Listen in as Mitzi & I talk about the March happenings at the Franklin Library (audio)

FM #1152 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1152 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

 

We talk about 

• Reviewed the regular open hours, and month ending holiday times

• Library events for March 2024

• Kiddos, or “littles”

• Family

• Adults

The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended..

The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1152-franklin-public-library-march-2024-highlights-02-28-24

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

Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net 

Event highlights we covered in this conversation

https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/march-2024-franklin-library-news-events 

Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library 

Library Calendar of Events ->  http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/F/FRANKLIN/ekp.cfm 

Stellarium - open source sky viewing software https://stellarium.org/

Eclipse viewers -> https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters 

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

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Listen in as Mitzi & I talk about the March happenings at the Franklin Library (audio)

School Committee meeting hears of FY 2025 budget proposal (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday,. March 5, 2024. The agenda doc can be found online -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-5-24.pdf

The packet folder containing other documents released for the meeting can also be found online ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/march-5-2024-school-committee-meeting

Franklin TV's video recording of the meeting is available for replay -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEe-JcCn_k

The budget presentation was scheduled to be a key item on the agenda. The budget doc is not yet available on the Schools' page. It will also be part of the Joint Budget Committee meeting Wednesday evening, March 6 at 7:00 PM

 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7 PM

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this Thursday, March 7, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.  

Those of us who have been meeting in Franklin have enjoyed the chance to come together. We hope others will do the same. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node

 

·  Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

 

·   OPTION:     

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

 

This week, March 7, we'll continue our discussion about working to have our cities and towns adopt the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Code. Franklin, Sharon, and other towns in our node are taking steps to adopt the bylaw, and spring town meeting agendas are being set now. Here's some background: 

One of the recommended local actions of the 350 Mass Emissions Free Buildings campaign is adoption of the Municipal Opt-In Specialized Stretch Code. This new level of building code pushes new construction towards our Massachusetts state-mandated goals through deep energy efficiency, reduced heating loads, and efficient electrification. Here is one of many online resources that provides helpful information: Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) and Sierra Club: Fighting for Better Buildings, and Specialized Opt-In Code Toolkit

We will also catch up on legislative action as bills make their way through Committees, the House and the Senate.  

 

For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website. 350 Mass will hold its annual summit, "Organizing in a Time of Upheaval" on March 16; learn more here.

 

We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.

 

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, March 21. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   

Town of Franklin: Well 7/7A PFAS Treatment Facility - Invitation to Bid

Well 7/7A PFAS Treatment Facility

The Town of Franklin, Massachusetts requests bids for construction of the Well 7/7A PFAS Treatment Facility project.

Sealed Bids for the General Contract for construction of the Well 7/7A PFAS Treatment Facility will be received by the Chief Procurement Officer, Municipal Building, Room 206, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, Massachusetts until 10:00AM, Wednesday May, 8, 2024 and at that time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Sealed Bids for the filed SubContracts designated herein will be received at the office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Municipal Building, Room 206, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, Massachusetts until 10:00 AM, Wednesday April 10, 2024 and at that time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Additional Information:  Well 7/7A PFAS Treatment Facility

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/well-77a-pfas-treatment-facility

Town of Franklin: Well 7/7A PFAS Treatment Facility - Invitation to Bid

Congressman Auchincloss: An Update For the past 2 weeks (03/05/24)

