Additional vendors sought for Parmenter Holiday Shop scheduled for Dec 14

"Parmenter Elementary School is in need of vendors for their Holiday Shop! This year it is open to friends and family of Parmenter.  

There will be many young children, parents, grandparents and more! Please sign up for a table and share your artistic side!"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3561866927416641/?mibextid=2JQ9oc

Parmenter Holiday Shop looking for additional vendors

Holiday market at 67 Degrees scheduled for Dec 3

"Join us Sunday 3 December for a Holiday Market starting at 12 PM. 

Shop Local vendors and find something special for your loved ones!"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3562209104049090/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Holiday market at 67 Degrees scheduled for Dec 3

Free COVID test kits are back: Here’s how to get yours

Free COVID test kits are back: Here's how to get yours By Colleen Tressler, FTC, Division of Consumer and Business Education Starting November 20, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/11/free-covid-test-kits-are-back-heres-how-get-yours

Free COVID test kits are back: Here’s how to get yours

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Friday, Nov 24, 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

9:00 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Raye Lynn Mercer

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: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 5

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

4:00 pm Extended Play Sessions: Alice Wallace

5:00 pm Franklin Interfaith Thanksgiving 2023

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Seth Glier

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

8:30 am Mental Health: Ryan Pellecchia

10:00 am FHS Varsity Field Hockey: v Walpole 11-15-23

12:30 pm ArtWeek: Ed Iannuccilli

1:30 pm All-Town Showcase 2023: Band

3:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

7:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Soccer: v Needham 11-11-23

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

8:00 am  Zoning Board of Appeals 11-09-23

11:00 am  Economic Development: 11-02-23

2:00 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals 11-09-23

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE (as of 11/22/23)

The population at the Emergency Shelter in Franklin is stable. Here's the quick update regarding volunteer opportunities and donations.

The After-School Program has been on a two-week hiatus due to parent teacher conferences and school vacation. It is scheduled to resume next week. If you'd like to volunteer for this program, you must first be screened and trained. Please reach out to Rev. Kathy McAdams at rector@stjohnsfranklinma.org for more information.

Donation sorting and packing for distribution continues at the Franklin United Methodist Church. We have provided clothes and supplemental hygiene products to just over 100 people. We are going to do a major push next week to get donations out. The (ambitious) goal is to distribute to another 100 people next week! We have five packing days scheduled. All volunteers are asked to register. Due to the abundance of donations and the limited space in the rooms where items are being stored, we are limiting the number of volunteers per session to six people. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/. If you have any questions about the donation sorting/packing or would like to signup a group at a special time, please contact Pastor Jacob Juncker at jacob@franklinumc.org.

Below is the updated flyer. Our donation needs are shifting a bit. We are looking for donations of suitcases and large duffle bags. We are packing items in them (when we have them) for distribution to the hotel. Families keep the bags. We are also asking for new (in the package) socks and underwear (all sizes). Please note: we are not taking massive lots of clothes, furniture, or toys at this time.

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE (as of 11/22/23)

Thank you! What we are accomplishing together is impressive. Your generosity is inspiring. You are making a huge impact in the lives of the 90+ families placed in the Emergency Shelter. I really cannot say it enough: thank you for your continued support.

Download a (.pdf) of the flyer here and distribute as you see fit.

You can also find this update online -> https://franklininterfaith.org/lovefranklin-emergency-shelter-humanitarian-aid-update-5/#

Franklin Fire shares reminder on safe cooking - "Stand by your Pan!"

Franklin Fire (@FranklinMAfire) posted on Wed, Nov 22, 2023:

"Practice safe cooking this Thanksgiving and #standbyyourpan" https://t.co/jMcHIlCnUI

Shared from: https://twitter.com/FranklinMAfire/status/1727354747211125207

Franklin Fire shares reminder on safe cooking - "Stay by your Pan!"

