Don’t miss this lineup of journalists who can help you find news you can trust

Register now for our free webinars!

We've lined up some terrific journalists for our free webinar series How to find news you can trust. You won't want to miss these fascinating and informative conversations! REGISTER HERE The series begins April 12 and runs for three consecutive Wednesdays, starting at 4 p.m. ET. Register once to access all three sessions! April 12: Session 1 | What is quality journalism? News outlets help us make informed decisions, but the process of creating news isn't always transparent. In this session, journalists Brandon Pope of WBEZ Chicago and Molly Parker of Lee Enterprises will discuss how they build credibility and trust with the public and will describe the standards that guide their newsgathering. This session will pull the curtain back on the practice of quality, ethical journalism and its mission to inform us accurately. Brandon is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist, media critic and columnist, and host of the podcasts On The Block: Powered by Block Club Chicago on CW26 and the MAKING series from WBEZ and NPR. Molly, a ProPublica distinguished fellow, is an investigative reporter with Lee Enterprises' Public Service Team, where she works with regional reporters in 25 states to produce impactful, data-driven local journalism. April 19: Session 2 | Understanding news media bias People frequently perceive and allege bias in news coverage, but what does this really mean? What makes a piece of news biased, and who decides? Journalist Amethyst J. Davis, founder of the Harvey World Herald, a hyperlocal, independent newsroom in Illinois, and Stephanie Casanova of Signal Cleveland, a nonprofit newsroom that fuses community building with local news reporting, join us to discuss how the journalistic standards we learned about in Session 1 can be applied to confront and avoid news bias. This session will empower you to evaluate the fairness, accuracy and objectivity of news coverage. Amethyst oversees growth and development, including outlining editorial trajectory and content, at the Harvey World Herald. A member of the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, she is a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists Black News & Views. Stephanie is the criminal justice reporter with Signal Cleveland and formerly covered criminal justice and breaking news at the Chicago Tribune. April 26: Session 3 | How fact-checking works Fact-checking organizations are taking up the charge to combat the spread of misinformation, debunking some of the most viral content springing up on social media. Fact-checkers Dan Evon of the News Literacy Project and Rafael Olavarría of Factchequeado will talk about their work and share skills that you can use to check the accuracy of information. Dan debunks viral rumors for NLP's RumorGuard™ platform, which empowers the public to push back against misinformation. Prior to joining NLP in 2022, Dan worked as a reporter for Snopes, the internet's oldest fact-checking site. Rafael, a Venezuelan immigrant who fled political persecution, began his journalism career as a producer and writer for CNN and won 11 Southeast Emmy Awards as a multimedia journalist with Univisión. We look forward to seeing you April 12! REGISTER HERE For a future founded on facts, The News Literacy Project P.S. If you miss one of the sessions, don't worry, we'll share recordings of all three.

Visit us at newslit.org, checkology.org, newslitnation.org and rumorguard.org. The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. The News Literacy Project 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, Mar 30, 2023

• 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     Veterans' Call: John Milot

9:00 am     Matt York: Highway Men

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Kyle Brodeur

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Fish

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Sandhya: Macaroons

1:00 pm     Drink Responsibly: La Cantina Winery

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

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

3:00 pm Joe Landry: Service Stations & Car Dealerships

4:30 pm     Frank Presents: Caron Grupposo

6:30 pm     Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes

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

8:00 pm ArtWeek: Ed Iannuccilli

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

7:00 am     Public School Event: Horace Mann Winter Music 2021

9:30 am     All-Town Showcase: Band

12:00 pm Universe of Adolescent Sleep

1:00 pm     FHS Band

3:00 pm Tri County Vaping Forum

5:00 pm FHS Oskey 2022

8:00 pm School Committee Redistricting Analysis

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 03-22-23

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 03-22-23

7:30 pm     Zoning Board of Appeals: LIVE, Remote 827 7820 9117

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: #artshappenhere Symposium, music choices, Farmers Market, and more

There is still time to register for the Metrowest Arts & Culture Symposium Thursday, March 30 at Dean College.

