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| Want to track who's taken papers for each position? Thanks to our Town Clerk, you can |
FM #1030 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1030 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Monday, August 7, 2023.
In this episode we have another wide running conversation with a starting point on the ship tracks Links to the articles we talk of are located in a section below.
This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well.
If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.
The conversation runs about 46 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted McIntyre as we help ‘make sense of climate.’ Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1037-making-sense-of-climate-30-08-07-23
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Links to articles referenced:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fu_Yg-0pQc4mNpYBMQnwgwfq3f0_vSvX/view?usp=drive_link
** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.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 www.franklin.news/ or www.Franklinmatters.org/
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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| In this Making Sense of Climate we start with ship tracks and get into geoengineering (audio) |
Extension will ensure that no Veteran or survivor will miss out on a single day of backdated PACT Act benefits
Today VA announced that Veterans and survivors who apply (or submit their intent to file) for PACT Act benefits by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 14, 2023 will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to August 10, 2022 – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. This is an extension from the original deadline of August 9, 2023. We encourage all Veterans and their survivors to apply – or submit their intent to file – for PACT Act benefits now by visiting VA.gov/PACT.
VA has made this decision out of an abundance of caution after experiencing technical difficulties with VA.gov/PACT in recent days. Specifically, due to extremely high demand, some Veterans who have sought to submit their intent to file for PACT Act benefits have received error messages while doing so. Despite these messages, VA has successfully logged every one of these intents to file – meaning that every Veteran or survivor who has received an error message while applying for PACT Act benefits can consider their intent to file complete. We are working to contact these individuals to confirm directly to them that their intent to file will be honored and their effective date protected. Most importantly, no Veteran or survivor will miss out on a single day of benefits due to this issue.
VA has also resolved nearly all of the technical issues with VA.gov/PACT. As of 5:00pm, less than one tenth of one percent of attempts to submit an “intent to file” today (August 9) had resulted in an error message. This percentage is down from about 18% on August 8. Additionally, we have had a high volume of calls to VA call centers throughout this week, and we are working to decrease abnormally long call center wait times. We continue to work on these issues and will not rest until they are fully resolved.
Throughout the past day, VA has sent out communications from all channels to reassure Veterans and survivors that they would not miss out on their earned benefits due to this issue. We put an emergency banner on the VA website to tell Veterans and survivors that their intents to file will be honored. We changed the intent to file error message to confirm that, despite the error message, the intent to file has been saved. Finally, we communicated with Veterans directly on social media, via email, and through coordination with Congressional leaders and Veterans Service Organizations. All of this messaging will be updated tonight (details below) to reflect the extended deadline for Veterans and survivors to apply for benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.
We at VA will continue to encourage Veterans and their survivors to immediately file their PACT Act claims — or submit their intents to file — at VA.gov/PACT. With the extended deadline, Veterans and survivors who do so by 11:59PM ET on Monday, August 14, 2023 may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.
Please also see the news release that came out today: One year of the PACT Act: A historic expansion of benefits and health care for Veterans and their survivors
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| veterans memorials on the Franklin Town Common at night |
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| some of the flag display from Aug 31, 2022 |
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| Franklin Art Association announce their Juried Art Show Opening at the Harvest Festival - Sep 30 |
"We are so excited to announce we were awarded a $34,800 grant from the EOEA to Enhance Digital Literacy specifically for Older Adults!
This will include replacing our outdated equipment, purchasing additional equipment, and developing and offering a full technology curriculum specific to seniors!"
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| Technology upgrades coming to the Franklin Senior Center |
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| Smart Social Security Strategies for Women |
"While many women plan to claim Social Security retirement benefits, they may not know about how various factors could impact their monthly payment.More women are working than ever before, but their average benefits are lower than those for men because women typically earn less over their lifetime. In addition, falling marriage rates mean fewer women are in a position to claim spouse’s and survivor benefits.Here are some important points for women to consider when planning to apply for Social Security benefits: "
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Anne McGillis, Director of Operations, and Yianna Zicherman, Warehouse Manager of the Franklin Food Pantry. We had our conversation in the new location of the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s.
We talk about their respective roles in the operation of the Pantry. We get some insights into what happens behind the scenes to process the donations and food purchases to help our neighbors. Donations are always welcomed to help keep this operation running smoothly.
The recording runs about 16 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Anne & Yianna. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1035-franklin-food-pantry-building-campaign-02-07-24-23
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The Franklin Food Pantry is here for you. If you need us, we are here with not only food, but useful programs and resources for individuals, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity. If you can support us, we thank you - visit franklinfoodpantry.org to explore volunteering, donating funds, donating food, or supporting our Capital Campaign to keep the lights on and the programs, from food elves to weekend backpack stuffing. It truly takes a village to keep our food pantry running and supporting the increasing demand, supporting our Franklin neighbors.
Part 1 of the podcast series for the Franklin Food Pantry was shared last week.
Note: As part of my long association with the Franklin Food Pantry, I contribute financially to the building capital campaign.
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
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 www.franklin.news or www.Franklinmatters.org/
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"
The shared covenant of Unitarian Universalism is based on the eight principles that join us all together. The seventh principle is: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. In this service we will explore Living the Seventh Principle in our everyday lives.
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| Sunday's service at FUSF: Respect for All Living Things - Aug 13 |
The service is set for 10:00 AM on Sunday, Aug 13 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF), at 262 Chestnut Street.
August 20: Trees: Bridges to SpiritAugust 27: Everyday Spiritual Practices
FM #1036 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1036 in the series.
The Franklin (MA) School Committee met on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 as scheduled. Five members were present (2 absent). The 5 provided quorum to enable official business. They did break for an Executive Session, and returned to open meeting to authorize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the cafeteria workers “as discussed" (in the executive session) before closing the session.
Let’s listen to the School Committee meeting of August 8. The time they left the room for their Executive Session was shortened for airplay and replaced by a brief audio bit. The total meeting audio runs about 49 minutes.
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School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee
Franklin TV Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/iSxi_lTYFe4
You can find the full agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_8-8-23.pdf
My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QjbZCZ5vs2CHatsKM6MEUOBGdNiTFRs5/view?usp=drive_link
The Superintendent’s report and presentation are supposed to be posted to the packet folder the day after the meeting. As we go to post this, they are not yet public. https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/august-8-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet
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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/
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"
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| an update on summer learning was shared |