Curbside Trash/Recycling Schedule 11/24 - 11/26/23

Curbside Trash/Recycling Schedule 11/20-11/25/23

 Curbside Trash/Recycling Schedule 11/24 - 11/26/23

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/news/curbside-trashrecycling-schedule-1120-112523

Franklin Municipal Building Holiday Hours - November 23 & 24

The Franklin Municipal Building will close at 1pm on Wednesday, 11/22/23 and will be closed on Thursday, 11/23/23 & Friday 11/24/23.  We will reopen on Monday, 11/27/23.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/franklin-municipal-building-holiday-hours-november-22-23-24

Franklin Municipal Building Holiday Hours - November 23 & 24

Inspirational Quote

I thought of you when I read this quote from "DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story" by Nancy Duarte -

"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement, and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." Marie Curie Physicist, Chemist, and Nobel Prize winner.

"Beyond slashing carbon emissions, the grant-funded work will make living in these renovated units more comfortable"

Miriam Wasser (@MiriamWasser) posted on Tue, Nov 21, 2023:

"The first installment of Massachusetts' $50m grant to decarbonize affordable housing developments went out today.

The money will be used to electrify and retrofit over 700 units across the state. "

Full article -> https://t.co/sypqvNKjgq

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/MiriamWasser/status/1727087328181751961

MASS.gov press release -> https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-27-million-to-decarbonize-affordable-housing-across-massachusetts

Mass. awards $27 million to help ‘decarbonize’ hundreds of affordable housing units

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Nov 23, 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 6, Verizon 26) = Thursday

8:00 am Veterans' Call: PACT Act

9:00 am Franklin Interfaith Thanksgiving 2023

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Danny Lagarce

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Appetizers

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles

12:30 pm Franklin Harvest Festival 2023

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 5

3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: Raye Lynn Mercer

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

4:30 pm Senior Scribblers

7:00 pm Extended Play Sessions: Alice Wallace

8:00 pm Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

9:30 pm The Black Box: Disney Stars of Broadway

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Remington Winter Music 2022

8:30 am All-Town Showcase 2023: Band

10:00 am High School Football at Fenway Park: Franklin v King Philip

1:00 pm Public School Event: Horace Mann Winter Music 2021

2:30 pm ArtWeek: Ed Iannuccilli

3:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

6:00 pm Girls Varsity Soccer Franklin v Hopkinton 11-11-23

8:00 pm Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 2 03-14-18

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission: 11-16-23

12:00 pm Economic Development: 11-02-23

2:00 pm Conservation Commission: 11-16-23

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin Cultural District: Turkey Trot, Fill the Cruiser, music choices as #arthappenshere

Wednesday, November 22

12:00pm Senior Center closes at Noon

Franklin Turkey Trot 2023

Thursday, November 23 = Thanksgiving Day

6:30am Registration for Turkey Trot 2023

8:00am Franklin Turkey Trot 2023

Friday, November 24

9:00am Fill the Cruiser at BJs

9:00am Fill the Cruiser at Marshall’s  

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

Saturday, November 25

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Mrs. Claus visits & reads (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am Post Thanksgiving Rail Trail Walk (Grove St entrance)

12:30pm Fill the Cruiser at the Raillery Pub

4:00pm Piano Steve (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

Sunday, November 26

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

4:00pm Santa Arrives at the Town Common 

Tuesday, November 28

2:30pm Rainbow Café (Franklin Senior Center)

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

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)

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!

Congressman Auchincloss: An Update for the prior two weeks (11/21/23)