Wednesday, March 29

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm - Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Workshop (virtual) (Franklin SEPAC)

Thursday, March 30

10:00am - Writer's Quiet Space (Escape Into Fiction)

6:30pm - Metrowest Arts and Culture Symposium (free, ticketed event) (Dean College)

Friday, March 31

5:30pm - Joshua David (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

Saturday, April 1

10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

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

3:00pm - Joey D's Wingz & Thingz (Food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)

5:30pm - Sudden Odd Behavior (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

8:00pm - SheGrooves (free ticketed concert) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

Sunday, April 2

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

Tuesday, April 4

7:00pm - Franklin Garden Club (Franklin Public Library)

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

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Franklin Art Association Art Gallery

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

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

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!

Town Hall with Congressman Jake Auchincloss - Saturday, April 1

Neighbor,     On Saturday, April 1, I'll be hosting a town hall in Franklin to share updates from the 118th Congress. This is an opportunity for you to meet me, talk about issues important to you, and learn more about what I'm doing to serve our community. You will also have an opportunity to connect with my staff to hear about casework services in our office. Details about the town hall are below, and I hope you'll be able to join me. If you're able to attend, please RSVP HERE.    Franklin Town Hall with Congressman Jake Auchincloss    Saturday, April 1st at 10:30 AM Franklin Senior Center: 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, MA, 02038   RSVP HERE   Sincerely, Jake Auchincloss Member of Congress OFFICE LOCATIONS WASHINGTON DC OFFICE • 1524 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515 • Phone: (202) 255-5931 NEWTON DISTRICT OFFICE • 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 • Newton, MA 02458 • Phone : (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO DISTRICT OFFICE • 8 N. Main St. Suite 200 • Attleboro, MA 02703 • Phone : (508) 431-1110   WEBSITE  |  CONTACT Click Here to view this email in your browser

Vernal Pools - An Important Part of the Franklin Landscape

Vernal Pools - An Important Part of the Franklin Landscape

Vernal pools play an integral part in the function of our Franklin ecosystem and are commonly found throughout the entirety of the landscape. In fact, it is quite hard to travel around Town without being at most one mile away from a vernal pool. Many vernal pools are found in wooden areas near our homes, schools, and businesses; and can be found during the spring months by following the calls of spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). Keep reading for more vernal pool information and remember - due to the delicate nature of the vernal pool egg masses and wildlife, please do not contain, pick up, carry, or remove them. It is unlawful and causes undue harm and stress to the egg masses and animals. 

What are Vernal Pools?
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)

Vernal pools are temporary bodies of fresh water that provide important habitat for many vertebrate and invertebrate species. "Vernal", meaning spring, are filled by spring rains and snowmelt, after which they dry during the summer months. Spring aside, many vernal pools are also filled by autumn rains (i.e, "autumnal pools") and persist throughout the winter. These autumnal pools are semi-permanent and do not dry every year.

Vernal pools are often very small and shallow; in fact, many vernal pools that support rich communities of vertebrate and invertebrate animals may measure only a few yards across! However, vernal pools of several acres also occur throughout Massachusetts.

Where are Vernal Pools found?
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)

Vernal pools are common throughout Massachusetts and occur in almost every town in the state. Vernal pools are found across the landscape where small woodland depressions, swales, or "kettle holes" collect spring runoff or intercept seasonally high groundwater tables. Although it's common to associate vernal pools with dry woodland areas, vernal pools also occur in meadows, river floodplains, interdunal swales, and large vegetated wetland complexes. Vernal pool habitat can occur where water is contained more than two months in the spring and summer of most years, and where no reproducing fish populations are present. Can you guess why this is?

