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Monday, April 15, 2024
Garnet Rogers, April 27, 8:00 PM at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse
Reminder: Seed, Stroll, & Roll on Earth Day - April 27
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| Reminder: Seed, Stroll, & Roll on Earth Day - April 27 |
- https://www.instagram.com/franklinculture/
- https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation
- https://alirheaume.com/rise-up
- https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department
In this Town Council Quarterbacking session, we condense the 4 hour meeting to about 30 minutes (audio)
FM #1172 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1172 in the series.
This session shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. The Council met on Wednesday, and we get together on Thursday morning to condense the meeting. In this case, one of the longer ones at 4 hours. We look to focus on
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
Topics for this session:
License Modification - Change of Officers & Change of Stock Interest of a Section 15 Retail Package Store License: Table & Vine, Inc. Located at 348 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038
New Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License and Approval of Michael Gannon as the Manager - Shikshapatri Corporation d/b/a Dacey’s Market & Deli, Located at 353 Lincoln St., Franklin, MA 02038
Resolution 24-17: Local Acceptance of GL Chapter 166 Section 32A
Resolution 24-18: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,250), Senior Center ($1,500), Franklin Historical Museum (~$600)
Franklin Town Council Support for Proposed GL Chapter 40B Affordable Housing Project at 444 East Central Street Pursuant to DHCD’s Local Initiative Program (LIP): Friendly 40B
Town Administrator report
Press release on Cantoreggi reinstatement
The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Tom.Audio link https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1172-town-council-quarterbacking-04-11-24
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The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour session is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WPC4cB_S4
Agenda and supporting documents for this session ->
My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1labnvYVykW4HGk01mHIQDk7d725ikuLn/view?usp=drive_link
Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WC1n843rA3AQwjTg7
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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"
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| In this Town Council Quarterbacking session, we condense to 4 hour meeting to about 30 minutes (audio) |
BT/ALC Big Band at Franklin High School - April 25 - free & open to the public
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| BT/ALC Big Band |
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| Franklin Cultural Council |
Senior Center events for the week of April 15 - April 19
"Here’s what’s happening this week at the #franklinseniorcenter
Are you a people pleaser? Do you want to know the science behind what makes you this way? Join us Friday at 1 for a fascinating discussion with Kymberlee O’Brien."
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| Senior Center events for the week of April 15 - April 19 |
Register O'Donnell Promotes Massachusetts Homestead Act
Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell today reminded homeowners about the importance of filing for Homestead Protection.
In 2023 there were 9,693 decelerations of Homestead filed at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 14% less than in 2022.
"If you own a home, and it is your primary residence, you have an automatic homestead exemption of $125,000. However, if you file a Declaration of Homestead at the Registry of Deeds, the exemption increases to $500,000. The Homestead Law provides a homeowner with limited protection against the forced sale of their primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000 if they have filed. This is especially important when you consider that for most of us, a home is our most valuable asset. Consumers should take steps to protect that asset," noted Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell.
Register O'Donnell Promotes Massachusetts Homestead Act
Another feature of the Homestead Law is the allowance for the filing of an Elderly Homestead Declaration, which defines an elder as a person who is 62 years of age or older and provides protection of $500,000 for each qualified person.
The Register further noted, "In March of 2011, the Homestead Law was updated so that a valid Homestead is not terminated when refinancing a mortgage. Other changes that took place back in 2011 state that a Homestead can provide protections for a primary home even if it is held in a trust. The definition of a primary residence was also expanded to include a manufactured or mobile home."
A Declaration of Homestead also protects the sale proceeds if the home is sold for up to one year after the date of the sale or on the date when a new home is purchased with the proceeds, whichever comes first. Additionally, if the home is damaged by a fire, for example, the insurance proceeds are protected for two years after the date of the fire or on the date when the home is reconstructed or a new home is purchased, whichever is earlier.
While the Homestead Statute provides important protections for homeowners, it is important to note that certain debts are exempt from protection under the Homestead Act. These include federal, state, and local tax liens, as well as mortgages contracted for the purchase of a primary home and nursing home liens. Most other mortgages, debts, and encumbrances existing prior to the filing of the Declaration of Homestead, along with probate court executions for spousal and child support, are also not covered under the Homestead Protection Statute.