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. Standing with our allies 30th anniversary of the Brady Bill Attorneys General share support for my drug-pricing efforts Protecting kids online with the Dads Caucus Talking transportation with Radio Boston           — The state of Massachusetts manufacturing Medically tailored meals in Mansfield Virtual Roundtables with constituents across the district On the Hill Standing with our allies: I joined CNN to discuss funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Putin's murder of Alexei Navalny is emblematic of his drive towards autocratic governance – a repressive vision shared by dictators like Xi Jinping. Ukraine is fighting on the front lines against this assault on democracy. Navalny's murder underscores why it is so critical to fund Ukraine and all our democratic allies abroad.  Next, we turned to the Israel-Hamas war. I stressed the immediate need to secure the return of the hostages, surge aid, and deny Hamas, which has immiserated the Palestinian people and vowed to repeat the atrocities of October 7th, any role in postwar governance of Gaza.  Right now, there is a deal on the table that would enable a temporary ceasefire, unlock aid, and return many of the hostages. Israel has agreed to it. For the sake of the hostages and the Palestinian people, Hamas must accept it. Then, I followed up with WBUR, where I explained why Speaker Mike Johnson won't bring the Senate's national security bill to the House floor: he's afraid of Trump. The House has the votes to pass funding for our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza; it has the support of a bipartisan majority. But the MAGA flank is vociferous, and Speaker Johnson fears they'll move to oust him for standing up to what a former Bush 41 foreign policy advisor has called the GOP's "bizarre romance with Russian authoritarianism."  Speaker Johnson does not have control of his conference and is on the way out, regardless. His legacy will be defined by whether he stands with Ukraine. Recognizing 30 years of the Brady Bill: I shared my thoughts with you last week on the enduring legacy of the Brady Bill, which has blocked almost 4.9 million illegal gun transactions since its enactment in 1994. Last Congress, we passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the first major piece of gun safety legislation since Brady's passage. 90 percent of Americans – Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike – want to expand Brady to include universal background checks and strengthen extreme risk protection orders, or "red flag" laws, to prevent criminals from purchasing guns. I am committed to going beyond thoughts and prayers and to working with members of good conscience across the aisle to enact bipartisan, common-sense gun safety legislation that will end the scourge of gun violence in America.  Attorneys General share support for my drug-pricing efforts: I was happy to see Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and a coalition of attorneys general from across the country send a letter to Congressional Leadership last week in support of drug-pricing legislation that I helped introduce in the House. The letter states that "the DRUG Act, Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, and The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act…would be an important step toward reforming this industry." Among other things, these bills would de-link PBM compensation from the cost of medications, prohibit spread pricing and patient steering, and prohibit PBMs from paying affiliated pharmacies more than independent community pharmacies. In plain English: they would help lower drug prices for patients! I have been encouraged to see the efforts of state regulators and law enforcement to stop PBMs from evading state law and regulations. Now, Congress must pass legislation so that state and federal regulators have the necessary tools to work together to finally hold drug-pricing middlemen accountable. Talking transportation with Radio Boston: I spoke with WBUR about my ideas for replacing the federal gas tax with state and local funding mechanisms as we look toward a transportation system unencumbered by automobile dominance. The federal government induces states and cities to choose highways over transit by offering better deals on funding for these projects. Owning two cars shouldn't be a precondition to participate in civil society. In a 2022 op-ed, I explained why the federal gas tax would be better used to subsidize locally-sponsored projects that promote walkability, micromobility, and transit:  "The benefits of reforming federal highway funding and changing the way we spend the federal gas tax would be swift and tangible. First, giving states and cities more latitude will encourage local innovation, helping us find better transportation solutions and root out failed practices. Second, it will compel honest accounting of the cost of car-centric infrastructure. Right now, federal gas tax revenue incentivizes states to build and build without thinking about the compounded costs of maintaining an ever-expanding roadway, which are paid for by our children in the form of federal debt. Eliminating that revenue stream eliminates that unsustainable incentive.  Third, a transparent account of the costs of maintenance will make it more likely that states implement strategies like congestion pricing and improved alternative mobility options, like cycling lanes, rail, and on-demand transit. The transition will be disruptive to politicians and bureaucrats, but the net effect will be a lower carbon footprint, better mobility, and more walkable downtowns."  Protecting kids online: I was appointed Chair of a new Congressional Dads Caucus working group focused on children's mental health and online safety. The Technology, Media, and the Family Working Group will convene subject matter experts to educate members on issues related to modern technology and media and their impact on families, particularly children.  As a millennial parent in Congress, I know parents shouldn't have to wrestle with trillion-dollar social media corporations over what's best for their children. Meta, TikTok, and the rest are attention-fracking America's youth, but they are so big and profitable that they have knocked down objectors. As Chair of this working group, I am intent on taking on their corporate greed to protect our children's mental health, cognitive development, and sense of self. Are you concerned about the impact of social media on children's mental health? Around the Fourth The state of manufacturing in MA: I joined State Senator Paul Feeney and MassMEP at CPS Technologies in Norton to discuss how I am working to help equip Bay Staters to pursue the roughly 150,000 manufacturing jobs that require moderate on-the-job training, but no experience or degree. We also discussed the current landscape of manufacturing in Massachusetts. The Voice of the Manufacturer Survey in Massachusetts quantified my own impression from dozens of conversations with manufacturers across our district: access to talent is the most significant concern right now. According to the survey, 'availability of skilled labor' was the most commonly cited impediment to growth. To build a skilled workforce for the 21st century, there are two steps Congress should take that would secure our border and our economic future: Pass the bipartisan DIGNITY Act, which would help secure the border and provide documentation & dignity for immigrants, while also creating a skills fund, open to all, for apprenticeships and earn-and-learn programs financed by fees and back-taxes from naturalization; and Encourage the federal government to set a better example in its own hiring practices by not defaulting to degree requirements that screen out qualified applicants without degrees. Medically tailored meals in Mansfield: I also joined Community Servings, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals for patients and their families, at their Mansfield ribbon-cutting ceremony. The thought leaders and volunteers at Community Servings are not only helping people in a moment of illness and insecurity; studies indicate that they are also taking costs out of the health care system by treating the whole person, including their daily nutrition needs. I hope Community Servings' approach to food as medicine can help inspire a broader societal reckoning with our appetite for the high-sugar, ultra-processed foods that are ultimately making us sicker. Virtual roundtables with constituents across the district: Over the past two weeks, I held a series of virtual roundtables with constituents in Brookline, North Attleborough, Mansfield, Sharon, Dover, Sherborn, Needham, Blackstone, Millville, Medfield, and Taunton. We discussed a wide range of topics from immigration, the Israel-Hamas war, and aid to Ukraine and our allies abroad to funding for complex disease research and access to multimodal transportation. I am encouraged by my neighbors' eagerness to engage in conversations about how federal policy impacts them at home. I value these virtual roundtable conversations with constituents and, along with phone calls, online opinion submissions, and informal conversations across the district with residents, it helps me to better serve as your voice and vote in Congress.  In addition to these community-centered conversations, I invited students from across MA-04 to join me for a virtual roundtable during the February school break. These bright students came prepared with great questions about the House, improving access to diabetes medications, what I did for fun at their age (read American history), and my favorite part of being a Member of Congress (calling high school seniors who have been accepted into military service academies). 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 TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Wednesday, Mar 6, 2024