Why Are Vernal Pools Valuable?
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)

Vernal pools constitute a unique and increasingly vulnerable type of wetland. Vernal pools are inhabited by many species of wildlife, some of which are totally dependent on vernal pools for their survival. Vernal pools do not support fish because they dry out annually or at least periodically. Some may contain water year round, but are free of fish as a result of significant drawdowns that result in extremely low dissolved oxygen levels. The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) and the four local species of mole salamander (Ambystoma spp.) have evolved breeding strategies intolerant of fish predation on their eggs and larvae; the lack of established reproducing fish populations is essential to the breeding success of these species. Other amphibian species, including the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus), spring peeper (P. crucifer), and gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor), often exploit the fish-free waters of vernal pools but use a variety of different wetland types. Vernal pools also support rich and diverse invertebrate faunas. Some invertebrates, such as the fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus spp.), are also dependent upon vernal pools. Invertebrates are both important predators and prey in vernal pool ecosystems. Vernal pools are an important habitat resource for many birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including many species listed under the MA Endangered Species Act (M.G.L c.131A).

The Vernal Pool Boundary
(excerpted from www.mass.gov)

The shallow edges of vernal pool habitat represent one of the most ecologically valuable portions of these habitats. These areas are generally the first to thaw in the spring and provide access to the pool for the earliest breeding species. These shallow water zones also tend to be significantly warmer than the deeper portions of a vernal pool throughout the spring. Egg masses of early breeding amphibians benefit from the warmer water temperatures at the pool edges that promote rapid egg development.

For more information on Vernal Pools, please see here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidelines-for-the-certification-of-vernal-pool-habitat/download

To report a Vernal Pool near you, please contact the Conservation Agent via email at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov or via phone at (508) 520-4847.

Shared from Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/vernal-pools-important-part-franklin-landscape

Vernal Pools - An Important Part of the Franklin Landscape

Webinar: "Executive Function Strategies for Creating Successful Students" - April 26, 2023

Executive function skills have become increasingly important for students of all ages over the past several years. Join Engaging Minds to learn more about executive function and the skills it encompasses and gain actionable strategies to use at home to help strengthen these important skills. In an ever-changing world where more is being asked of our students, this webinar will help parents and caregivers keep their students on a successful path for this school year and beyond.

Register for this virtual webinar ->   https://engagingmindsonline.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MFzacLveSoCjQ1dBIwb4Ng

For more about Franklin SEPAC -> http://www.franklinsepac.org/

Webinar: "Executive Function Strategies for Creating Successful Students" - April 26, 2023

School Committee hold budget hearing and then conducts regular meeting agenda March 28, 2023 (video)

The Franklin School Committee held their budget hearing and then followed with their normal meeting agenda on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. The Franklin TV video of the full session is available via YouTube.

YouTube link ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/Kkg86utrlnw?feature=share

The agenda doc contains remote participation info ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-28-23docx.pdf

The meeting packet folder contains all the docs released for this meeting (note- some will be posted after the meeting)  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-28-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet

The FY 2024 budget documents arranged in sections ->

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2024-budget

Franklin School Committee - Meeting Agenda for March 28, 2023 - FY 2024 Budget Hearing scheduled

Citizens Comment: Gretchen Donohue

Gretchen Donohue submitted this via email after the Tuesday meeting:

"Teachers, by their very nature, will not allow things to fall through the cracks.  I work in another district, but I don’t need to work in Franklin to know - the Franklin teachers cover that extra duty, attend that unexpected meeting, work with students through their lunch and after school, make that extra phone call to a family, and somehow get the supplies they need.  That’s just what teachers do.  

The dark side of our inherent desire to do what is best for students is that our efforts often hide serious deficits; teachers’ inability to let students’ needs fall through the cracks often masks just how close to the edge they are operating.   

In this case, appearances are deceiving; as they are often praised for doing, the FPS teachers are doing so much, with so little.  I personally don’t consider this a point of praise; I consider this an indictment of our inability to fully support our schools.  