Declarations of Homestead are recorded at the Registry of Deeds for a state-imposed fee of $36.00. Additional information about the Homestead Law and the forms are available at no cost by going to the Registry’s website at www.norfolkdeeds.org.
Register O’Donnell concluded, "I want to reiterate that a Homestead provides limited protection against the forced sale of a homeowner’s primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. While the debt is still owed, homeowners can have peace of mind knowing that with a Declaration of Homestead recorded at the Registry of Deeds, their primary residence cannot be forcibly sold to satisfy some debts."
If you have any questions about a Homestead, please contact the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at 781-461-6101, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW): Episode 261 - interview Len Presutti (audio)
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| Episode 261 - interview Len Presutti (audio) |
Boston Globe: "Spotting a deepfake: Eight tips and tells"
"Deceptive deepfakes seem to be everywhere these days, making it harder than ever to sort the true from the false. While there’s no silver bullet to address the threat posed by generative AI, here are a few techniques to guard against disinformation.1. Take your time, look closelyAs humans, we are hardwired to focus on the face. But while many of today’s AI-image generators can create lifelike faces, it pays to spend a little time looking at other aspects of an image. AI is apt to cut corners and that’s where things can get weird. Look at the background. Does it make real-world sense? Does everything line up? How about people other than the image’s primary subject? Is there a phantom limb? Maybe a sixth finger?"
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| Visitors can watch videos and guess if the images are real or fake. The MIT Museum's exhibit "AI: Mind the Gap" looks at deepfake video technology. LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF |
Washington Post: "Are you ready to buy a house? Take our quiz and find out"
"Homeownership is how many Americans accumulate wealth, and it’s an important life goal for millions. But affording a home is a growing challenge — if not out of reach entirely — for many people.In the past three years, mortgage rates have more than doubled and are now at nearly 7 percent on a typical 30-year loan. And they are unlikely to drop significantly this year. Even those who can swing an all-cash purchase, experts say, still have plenty of other expenses to consider, including maintenance and insurance.So, should you buy a home right now? To help you decide, take this quiz."
The Guardian: "How to spot five of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest disinformation tactics"
"Amy Westervelt and Kyle Pope have covered climate disinformation for a combined 20-plus years – here’s their guide on how to decode itIncreasingly sophisticated and better-funded disinformation is making climate coverage trickier both for journalists to produce and for the public to fully understand and trust.But telling the story, and understanding it, has never been more urgent with half of Earth’s population eligible to vote in elections that could decisively impact the world’s ability to act in time to stave off the worst of the climate crisis.Swayed for 30 years by fossil fuel industry propaganda, the media has been as likely to unknowingly amplify falsehoods as they were to bat them down. It’s only in recent years that more journalists started to shy away from “both-sides-ing” the climate crisis – decades after scientists reached an overwhelming consensus on the scope of the problem and its causes."
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| ‘Basically it’s a propaganda campaign.’ Composite: Getty Images, Guardian Design |
Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Monday, Apr 15, 2024
- wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Monday
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews
- Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = MONDAY
- Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = MONDAY
- Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = MONDAY
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - April 17, 2024 - agenda for meeting
- a. Review and Approve Draft “2024 Town Financial Policies” https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/4a._2024_fiscal_policies_draft_v2.pdf
- b. Current 2022-03 Fiscal Policies https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/4b._2022_fiscal_policies_revised_final_approved.pdf
- a. Hearings: May 6 (General Gov), May 8 (Public Safety/DPW), May 15 (Education)
- b. School Committee Override Request https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5b._school_committee_override_letter.pdf
- c. State House News Article April 10, 2024 Chris Lisinki https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5c._house_proposes_57.9_bil_budget_for_new_fiscal_reality_house_of_representatives_statehousenews.com_.pdf
- a. Quarterly Year to Date Report https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/6a._ytd_budget_expenditures_dec_2023_1.pdf
- b. Stabilization Report https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/6b._stabilization_fund_balances_2-29-2024.pdf
- c. DOR Releases 2024 Statewide Median Household Price https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-average-single-family-tax#fy2024-
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| Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - April 17, 2024 - agenda for meeting |