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. On the Hill The War in Israel: In a recent interview I was asked how Israel should respond to anger on the Arab Street. My response – if Israel had let Arab popular opinion dictate its strategy in 1947; 1967; 1973, it would have been destroyed. Israel should pursue its mission: rescue the hostages, destroy Hamas, and help architect just post-war governance for Gaza. This latter requires that Israel not only buttress a peaceful alternative to Hamas in Gaza, but also that it cease & reverse inflammatory, destabilizing actions in the West Bank. While in Washington, I joined a bipartisan vigil in support of the 240+ hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Many watched their families tortured and slain before being dragged to captivity. Some of them are children. I am committed to supporting Israel in securing their release. Funding the Government: When House Republicans took us to the brink in September, I vowed it would be the last time I'd vote to bail out their dysfunction without a clear, credible, and concrete plan for supporting Ukraine. Last week, I kept my word. Since we last voted on a continuing resolution, the world has only become more dangerous for democracies. Congress must demonstrate through its power of the purse that the United States stands with its allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Despite credible efforts that reflect the bipartisan majorities in both chambers in favor of aid, there is no clear and concrete plan from Republicans to demonstrate global leadership to friends and foes alike. I could not support a short-term spending measure, cobbled together as the GOP careens from crisis to crisis, that fails to defend democracy. Military Veterans Caucus: To mark Veterans Day, I joined the Military Veterans Caucus to address mental health and our veterans. We discussed strong legislation to accelerate mental health research. This Veterans Day, let's recommit ourselves to ensuring veterans receive high-quality care that honors the uniform. Military Promotion Blockade: I led the Democrats on the House Select Committee on China in pressuring Leader McConnell to break Tuberville's blockade of military promotions. No Republicans from the Select Committee on China would join us, despite Senate Republicans recently raising the alarm on force readiness in the Indo-Pacific. National security should be above partisanship. I encourage Republicans on the committee to join us in a bipartisan commitment to a strong military. Make your voice heard → I want to hear from you. Do you support additional funding to Ukraine? Around the Fourth Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce: At the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, I argued that Democrats should negotiate on border policy with Republicans as part of a compromise that strengthens border security and unlocks further support for Ukraine. I also emphasized that the most important way that federal and state officials can improve the Bay State business climate is to expand the supply and deepen the affordability of housing. MIT Visit: Attending MIT was one of the best decisions I made in my career (and my life – I met my wife there!) I was honored to return as part of its alumni series to discuss Congress, to encourage students to help rebuild trust in society, and to reflect on how MIT's emphasis on science, enterprise, and bold ideas have shaped my policy-making. Boston Passport Office: Many of you know the feeling: you're packing your bags and retrieving your passports from the drawer when, oh #$@! – one of those passports is about to expire. I am here to help, and my staff and I rely on the hardworking civil servants at the Boston Passport Agency to expeditiously and securely issue new passports. I'm grateful for their professionalism, responsiveness, and commitment to serve the traveling public. And remember: check your passport before you buy the ticket! Some countries require that your passport be valid for up to six months after your date of return. So even if your passport hasn't expired, it might need to be renewed before travel. Check travel.state.gov for entry requirements. Pioneering AI Summit: Earlier this year, I raised awareness of AI in Congress by giving the first AI-drafted speech in history on the House floor. Since then, I've been working with legislators, regulators, and technologists to understand and prepare for this general-purpose technology. At the Flagship Pioneering AI Summit, I advocated for Congress to fund a public cloud for civil society & researchers as a counterweight to Big Tech, but cautioned against knee-jerk, sweeping legislation before national lawmakers have been able to assess various efforts by the Administration, states, civil society, and industry to see what works and what doesn't. Congress should ultimately craft legislation that induces competition, not furthers monopoly power; that unlocks innovation in domains like biomedical R&D and education; and that prevents further degradation in trust, particularly through disinformation and defamation on social media. Happy Thanksgiving: I hope everyone is able to spend the upcoming holiday with friends and loved ones. As the representative of a cranberry-growing district: please make sure to include that delicious dish! Onwards, Jake WASHINGTON 15 Independence Avenue SE 1524 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5931 NEWTON 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 Newton, MA 02458 Phone: (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO 8 North Main Steet Suite 200 Attleboro, MA 02703 Phone: (508) 431-1110 Contact

Franklin's tax rate will decrease to $11.79/thousand for FY 2024 (video)

In about 35 minutes, the Franklin (MA) Town Council heard the tax assessor's update and voted on the series of resolutions to approve setting the tax rate for FY 2024 as $11.79/thousand.

The tax rate is in and of itself a simple calculation: how much revenue do we need to raise from the total assessed value of Franklin? As most folks would realize, the valuations have been rising recently. 

The table here depicts the last 5 years 2020-2024 for assessed value by property classification.

