Save the date: Party for the Pantry - March 29 at Glen Pharma

Ray Auger posted on Facebook ->

Save the date! March 29th 2024!  

Party For The Pantry 2024 to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry!  

Three bands... The Pub Kings, South Street Six and (TBD).  

New locations! GlenPharmer Distillery in Franklin. Tickets available February 1st!

We are currently seeking sponsors and raffle donations. Please reach out to myself or William James if you would like to help stock the shelves for those in need!

https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02qsJ7DeHwnpcBFnQ6iv53xgRbFSjwEkY89hT1Fth4zVFufUo9mQGZoqkBLkb9z9tgl&id=674827375

Save the date: Party for the Pantry - March 29 at Glen Pharma

Congressmen Auchincloss and Cohen and Senator Markey Reintroduce Complete Streets Act

Measure prioritizes sidewalks, crosswalks, bus stops and bike lanes in road design priorities

 

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, today reintroduced an improved version of their Complete Streets Act, which would make roads safer and more accessible by ensuring states direct a portion of their federal highway funding towards the creation of a Complete Streets Program. A "complete street" provides safe and accessible transportation options for children, seniors, and people with disabilities by prioritizing infrastructure for pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users. Under the Complete Streets Act, eligible local and regional entities can use funds from their state's Complete Streets Program for technical assistance and capital funding to build safe street projects such as sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and bus stops. The legislation would also phase in a requirement for states to incorporate complete streets elements into all new construction and reconstruction.

 

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"The United States is facing a national safety crisis on our roads. In recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles, especially in Memphis. We need streets that can accommodate all means of transportation, from foot traffic and strollers to bicycles, cars, light trucks and 18-wheelers. Our new Complete Streets Act will transform communities and make it safer for everyone to travel on and adjacent to our roadways."

 

Congressman Cohen hosted a roundtable discussion with local and state stakeholders on the Complete Streets Act in Memphis in October 2019.

 

Congressman Auchincloss made the following statement:

"Walking shouldn't be dangerous. Pedestrian deaths are surging in the United States, and Congress must respond. Promoting Complete Streets helps ensure that pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists operate safely. And the design and infrastructure of Complete Streets is not just safer – it's also better for ambience, the environment, and retail."

Senator Markey made the following statement:

"It's time to reverse course in our country and bring the increasing number of roadway fatalities to a full stop. When we fund a complete street, we make a community complete with equitable, safe, and accessible transportation—all while reducing our reliance on gas-guzzling vehicles. I thank Congressman Cohen for his partnership in making sure that the roads we use every day work for all people."

 

Endorsing organization statements in support of the Complete Streets Act:

 

Benito Pérez, Policy Director at Transportation for America, made the following statement:

 

"Every person has the right to be safe when traveling on our roads, no matter how they choose to get around—but for people outside of a car, that's often more of a pipe dream than reality. We applaud Senator Markey and Representative Cohen for their leadership in introducing the Complete Streets Act. By offering state-level grants to design and build Complete Streets, this bill provides a tangible step forward to improving safety, accessibility, and health outcomes for all road users."

 

Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, made the following statement:

 

"Everyone should be able to safely walk or bike with their kids to the playground. The Complete Streets Act would give local governments access to the resources and funding to invest in safer roads in our communities. Too often that trip to the playground is blocked by an intersection too dangerous for families to cross, or streets without sidewalks for families to walk on. The League of American Bicyclists is proud to support this bill and thanks Congressman Cohen and Senator Markey for their leadership on this issue."

 

The legislation is also endorsed by the National Complete Streets Coalition, Center for American Progress, and the Livable Streets Alliance.

 

Under the Complete Streets Act:

 

• States would be required to set aside five percent of their federal highway funding to create a "Complete Streets" program.
• To access the funds, eligible entities would need to adopt a Complete Streets policy, participate in technical assistance, and create a prioritized plan for Complete Streets projects in their jurisdictions.
• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) would be responsible for certifying that Complete Streets policies meet minimum requirements set out by the United States Secretary of Transportation.
• The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, States, and MPOs would be required to adopt design standards for federal surface transportation projects that provide for the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the surface transportation network, including motorized and non-motorized users, in all phases of project planning, development, and operation.

