of the Franklin Library

The New Year is here and we are ready to continue our support of the Franklin Public Library. Keep reading to find out how you can help us with this mission.

Valentine's Day Fudge Fundraiser. Fudge + Friends = a VERY sweet deal and we hope you'll participate! We are partnering with The Fudge Lady of Uxbridge to offer for sale 14 of her delicious and decadent homemade specialty fudge flavors. Order as gifts for friends & family, treat yourself, or do a little bit of both. All fudge purchases help the Friends fund various library activities. Orders due by Friday, February 3rd . CLICK HERE to order your Fudge!

Become a Friend! We meet at the Library at 7:00pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Please join us at an upcoming meeting (January 4 th & February 1 st are our next meetings) to find out how you can get involved. Don't have time just now to attend meetings, no worries, you can still support our mission and the Library by making a direct donation to the Friends. Membership dues and donations are both tax deductible. To join the Friends or make a donation, CLICK HERE.

For the full list of January events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/january-2023-franklin-library-news-events

Franklin Public Library: Library News & Events for January 2023

Franklin Police Officer Gulla celebrates graduation from Boylston Police Academy

"Congratulations to Officer Christopher Gulla who graduated from the Boylston Police Academy today. Graduation was held at the Franklin High School. Officer Gulla will begin his 12-week FTO and then join the patrol division. Welcome to the FPD!

Pictured left to right: Academy Drill Instructor Detective Leanne Baker, Officer Andressa Rosa, Academy Drill Instructor Deputy Chief James West, Officer Christopher Gulla, Chief Thomas Lynch, Lieutenant Jason Reilly, Lieutenant Eric Zimmerman"

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

Pictured left to right: Academy Drill Instructor Detective Leanne Baker, Officer Andressa Rosa, Academy Drill Instructor Deputy Chief James West, Officer Christopher Gulla, Chief Thomas Lynch, Lieutenant Jason Reilly, Lieutenant Eric Zimmerman

FHS girls hockey and boys basketball teams post wins on Friday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Friday, December 30, 2022. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 62 @ Xaverian, 56 – Final

– Franklin cashed in from downtown against Xaverian’s zone defense, sinking 12 three-pointers on its way to a non-league win on the road. Senior Justin Allen was responsible for over half of the Panthers’ threes, hitting a total of seven for a team-high 21 points. Allen hit one in each the first, second, and third quarters but erupted for four of them in the third to help the Panthers build a 53-40 lead going into the fourth. Andrew O’Neill hit two more threes while Geino Scaringello, Bradley Herndon, and Sean O’Leary each connected for our. O’Leary added 20 points in the win.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 3 vs. Dedham, 2 – Final

– After Dedham battled back from two goals down to tie it, Julia Flynn popped up in the third period with her third goal of the afternoon to lift the Panthers to the non-league win. Flynn scored twice in the opening period to put Franklin in control, but Dedham rallied with a pair of tallies in the second. Lindsay Atkinson had a pair of assists for the Panthers.

Huge 3-2 win today for @fhsvgockey !! Julie Flynn with the hat trick!! L. Atkinson with 2 assists ! “Brickwall” Brown amazing game!
Great team effort in a very intense and physical game! Coming together girls!!
https://twitter.com/FHSGirlsPuck/status/1608982403468627969

Wrestling = Franklin, 24 @ Ashland, 51 – Final

Devistating loss to Ashland 51-24 pins from Winiker, Sauer, Carlucci, Foley
https://twitter.com/FHSWrestle/status/1608967210831327234

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-12-30-22/

FHS Panthers

New York Times: "Epidemics That Weren’t: How Countries Shut Down Recent Outbreaks"

Benjy Renton (@bhrenton) tweeted Thu, Dec 29, 2022:

It is important to acknowledge the instances globally in which the public health system worked as it was designed — outbreaks that were mitigated and prevented through community trust, rapid vaccine deployment and an effective public health workforce. https://t.co/JVADQ0hJhe

"While cutting-edge vaccine technology and genomic sequencing have received lots of attention in the COVID years, the interventions that helped prevent these six pandemics were steadfastly unglamorous: building the trust of communities in the local health system. Training local staff in how to report a suspected problem effectively. Making sure funds are available to dispense swiftly, to deploy contact tracers or vaccinate a village against rabies. Increasing lab capacity in areas far from the main urban centers. Priming everyone to move fast at the first sign of potential calamity."

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/bhrenton/status/1608640248464166914

Volunteers received training on how to conduct safe and dignified burials for Ebola victims in Mubende, Uganda, in October.Credit...Luke Dray/Getty Images

Credit...Luke Dray/Getty Images

Franklin Municipal Building CLOSURE - January 2, 2023

The Franklin Municipal Building will be CLOSED on Monday, January 2nd, 2023 in observance of the New Year's Day Holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023.

Reminder: Curbside trash/recycling pickup will operate on a regular schedule during the week of the New Year's Day holiday (January 2nd - 3rd, 2023).