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)

• This slot features the recent Chalkboard Chat recapping the School Cmte meeting of Feb 13, 2024   ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/in-this-chalkboard-chat-session-we-talk.html

10:00 AM 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone    All about wine, its culture, lore and finer point.

• In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi talk with David Glancy  ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode-258.html

11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)

• This slot features Town Council Quarterbacking recapping the Council meeting of Feb 28, 2024 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/in-this-town-council-quarterbacking.html

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

7:30 am Mental Health: Shannon Nesbitt

8:30 am Martin Luther King: Music and Spoken Word

10:00 am Care For Ukraine

11:30 am Comfort Food: Comfort Food

12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Italian Cookies

1:00 pm Norfolk County Prevention Coalition: Fire Safety

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 4

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 1

3:30 pm Veterans' Call: VA Pension

4:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Paolo DiGregorio

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Joe Jencks

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

8:30 am MICCA Festival 2019

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini

11:00 am Winning Ways with the MIAA: The Road to TD Garden

12:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Notre Dame Academy Hingham 02-28-24

2:30 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling: v Taunton 01-05-23

8:00 pm Hockomock League Swimming Championship 2024 Day 2

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

8:00 am Town Council 02-28-24

2:00 pm Town Council 02-28-24

6:30 pm Master Plan Committee  LIVE, Fl3 Training Rm  886 0910 7278

7:00 pm Joint Budget Subcommittee  Live, Chambers  834 3950 2247

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

Presidential Primary - UNOFFICIAL Results for Franklin, MA - 03/05/24

The UNOFFICIAL results for Franklin, MA from Town Clerk Nancy Danello

UNOFFICIAL Results			Franklin, MA
Early Voters	2871
Election Day	4804
Total	7675
Register Voters	24694
Percent Turnout	31.08%

Democratic Party results

Biden    2773

Republican Party results

Trump    2263

Haley    1728

The complete sheet for the Democrat, Republic and Libertarian ballots can be found -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1umjNh5RbYfx20pPpQloOxYL0SHhpTKzH/view?usp=drive_link

Presidential Primary - UNOFFICAL Results for Franklin, MA - 03/05/24

`Cinema 80’ Feature Films Continue (Free) - "The Kid"

Silent Saturdays start at 6 PM on each Saturday of the month (except the last): Chris Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV. He developed this program of films in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center.

• March 9 - The Kid

The Kid is Charlie Chaplin's crowning achievement, using pantomime humor to tell a memorable and heartfelt story.

March 9 - The Kid

Presidential Primary Election Day - March 5 from 6 AM to 8 PM at Franklin High School

The MA Presidential Primary voting opened at Franklin High School at 6 AM this morning and will close at 8 PM today. All 9 precincts vote in one place.

I plan on being at the high school to record the results and share them as soon as the Town Clerk has them available.

Presidential Primary Election Day - March 5 from 6 AM to 8 PM at Franklin High School

Sample ballots for the primary -> choose one party ballot to cast your vote

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/news/presidential_primary_3-5-2024_sample_ballots.pdf

Any additional info on the Primary Election can be found on the Town Clerk's page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerkelection-administrator