More about complete streets -> https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/complete-streets

Panther TV : News for Friday, Jan 26, 2024 (video)

Panther TV (@fhspanthertv) posted on Thu, Jan 25, 2024:

On this week's show: FHS's Diversity Club and Girl Up team up for a big upcoming event… 

an FHS Senior wins Hockomock's Player of the Week… 

and the Jazz Band returns for their winter performance! 

@FranklinHS @FHSPantherbook @SteveSherlock
https://t.co/2h4KhOWq5L via @YouTube

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1750601539155026267

Girl Scout Cookies for sale this weekend - Saturday, Jan 27 & Sunday, Jan 28

There will be time to stock up with Girl Scout Cookies this weekend!

• Where will the cookies be in Franklin?

Saturday January 27

• Dean Bank 8:30 AM - 12 PM
• Dunkin (King St) 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Sunday January 28

• Learning Express 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• Aubuchon Hardware 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Girl Scout Cookies for sale this weekend - Saturday, Jan 27 & Sunday, Jan 28

Children's Museum of Franklin finds pop-up JOY!

Help us keep the Mobile Museum rolling.

View this email in your browser Children's Museum of Franklin finds pop-up JOY! Friends, Our first Mobile Museum event took place on Sunday, January 21 from 1:00–4:00 p.m. A line appeared outside the door a few minutes before opening and, from that moment until 4:00 p.m. (and afterwards with our cleanup crew), we saw nonstop JOY! We welcomed 500 of you into our space. We saw curiosity, excitement, and collaboration. The smiles and giggles warmed our hearts. Needless to say, we are thrilled! As a community-supported non-profit organization, we need your support to keep building, to keep growing, and to keep "rolling." Donations to the Children's Museum of Franklin are tax-deductible. You can learn more about how you can support us, including through our Founding Families program, at the below link. We are immensely grateful for contributions of any amount. Looking forward to seeing you at our next event on February 10 at Downtown Sports! Cheers! Meg & Erin P.S. the above photo is credited to the talented Kayla Jean Creative. Donate to support us. Copyright (C) 2024 Children's Museum of Franklin. All rights reserved.

Boston Globe: "‘Home equity theft’ in Massachusetts is the focus of federal lawsuit"

"In 2017, the city of Greenfield targeted Stephen Woodbridge’s property, which totaled almost 20 acres and included a rambling 10-room house, for unpaid taxes of a little less than $6,000.

Four years later, after making numerous complex and arcane court filings, the city succeeded in gaining legal ownership of a property that had been in the Woodbridge family for 70 years.

Woodbridge was quickly evicted, and the city sold his house and six surrounding acres for $270,000 at auction. The city added Woodbridge’s other 13 wooded acres to a contiguous city-owned park without compensating him.

The city reaped a tidy cash profit of at least $220,000 — the $270,000 sale price at auction minus the $50,000 Woodbridge owed in taxes, interest, and other costs run up while the tax-taking case moved through the system. Woodbridge’s debt had ballooned almost tenfold since 2017 because he was charged fees for the city’s attorneys plus 16 percent interest on his debt — as permitted by law."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/25/business/home-equity-theft-federal-lawsuit/

Al Norman is pictured near Stephen Woodbridge’s former Greenfield property Wednesday. Norman is a community activist fighting against so-called "home equity theft," when municipalities take all the home equity in a house where the back taxes are only a fraction of the property's value. MATTHEW CAVANAUGH/FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Heating at Franklin Field in Dorchester to be converted to geothermal

Following along with one of our Making Sense of Climate recurring topics, Boston goes with a pilot on geothermal.

"As the Boston Housing Authority works toward an ambitious goal of going fossil-fuel free, its path to success could begin at the Franklin Field complex in Dorchester.

Mayor Michelle Wu joined officials from the BHA and National Grid at Franklin Field on Thursday to unveil details of a plan to convert the heating system for 129 public housing units there to an electricity-powered geothermal system. The project would replace the 20-year-old gas-fired boiler in use today.

BHA administrator Kenzie Bok said the idea can be traced back to Wu’s announcement a year ago that the BHA would wean itself off fossil fuels by 2030. BHA officials first considered using air-source heat pumps to replace the aging boiler but found that National Grid’s centralized geothermal proposal would be more cost efficient.