The Recycling Center Holiday hours are as follows:

Saturday, December 31st: 8 AM - 1PM
Sunday, January 1st: CLOSED

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/franklin-municipal-building-closure-january-2nd-2023

Franklin Municipal Building CLOSURE - January 2, 2023

Janie Avenue Neighborhood Waterline Improvements Project - Invitation for Bids

"In accordance with MGL c. 30 section 39m, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain the services of a construction firm for the purposes of constructing approximately 4,250 feet of waterline improvements in the Janie Avenue Neighborhood in the Town of Franklin."

Additional Information: Janie Avenue Neighborhood Waterline Improvements Project

Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/janie-avenue-neighborhood-waterline-improvements-project

Janie Avenue Neighborhood Waterline Improvements Project - Invitation for Bids

Register for your spot in the Creative Corner Art Studio Winter schedule

Via Creative Corner Art Studio:

January/February Winter Art Sessions for all ages! Register to save your spot

Register for your spot in the Creative Corner Art Studio Winter schedule

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CmuA3jPLctm/

Friday, December 30, 2022

Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 30, 2022 to Jan 5, 2023

The Franklin Public Library has multiple family events as December winds down to the New Year on Sunday! You can also walk the labyrinth at the First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) on New Year's Eve.

Friday, December 30

5:30pm - David Penza (67 Degrees Brewery)

Saturday, December 31 = New Year's Eve

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

11:00am - Noon Year's Eve Party! (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm - The Library will be closing at 2 pm

5:00pm - Labyrinth Walk (First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF))

Sunday, January 1, 2023 = New Year's Day

Library closed

Monday, January 2, 2023

Library closed

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

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

Thursday, January 5, 2023

6:30pm - Franklin LGBTQ Alliance - monthly meeting (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm - Author Janis Robinson Daly (Franklin Public Library)

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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

Community Calendar

More Perfect Union: 067 - 2022 Reprise Episode (Part One)

In this episode, the group reflects on this past year's episodes, diving back into topics such as The Supreme Court, Women's Rights, Gun Laws & Uvalde, Clean Energy and more, bringing in clips from past episodes and guests such as Peter Canellos (author of The Great Disenter), Jesse Mermell (Democratic Candidate for Congress) and Bob and Stavroula McQuarrie (firearms trainers and specialists).

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/067-2022-reprise-episode-part-one

Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)

More Perfect Union - WFPR

Discussing American Politics and Current Events

Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Dr. Natalia Linos, Jeff Roy, Chris Woolf and Nick Remissong host a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States.

Find all the episodes online -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episodes or subscribe with your favorite podcast app

Night Owl Farm awarded $46K grant from MA Dept of Agricultural Resources

The Night Owl Farm in Franklin is to receive a $46,000 grant for help with their washing and packing facility per the announcement Thursday. Senator Becca Rausch and State Representative Jeff Roy were both quoted in the announcement.

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $1,000,000 in grants to 23 Massachusetts farms to implement practices that improve food safety within their operations. The Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP), administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), is a competitive grant program that allows produce and aquaculture operations to address food safety on their farms, enabling the operations to meet buyer demands, increase consumption of local food, and protect public health by reducing food safety risks.

“The Commonwealth’s agricultural industry continues to grow and upgrade its practices to both meet marketplace demands and regulatory requirements,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These grants underscore our Administration’s commitment to helping farmers implement important upgrades within their operations to ensure that food safety risks are managed, that their marketplace needs are addressed, and their businesses continue to grow.”

“Improving food safety practices is important for Massachusetts’ farmers in order to provide the highest quality produce and protein sources for consumers across the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These food safety grants provide a proactive approach for the sector to upgrade their practices to help ensure safe local food production continues for years to come.”

Continue reading the press release ->

https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-1-million-in-grants-to-improve-massachusetts-farm-food-safety

Visit Night Owl Farm on the internet (http://www.nightowlfarm.org/) and at the Winter Farmers Market

Night Owl Farm awarded $46K grant from MA Dept of Agricultural Resources

FHS girls hockey drop game to Longmeadow on Thursday

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, December 29, 2022. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 1 vs. Longmeadow, 4 – Final

– Longmeadow added a late power play goal and an empty netter to pull away in the third period. Julia Flynn scored the lone goal for the Panthers with an end-to-end rush.

Final 4-1, Lancers score on PP in 3rd and end it with an empty netter
Home again tomorrow V Dedham @ 2:30!
https://twitter.com/FHSGirlsPuck/status/1608580802836824065

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-29-22/

FHS Panthers

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance: (Re)gift at our Upcoming Meeting - January 5, 2023

LGBTQ Alliance

SURVEY

If you haven't already, please take our survey! We want to hear from you!!! -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbrOaEd08mi0CCc_U4KfVAXrEbtm_tQFx79GOgWwR9QpVlbg/viewform

We hope to see YOU at the Franklin Public Library for a fun, regift swap at our monthly meeting January 5, 2023! Meeting starts at 630 PM but the space will be available for game play from 6-8 PM!