Residential Commercial Industrial Personal Property Total 

2020 4,506,862,400 384,322,107 502,632,510 188,319,520 5,582,136,537

2021 4,684,479,315 385,565,160 515,163,940 188,874,770 5,774,083,185

2022 5,037,676,355 415,756,887 568,964,110 216,250,290 6,238,647,642

2023 5,876,670,670 471,504,398 657,052,300 230,364,400 7,235,591,768

2024 6,473,395,910 523,347,555 734,290,380 259,381,120 7,990,414,965

The combination of new growth and the 'automatic' 2.5% increase allowed provides the revenue allowed to be raised to fund the budget approved by the Town Council. The final adjustment for the FY 2024 budget was approved by the Finance Committee on Nov 8 and then by the Council Nov 15.

The key decision at the tax rate hearing is to maintain the single tax rate or move to a split tax rate. The Board of Assessors memo to the Council lays out the argument distinctly:

"A single tax rate means that all property classes (residential, commercial, industrial and personal) are taxed at the same tax rate. A dual tax rate means the commercial-industrial-personal tax rate is increased while the residential rate is decreased. In other words, some of the residential tax burden is shifted towards commercial, industrial and personal properties.

Please note that a dual tax rate does not produce more tax revenue, it simply shifts the burden." (Bold added for emphasis)

Franklin has historically had an approximate 80-20 split between residential and commercial/industrial as shown in the following chart.

the residential vs. commercial/industrial split has been in the 80-20 range over time

As the assessed valuation increases over time, the tax rate will drop. As the valuation decreases, the tax rate will increase. The tax rate is a good talking point but is simply the result of math driven by the assessed values and the amount to be raised to meet the budget.

as the assessed valuation increases, the rate decreases, and vice versa

The rate means little to the average home owner. Whether the rate goes up or down, it is more important to know what the valuation of the residence is. The chart here shows that over time, the tax rate can go up or down but the average tax bill will continue to increase.

whether the rate goes up or down, the overall tax bill does increase

The Town Council agenda includes the tax rate hearing information from which these charts were created.     https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/november_21_2023_town_council_tax_hearing_agenda.pdf

Download the charts as one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gJvC5DdCmmeU2tQ_bycWPJETpKvVuMtw/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin TV video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qrgc2zjfLE

HockomockSports.com: "King Philip Pitches Shutout At Fenway To Beat Franklin" (video)

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap for the annual FHS vs. KP Thanksgiving game at Fenway Park on Tuesday, Nov 21, 2023.

"Before King Philip took its third trip in as many seasons to Gillette Stadium next week, the Warriors had some unfinished business to take care of at Fenway Park. 

King Philip snapped a brief two-game losing skid to Thanksgiving Day rival Franklin with an emphatic 35-0 win, clinching the Hockomock League Kelley-Rex division title outright, the program’s first league crown since 2017.

The Warriors entered each of the past two seasons with a chance at the league title on Thanksgiving but the Panthers won both in games that came down to the wire. KP clinched at least a share of this year’s title at the end of October with a win over North but made sure they wouldn’t be sharing the banner with anyone else by winning on Tuesday night.

“It was huge,” said King Philip head coach Brian Lee, who earned his 150th career victory, of winning the Hock title. “I was talking to a couple of coaches, and they’re asking if we’re going to play everybody or not. Yeah, we’re playing everybody. We want the Hock. The Hock is a great league, coming out of the Hock always prepares you for the playoffs. If have an opportunity to go get that Hock title, that’s what you want to do. Get that first, now we can see what we can do next week.

Continue reading the game recap  (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/king-philip-football-pitches-shutout-at-fenway-to-beat-franklin/

For a photo gallery from this game  (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2023-2024/Fall-2023/Franklin-King-Philip-Football-11-21-23/

Boston Globe also provides coverage ->  (subscription required)      https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/21/sports/king-philip-delivers-football-coach-brian-lee-his-150th-career-win-beatdown-thanksgiving-rival-franklin/

King Philip junior Drew Laplante breaks free for a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Franklin at Fenway Park. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Thankful to be a part of the storied tradition of the KP-Franklin rivalry. Losing Supt. will make a charitable donation to a non-profit from the winner’s community.

The Franklin TV broadcast of the game is available for replay via YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmWSsyvA6JU