After a successful decade, President Marie-Frances Rivera to leave MassBudget

A Message from MassBudget's Board of Directors It is with deep gratitude that the Board of Directors announces the departure of MassBudget's President, Marie-Frances Rivera. The entire Board congratulates Marie-Frances on her outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the organization. Marie-Frances' last day will be September 29, 2023 after which the board will appoint interim leadership. Marie-Frances became President in 2018 after serving in various staff roles at the organization. During her time at Mass Budget, Marie-Frances had a keen focus on increasing Mass Budget's ability to contribute to the movement for economic and racial equity. Her work to create and promote an antiracist state budget demonstrates her bold and courageous vision. Marie-Frances' leadership helped to usher in transformational tax reform efforts in our state which ranks 6th in economic inequality. To advance MassBudget's work, Marie-Frances developed strong relationships with a wide range of community-based organizations to build a long-term coalition that can serve as the engine for a social movement for economic and racial justice.  While transitions are difficult, change is constant. Marie-Frances leaves MassBudget in a strong position for continued growth. MassBudget's Board is actively planning for a smooth transition and will oversee the process to hire a new president. Over the next few months, our goal is to find the best person to lead MassBudget while maintaining a stable and effective organization. Given MassBudget's extraordinary staff, our policy analysis, reports, and communications will remain timely and thoughtful thus continuing to center racial and economic justice perspectives into policy narratives for the Commonwealth. The MassBudget team will also continue to nurture solidarity with community partners, particularly those most adversely affected by economic injustice. In so doing, MassBudget will remain a vital contributor to true economic democracy. We wish Marie-Frances the best of luck in all her future endeavors.  With Trust in Our Collective Power, – Dr. Alexandra Piñeros Shields Chair, Board of Directors, MassBudget A Message from Marie-Frances After a decade of dedicated service and five rewarding years leading this powerful organization, I'll be leaving MassBudget at the end of September to begin the next chapter of my life and career.  I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible opportunity to serve as President and be part of this organization's remarkable journey. I'll be taking the next few months to spend more quality time with my loved ones and to reflect on both the small and colossal victories that I've been blessed to be a part of with you.  During my time as President, I have led MassBudget in redefining its mission, vision, and values. I'm proud to have worked to transform MassBudget into an antiracist organization that strives to center BIPOC voices and communities with lower incomes. Our Envisioning Equity policy platform has ignited important conversations and lasting changes that will move us toward an antiracist state budget, tax justice, economic security, and an inclusive democracy for all. During my tenure, our organization's budget has more than doubled and we have forged transformative partnerships, like Delivering on Equity, which has raised millions to directly support local organizing partners across the Commonwealth. I want to thank my incredible team and all of our stakeholders for being part of this movement.  Because of our work together, people are seeing billions of new dollars flow into their communities for free, healthy school meals and will continue to see improvements in transit and public education. The passing of the Fair Share Amendment in November 2022 resulted in the reshaping of the Massachusetts' tax system for the better. It's truly a capstone of my personal and professional journey.  As I embark on my new chapter, I carry with me the pride and gratitude for all we have accomplished together, and I look forward to seeing MassBudget thrive in the years to come. In solidarity, – Marie-Frances Rivera President, MassBudget    The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) is a leading think tank advancing policy solutions to create an inclusive, thriving Commonwealth for all.

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 1 State Street, Suite 1250 , Boston, MA 02109 Sent by updates@massbudget.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Franklin Police recognized by State for Investigation Assistance in Prescription Fraud And Illegal Distribution Scheme

"Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s Office has indicted an individual for impersonating physicians to illegally obtain prescription drugs and then selling those drugs for profit as part of an elaborate drug diversion scheme. The indictment follows a joint investigation by the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division, Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and Franklin Police Department.

Pascal Girault Jr., also known as Pascal Schnaider Jr. Girault, age 21, of Stoughton, was indicted on Monday, September 11, 2023, by the Statewide Grand Jury in Suffolk Superior Court on 10 counts, including possession with intent to distribute a Class E substance, identity fraud, Medicaid false claims and uttering false prescriptions.

The AG’s Office alleges that between September 2021 and May 2022, Girault routinely called pharmacies within Norfolk, Suffolk, and Middlesex County with stolen physician identifications and posed as a physician or a member of the physician's staff to obtain prescriptions for promethazine and promethazine with codeine, which he then sold on the street for profit. The AG’s Office alleges that Girault falsified over two dozen prescriptions, 11 of which were paid for by Medicaid, and in some cases, also obtained azithromycin, an antibiotic commonly known as “Z-Pak”, in an apparent attempt to make his false promethazine prescriptions appear more legitimate."

Shared from Franklin Police -> 

https://www.facebook.com/100064353536794/posts/pfbid0R4bgAg3dQXdV4UyCaDPy15reJF7HR4V9YufQcY8SGdYYmQ75RDPgsz2vK5Xx3g52l/

State press release -> https://www.mass.gov/news/individual-indicted-for-prescription-fraud-and-illegal-distribution-scheme

Franklin Police recognized by State for Investigation Assistance in Prescription Fraud And Illegal Distribution Scheme 

Pay your student loans — not scammers

Pay your student loans — not scammers

By Ari Lazarus

"You've probably heard the news — federal student loan repayments are starting again in October. But scammers might try and tell you they can help you avoid repayment, lower your payments, or get your loans forgiven — for a price. 

Here's how to spot and avoid these scams.  Read more -> "   https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/09/pay-your-student-loans-not-scammers

Pay your student loans — not scammers

Franklin's Event Outlook: September 15, 2023 to September 21, 2023

Friday, September 15

12:00pm - Essential Needs Drive (SAFE Coalition)

1:00pm - Book Sale ($1/book) (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm - Franklin Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

2:00pm - Matt Zajac & Friends (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

2:00pm - CLOSED TODAY - Thrift Threads thrift shop (changing stock for season)

6:00pm - Jamie Barrett (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

6:00pm - Critical Mass (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

7:30pm - K.O. Trio (live music) (3 Restaurant)

Saturday, September 16

9:00am - Book sale ($1/book) (Franklin Public Library)

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

1:00pm - Bag sale (books at $5/bag) (Franklin Public Library)

5:00pm - Mexican Independence Day (tickets req'd) (La Cantina Winery)

5:00pm - Patrick Durkin (live music) (Birchwood Bakery)

Sunday, September 17

7:30am - All you can eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

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

Monday, September 18

6:00pm - Senator Rausch Town Hall (Milford Town Hall)

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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 

Franklin's Event Outlook: September 15, 2023 to September 21, 2023

Franklin Federated Church Thrift Shop closed 9/15-9/16

Franklin Federated Church's Thrifty Threads shop will be CLOSED this week (Sept 15-16) to enable store volunteers to clear out summer inventory and hang fall clothes.  

We are immensely appreciative of the positive response from the community and look forward to reopening with a whole new collection of fall items. 

Hours are Friday 1-5 PM and Saturdays 9 AM - 1 PM 

Location is FFC @ 171 Main Street, Franklin. 

We are looking forward to a Fill-a-Bag Sale, September 30, during our annual Rummage Sale.

Franklin Federated Church Thrift Shop closed 9/15-9/16

FHS golf tops Oliver Ames & FHS football tops Brockton on Thursday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, Sep 14, 2023.

Football = Franklin, 21 @ Brockton, 13 – Final

Golf = Oliver Ames, 163 @ Franklin, 152 – Final

Great win for the Panthers today against a very good OA team to move Franklin to 5-0. 152-163

Steel-36

Lew-36

O’Brien/Sully/MILLA- 40    

https://twitter.com/FHSGolfTeam/status/1702459569090318687

For other results around the league on Thursday  (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-14-23/

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Reminder that HockomockSports.com changed to a subscription model in July. I have a subscription to view and share the FHS results that they provide. If you want to view all the worth Hockomock League reporting they do, subscribing is a good thing. It is quite reasonable. The subscription link is provided below.

To subscribe to HockomockSports.com ->

https://hockomocksports.com/sign-up/#utm_source=HockomockSports&utm_medium=HomepageDesktop&utm_campaign=20232024

FHS Panther sports results shared via subscription to HockomockSports.com

Panther News, September 15, 2023 (video)

Watch Panther News for September 15, 2023

video link -> https://youtu.be/t5RRJ0iLyhA

Harvest Festival Registration Closing - Friday, Sept 15 at 10 PM

Harvest Festival Registration Closes Friday, September 15 at 10 PM

Reminder: All vendors need to register online (this includes, downtown businesses and sponsors).

Payment needs to be received by Saturday, September 16 to secure your space. Go to the FDP website (https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/). Look for the yellow "Donate" button to pay online or mail your check to Franklin Downtown Partnership, 9 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 so it arrives by September 16.

If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Relations Coordinators at fdpevent@gmail.com.

Please note: Set-up and maps will be emailed to vendors on Friday, September 22.

We look forward to a wonderful event!

Harvest Festival Registration Closing - Friday, Sept 15 at 10 PM

Western Region Town Hall on September 18 in Milford (Franklin Town Hall in Oct)

View this email in your browser A quick reminder to please join me and my team at our upcoming Town Hall in the Western Region of our district this coming Monday, September 18 at 6pm. We will give some legislative and other updates from Beacon Hill, and chat about your questions, comments, and ideas. Residents from any part of the district are invited to attend whichever Town Hall is most convenient for them. We'll be joined by Milford State Representative Brian Murray and our partners in local government. I hope to see you there! When: September 18, 2023 at 6pm (doors open at 5:45pm) Where: Milford Town Hall, 52 Main Street Can't make our first Town Hall? No problem! Take a look at the schedule for our upcoming Town Halls in October. As always, if you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help. Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    The Jewish high holidays begin tomorrow evening with the celebration of Rosh Hashana, the new year. Wishing a shana tova u'metuka – a happy and sweet new year – to all who celebrate. Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215                         24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Dean College Class of 2027 gives the "Wake Up Call"! (video)

Dean College (@DeanCollege)  Thu, Sep 14, 2023:

Good morning from the Class of 2027! 

video link -> https://t.co/YRadFpeYNe

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/DeanCollege/status/1702314145457057878

Hey kids, paint a portrait of Ben Franklin, yes, the 4 legged one: for K-5 students, Sep 26

Join us for a fun art workshop on September 26th. Spend your day with a fun art workshop. We will be painting portrait's of Franklin Police Department one and only Ben Franklin.

Register online at franklinma.myrec.com

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLO_4TOod3/

Paint a portrait of Ben, yes, the 4 legged one: for K-5 students, Sep 26

20 ways to celebrate connecting the Dots on the 20th anniversary

Friday, Sep 15 is the 20th anniversary of International Dot Day! 

Visit this blog post for resources from NCTE and https://t.co/A1n2qjVWyE that celebrate author Peter H. Reynold's THE DOT and the story's powerful themes of bravery, creativity, & self-expression. https://t.co/fNv4daHyCz 

Shared from -> https://t.co/TuYCIV6nFB

20 ways to celebrate connecting the Dots on the 20th anniversary

Franklin Health Dept: September is National Recovery Month

September is National Recovery Month. 

In the past year 1 in 3 adults had a substance use disorder or any mental illness. 

Get help at FindTreatment.gov

Franklin Health Dept: September is National Recovery Month