“The first step in going fossil-fuel free is not to put in new fossil fuel infrastructure,” Bok said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/25/business/boston-geothermal-energy/

The Boston Housing Authority will install a geothermal project at the Franklin Filed housing complex in Dorchester. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (left) walks into the event with National Grid New England president Lisa Wieland. JOHN TLUMACKI/GLOBE STAFF

TED-Ed shares what happens when you swallow a painkiller? (video)

TED-Ed (@TED_ED) posted:

"Have you ever wondered what happens to a painkiller, like ibuprofen, after you swallow it?

Follow medicine's journey through your body: https://t.co/EKRP24WcXv"

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/TED_ED/status/1750292439896658411

Direct video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOcpsXMJcJk&t=27s

Volleyball and Badminton start soon!

Sign up now for Winter/Spring

Join us for some exercise, fun, teamwork, and friendly competition! For information and to register, visit: Team Sports

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Friday, Jan 26, 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

8:30 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 1

10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Thomas J. Lynch

11:00 am Senior Connection: Joe Landry

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Waffles

12:30 pm The Only Cure Is Education

1:00 pm Physician Focus: Electronic Medical Records

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 1

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

3:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Acoustic X

5:00 pm Arts Advocacy Day: Marketing

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Seth Glier

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

7:00 am MICCA Festival 2019

8:30 am Mental Health: Donna Grady

10:00 am FHS Varsity Wrestling: v King Philip 01-17-24

12:30 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

1:30 pm Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 1 01-28-19

3:00 pm Metrowest Arts & Culture Symposium 2023

8:30 pm FHS Varsity Swimming v Attleboro 01-12-24

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 01-18-24

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 01-18-24

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

Reminder: Order some delicious Fudge by Feb 3 with sugar free, dairy-free, vegan, and/or gluten-free fudge flavors

Do you love your library ...

and love fudge? 

We hope so.

Order some quality, locally made fudge and support Friends of the Franklin Library. That's a combination to love. And love for our library is what the fund raiser is all about. (And don't forget, Valentine's Day is coming up!)

Many asked about a lower or no sugar fudge option and now we have it: SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE! (Just handwrite this in on your order form.)

Interested in dairy-free, vegan, and/or gluten-free fudge flavors?

• Vegan Chocolate and Vegan Peanut Butter are both dairy free and vegan.
• 16 of our 17 fudge flavors are also gluten free. (Cookies & Cream fudge contains gluten.)

Fudge orders are due by Saturday, February 3rd and fudge will be available for pick up in time for Valentine's Day!

All proceeds from this sale help to fund Friends of the Franklin Library, a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization devoted to supporting America's first public library.

Download the flyer and order form ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gQiASc3F7kzit-B5hczDlHRpYKAtaB91/view?usp=drive_link

of this form from the Town page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/pages/friends_2024_fudge_order_form.pdf

Order some delicious Fudge to help the Friends of Franklin Library

Tri-County Children's Center Preschool Registration To Open February 1

Registration and Open House for the Tri-County Children's Center preschool program for 2024–2025 will begin on Thursday, February 1.  Applications can be found on the preschool's website, TCChildrensCenter.com.

Open Houses will be held on Thursday, February 8 from 12:15-1:45 PM and Friday, February 9 from 9-10:30 AM at the Tri-County Regional High School in Franklin at 147 Pond Street.  Parents will be able to view the laboratory preschool while children engage in developmentally appropriate activities.

Tri-County Children's Center Preschool Registration To Open February 1

Placement is limited to residents of the 11 towns within the Tri-County District, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole and Wrentham.  Admission is decided through a lottery system.  Registration will be made open to other towns if spaces are not filled by residents within the district.

The random drawing to determine which of the children registered will be enrolled will take place on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.  The number of children registered has traditionally far exceeded the number of spaces available so the random drawing was established.   Those names not selected in the drawing are placed on a waiting list.

Birth certificates for children being registered must accompany all registration forms.  Registration is limited to those children who are at least age 3 years by September 15, 2024 for the three-day program. A $25.00 non-refundable registration fee is due at registration time.  Enrollment is limited to two years or part of two years for the preschool program, as long as the child is age eligible.

Preschool sessions are Tuesday-Thursday from 8:50 -11:20 a.m. for the three-day program. Tuition will be $45 per week and class size is limited to 30 children.

Three instructors in the Tri-County Early Education Program supervise the preschool program, and are assisted by students in the Early Education Major.

 For more information, please visit TCChildrensCenter.com.

FHS wrestling team tops Mansfield on Wednesday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024.

Girls Hockey = Franklin vs. Norwood, 8:00

via FHS Girls Hockey Boosters

"Penalty trouble in the second. Panthers give up 2 with players in the box. 

Starting the third down 2-1."

"Nice pinch by Hannah Auerr at the blue line sets up Haley Wernig for the first goal of the game."

https://twitter.com/FHSGirlsPuck/status/1750330066687439036

Wrestling = Franklin, 55 @ Mansfield, 12 - Final

"Astronomical win against Mansfield 55-12. Pins from Nash, Caccevalli, Carlucci, Griffen, Marzullo, Rosenberger, and O’Connell. OW goes to Guy Anthony Marzullo with his first varsity win/pin"    https://twitter.com/FHSWrestle/status/1750319629887521254

For other results around the Hockomock League (subscription required) 
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-24-24/ 

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

FHS Winter Jazz Concert January 29, 2024

Franklin High School is pleased to invite you to our annual Winter Jazz Concert. 

Come hear our very own award winning FHS Jazz Bands and Jazz Combos under the direction of Leighanne J. Rudsit & Matthew Geisinger.  Music will include swing, bebop, ballads and funk.  

Some big band titles will include “Birk’s Works” and “Ran Kan Kan”, music by Charles Mingus, Myles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Horace Silver.  Featured soloists include John Kane IV on Saxophone, Aidan Padula and Anton Sackley on Drums, Thomas Bradley on Trombone, Brady Devlin on Trumpet, Maria Zaki on Flute, and Weylan O’Connell on Bass.  

The event will take place at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 29 in the Franklin High School auditorium.  A $5 donation is requested at the door, but is not required.  

   

FHS Winter Jazz Concert January 29, 2024

School Committee gets update from Jefferson, on Facility Planning. approves DECA trip (audio)

FM #1142 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1142 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Jan 23, 2024. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers. 

All 7 members of the Committee were present in Chambers. The meeting started slightly late as the Budget subcommittee meeting prior to this ran late holding up 3 members.

Quick recap:

• FHS student update, Panther Pride night Feb 12; Jan 29 jazz concert at FHS. Course selection underway by class. Tutoring for Spanish offered. Boys and girls playing basketball vs Mansfield; Boys indoor track take KellyRex champ for first time, Sarah Dumas player of week 

• Superintendent Report, thanks to students and families for patience and safety during this winter period, safety utmost. Inclement weather process shared previously, PR firm touting various aspects of the program to share the goodness. Also on schools web page

• Newcomers update, 69 students total; 14 high school, 15 middle, balance at elementary; Interfaith group helping with after school program, library helping with English as second language training

• Slides for the Jefferson update captured via photo album; Getting a sense of "return to normalcy". Good to have the families in the building more frequently (vs COVID period) Thank you all for what you are doing!

• Motion to take the agenda out of order, and get to the DECA trip proposal. About 200 competed and about 100 moved to districts in Boston, approx 50 anticipated to qualify for the CA nationals. Also coordinating with KP, Rehoboth and other MA communities to ensure a good … MA representation. April, week conference, also an opportunity to visit Disney as part of DECA organization; Fund raising to alleviate the cost of the trip.  A. DECA International Competition - Recurring Trip I recommend approval of the request of Emily Rosborough to take DECA Student to Anaheim, CA from 4/26/24-5/1/24 to participate in the DECA competition as detailed. Motion second, passes 7-0

• Comprehensive Facilities Planning Update; Lucas presenting, slides will be captured to an album

• Draft of school committee meeting schedule reviewed, could be on next meeting for vote Review of subcommittees, some met some haven't

• Consent agenda, motion to approve, second, passes 7-0

• New business, calendar vote, budget teaser, possible school calendar draft for review also Motion to adjourn, second, passes 7-0

The meeting runs about 1 hour and 55 minutes so let’s listen to the School Committee meeting held on Jan 23, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1142-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-01-23-24

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Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UrUZ9emung 

School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

Meeting Agenda doc  -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_1-23-24.pdf 

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/january-23-2024-school-committee-meeting-packet 

Jefferson Elementary highlights -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/tmGGuhBnB3z84jwc9 

Comprehensive School Facility Plan outline ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/aQCfP2MFdmxHyZ3c7 

My notes in one PDF file -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KwqPUeKnJXhqYEzyiy-v7IZi-IfxzAfn/view?usp=drive_link 

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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/ or www.franklin.news/

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"

screen grab Facility Planning