I believe we need to reconsider our town tax structure to fully fund our schools.  A budget is a moral document, and we fund what we value.  I ask everyone to consider- what do we value? 

Thank you for your time. "

Gretchen Donohue

—————-

My comments delivered later during citizens comments: 

I am here to ask for a Facilities Master Plan and to urge caution in redistricting, especially of former DT families. 

To start, we needed a Facilities Master Plan when we closed DT two years ago, and we still need one now.  How can we be operating in a fiscally responsible way when every decision is made to get the district two or three years down the road? If option 2 moves forward, and about 20% of our students are redistricted, then what happens a few years down the road when the current facilities are either too small or too old to continue to operate? All three options mention a Master Facilities Plan, and, up until yesterday’s Space Needs meeting, we had been led to believe that this was part of the Town’s Master Plan and thus an 18-24 month process.  At yesterday’s meeting we heard that a Master Facilities Plan is a 6+ year process.  It is unclear to me not only WHERE this time frame came from, but also, more concerning is WHEN this time frame is being shared.  If a Master Facilities Plan would not be available until 2030, then why was this detail not included in the language of all of the survey options? 

Beyond the need for a Master Plan, we have the immediate issue of Keller overcrowding.  As a public school educator and a Keller mom, if teachers say a school is “bursting at the seams,” then I take them at their word.  Keller is at 109% utilization, and I know the teachers and staff have been dealing with the innumerable issues that are created when a building is over capacity.  We must do something, and we must do it now. 

Hence Option 3- in the absence of a much needed Masters Plan, option 3 offers an immediate short-term solution by using Sullivan space, while concurrently honoring the social emotional health of the DT students AND is in keeping with the words of Dr. Ahern about avoiding re-redistricting DT students. 

Of course it’s not just about emotions, geography, using space creatively and honoring the words of former superintendents, bottom line- the schools need to be concerned with costs.  Even though one of the guiding principles of the story maps was fiscal responsibility, the summary for each of the options does not mention any cost savings.  This is deja vu for me vis-a-vis the promised by never realized cost savings from closing DT. 

In closing, I hate to be such a downer, but in a world where so much trauma is unexpected, unwelcomed and inflicted upon our children, why would we choose to inflict potential distress on the former DT students?  Any impact on a group of students has the potential to impact any classroom, regardless of location.  I am asking that you please reconsider Option 3, or at least consider making some exceptions for DT families under Option 2.  

And for the district as a whole, please do not make the mistake of choosing another short-term solution that does not have data to support its efficacy or its cost savings. 

Gretchen Donohue

Citizens Comment: Gretchen Donohue

Update on the swatting incident at FHS Tuesday morning (3/28/23)

FPS Community - Letter regarding swatting incident this morning. Everyone is safe, this is unfortunately why we have drills. Thank you to @franklinpolice and @FranklinHS for their swift action

 https://t.co/EkJypka9sb

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/DSpencerFSC/status/1640711822184685569

Update on the swatting incident at FHS Tuesday morning (3/28/23)

This Saturday the "SheGrooves" concert is free at the at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - April 1

Berklee women showcase

SheGrooves band April 1 View this email in your browser SheGrooves April 1 - 8 PM FREE! Using our Voices for Positive Change: A Celebration of Empowered Female Musicians! SheGrooves will perform at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse this Saturday, April 1st, at 8PM.  This family-friendly public event will explore how women historically have used their voices for positive change within the world. SheGrooves repertoire currently includes original tunes as well as unique covers of Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Tori Amos as well as jazz greats, Nancy Wilson and Dianne Reeves. We aim to inspire and empower communities to celebrate, elevate and respect the female voice. This is a FREE show thanks to grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, but please email coftix@gmail.com to reserve seats. Thanks. The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available.  Please visit http://www.circlefolk.org/  for more information. Upcoming Shows Apr 29     John Gorka

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA