Friday, November 10, 2023

MassCEC Seeks Participants for Building Electrification and Transformation Accelerator (BETA): Commercial Buildings Pilot


Hello,
 
MassCEC is proud to announce our latest pilot program, aimed at helping to decarbonize a wide range of commercial facilities 20,000 square feet and larger (including multi-family buildings with 15 or more units) across the Commonwealth: the Building Electrification and Transformation Accelerator (BETA): Commercial Buildings Pilot.

Aimed at helping our local buildings become 2050 ready, the pilot will support participants by creating decarbonization plans to eliminate on-site fossil fuel use over time, for the least cost. The work to support these individual projects will provide insights in the development of statewide resources for decarbonization, such as market specific guides and toolkits.

Think you qualify? Apply today! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. If your commercial property meets the criteria detailed in the Program Manual, and you're interested in decarbonizing your building, apply using our online application form.

For more information, please see our flyer about the pilot.

Please consider applying and sharing this opportunity with your network. If you have any questions, please contact us at buildings@masscec.com.

 
Learn More & Apply
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Reminder: Virtual Youth Town Hall on Monday Night, Nov 12 scheduled by Senator Rausch


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Virtual Youth Town Hall

A quick reminder for 8th grade and high school students to please join me and my team at our virtual Youth Town Hall this coming Monday, November 13 at 7pm


This Youth Town Hall is a unique opportunity for young people in our district to discuss their top-of-mind issues directly with me and my staff. This not only provides a real opportunity for youth to engage in the democratic process, but also helps to inform my legislative work.

 


When: Monday, November 13, 2023 at 7pm
Where: Zoom | REGISTER HERE

This event is open exclusively to 8th grade and high school students living or studying in Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Medfield, Milford, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Sherborn, and Wrentham.

Know any students interested in politics or community engagement? Please invite them! If you have any questions, please email Aidan Doherty, District Director, at aidan.doherty@masenate.gov

Yours in service,  ​

 
Senator Becca Rausch   

office hours
Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here
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Our mailing address is:
The Office of Senator Becca Rausch
Massachusetts State House, Room 215
24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Veterans and families: Burial benefits and funeral planning


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By Carol Kando-Pineda

If you're a veteran's surviving family or caregiver, you may be eligible for expanded burial benefits that help cover certain funeral expenses. 

But scammers may contact you, saying that for a fee they can do the paperwork and guarantee what benefits you'll get. 

Other scammers pretend to be from the VA. 

But the VA will never call, text, or email out of the blue and ask for your credit card or bank account information.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/11/veterans-and-families-burial-benefits-and-funeral-planning


Invitation for Bids: On Call Electrical Services for Water and Sewer Facilities for Town of Franklin (MA)

On Call Electrical Services for Water and Sewer Facilities

In accordance with MGL c 149, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain the services of an electrical firm to provide on-call electrical services at water and sewer buildings, treatment facilities, and various other locations within the water and sewer system within the Town of Franklin.

Additional Information:  On-Call Electrical Services for Water and Sewer Facilities

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/call-electrical-services-water-and-sewer-facilities


Invitation for Bids: On Call Electrical Services for Water and Sewer Facilities for Town of Franklin (MA)
Invitation for Bids: On Call Electrical Services for Water and Sewer Facilities for Town of Franklin (MA)

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Nov 10, 2023

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel         (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

7:30 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Michael Tougias
9:00 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2
10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: James Johnston
11:00 am Senior Connection: Sunshine Club
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles
12:30 pm Franklin Harvest Festival 2023
1:00 pm Physician Focus: Winter is Coming
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Shrimp, Tomato & Greens Pizzetta
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 4
3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith
4:00 pm Becca Rausch Town Hall
8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 1 03-14-18
8:30 am Mental Health: Shannon Nesbitt
10:00 am FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Beverly 11-03-23
12:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies
1:30 pm All-Town Showcase 2023: Band
3:00 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19
9:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Soccer: v Milford 10-26-23

  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 10-12-23
2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 10-12-23

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Diwali Festival of Lights Cultural Celebration at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School

November 8, 2023

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (BFCCPS) recently hosted a Diwali Festival of Lights Cultural Celebration.  This educational and cultural event was organized by a variety of BFCCPS parent volunteers and the BFCCPS ELPAC. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. 

The event was well attended by BFCCPS families, faculty, staff and administration. Participants were joined by District Director Aidan Doherty, a representative from the office of State Senator Rebecca Rausch. The Senator’s office presented Manisha Thanneeru with an official citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate to recognize her efforts to bring our community together during this celebration.  

“On behalf of the BFCCPS Administration, I’d like to extend a tremendous thank you to Manisha Thanneeru, Deepa Bhaskar and the team of volunteers who led this year’s event; we also wish to thank the many students and parents who shared their time and talents with us. This festival was such a wonderful opportunity for all of our families to learn more about Diwali.” Joe Perna BFCCPS Head of  School

If you'd like to learn more about the educational mission of the school or have enrollment related questions please contact the school's Communication Coordinator, Joanne Basile at jbasile@bfccps.org or 508-541-3434 x104.

About the Benjamin Franklin Charter School
The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is a regional public charter school for students in Kindergarten through Grade Eight. The school’s mission is to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children by providing students with a classical academic education coupled with sound character development and community service. Our mission is supported by four distinct, yet interconnected pillars that provide for a collaborative, rigorous education for all students. These pillars guide, direct and define the school in all it does.

Additional photos can be found online in one album ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/r2BzYoezEEvvLhRU7

 

District Director Aidan Doherty presented Manisha Thanneeru with an official citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate
District Director Aidan Doherty presented Manisha Thanneeru with an official citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate

Finance Committee hears about adjustments to the FY 2024 budget and gives approval

The Franklin (MA) Finance Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday, November 8 to review the adjustments to the FY 2024 budget. Agenda ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_8_fin_com_agenda.pdf

These adjustments are a check point in the full budget process. Some assumptions made early in the process (i.e. for State funds) can now be adjusted to be more real as the State budget, still in development at the time Franklin's was developed, is now finalized. Well, almost but that is another item for another day.

These adjustments are made each year before the Town Council tax classification hearing sets the rate later this month (Tues, Nov 21). 

The Town Administrator's memo outlined the adjustments to reduce new growth, local receipts, and among other items add $1,000 to the Disability Commission to enable the funding for the annual Disability Expo. For some unknown reason, they previously did not have a budget at all ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/fiscal-year-2024-fy24-budget-adjustment.html

One of the adjustments made was the removal of the communications position jointly funded between Town and School budgets. At a time when the Town (overall) could really use a central point to handle communications (the past several years have shown the benefits of that position)), they currently are operating without one. What wasn't mentioned in the meeting is that there are plans to hire an outside firm to provide such services at a savings vs. the current position. Stay tuned to this topic.

Watch the Franklin TV video available for replay (less than 50 minutes) -> 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsbriG2ngw (meeting begins approx. 2 minutes into the video)




Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM
Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM

Master Plan Update Committee met to review "Draft of Existing Conditions Report" (video)

The Master Plan Update Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023. After an update from the subcommittee, they got into a review of the "Draft of Existing Conditions Report" which is a key data element for the report as per State master plan requirements. The actual doc runs over 175 page.

It should be available to committee members next week. The meeting lasts about 96 minutes.

Franklin TV video link (note the meeting starts about 3 minutes in and this link should bring you close to the start) -> https://www.youtube.com/live/nzWmCfmH5Q0?si=vGaEHIEPaQ5PGOhb&t=193

Agenda
1. Meeting Minutes:
2. Subcommittee Updates
3. Update – Existing Conditions & Inventory (BETA/Barrett)
4. Finalize Survey
a. Deadline (30 days from launch)
b. Incentives/Raffle Prizes
5. Tabling and outreach for Survey
6. Story Map ideas



The agenda doc ->

FHS girls & boys soccer teams and field hockey teams win to advance to Quarterfinals

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports playoff competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023. 


Boys Soccer - Division 1 = #10 Franklin, 2 @ #7 Newton North, 0 – Final 
– An early goal set the tone for the Panthers, who went on the road and knocked off #7 Newton North with a 2-0 victory. Junior Wyatt Herndon opened the scoring just seven minutes into the game, converting a feed from Hansy Jacques to put the Panthers ahead, and that’s where they stayed. Noah Cain tallied a key insurance goal just beyond the midway point of the second half with an assist going to Andrew O’Neill. #10 Franklin will travel to #2 Needham in a Division 1 Round of 8 matchup on Saturday at 5:00.

Girls Soccer - Division 1 = #11 Algonquin, 1 @ #6 Franklin, 2 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap
"With just under 16 minutes to go in Wednesday night’s Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen game at Pisini Field, Algonquin stunned the home crowd with an equalizing goal. The Titans had been pushing and had Franklin on it heels, so it felt like a goal was coming but its arrival was still deflating.

On the field, the Panthers were unfazed. They wasted no time regrouping and exactly a minute later they were right back in front.

Anya Zub drove at the Algonquin defense, forcing the Titans to backpedal. Kelly O’Connor started on the left, cut across the defense, and made a run in front of Zub down the right channel. She got the pass on her right foot, took a quick look at the goalie, and angled a perfect shot past the keeper’s dive and into the side netting.

It was the perfect, immediate response that Franklin needed and the Panthers rode that jolt of energy over the final 14 minutes, holding off Algonquin attacks and securing a 2-1 victory that sends them to the D1 quarterfinal."
Franklin (18-2-0) will travel to No. 3 Hopkinton on Saturday afternoon for the D1 quarterfinal.

Continue reading the game recap

For a photo gallery from this match

The MIAA bracket for D1 girls soccer

Field Hockey - Division 1 = #13 Winchester, 0 @ #4 Franklin, 6 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap
"Franklin came into Wednesday afternoon’s Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen game against Winchester at Beaver St. Field as the higher seed and the favorite. The Panthers wanted to get off to a good start, putting the visitors on their heels, and taking away any fears of an upset.

Mission accomplished.

The Panthers had 10 corners, forced Winchester goalie Molly Hillier into a dozen saves, and found the back of the net twice – all in the opening quarter. It was the perfect start to a dominating 6-0 win that sends Franklin back to the D1 quarterfinal for the third straight season.

“They came together today,” Franklin coach Michelle Hess said. “Every single game they just keep getting better and better. They’re coming together as a team, they’re executing all the things that we’ve told them, they’re playing clean hockey."

Continue reading the game recap

For a photo gallery from this game.

The MIAA bracket for D1 field hockey

For other results around the league (subscription required)

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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.