Voices of Franklin: Dear Franklin Town Council & School Committee, "Please, vote to put the override on the ballot in June" |
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Voices of Franklin: Dear Franklin Town Council & School Committee, "Please, vote to put the override on the ballot in June" |
Reducing Food Waste Helps the Planet and Neighbors Experiencing Food Insecurity
The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food assistance in Franklin, Massachusetts, is honoring Earth Month by raising awareness about food waste and its impact on the community and the planet.
Franklin Food Pantry Honors Earth Month |
“Fresh, healthy food should be in the hands of those who need it, and not in landfills,” said Tina Powderly, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. " The Franklin Food Pantry is dedicated to reducing waste and forming meaningful partnerships with organizations that strengthen through environmental stewardship.”
The Pantry encourages the community to reduce food waste at home by:
• Planning Ahead– Make a shopping list and only buy what you know you’ll use
• Freezing Food – Save items by freezing them before they spoil
• Trying New Recipes – Enter the names of food items into the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Click N’ Cook tool to create healthy recipes with everyday ingredients
• Donating Food – Perhaps you purchased too much gravy for Thanksgiving, or canned goods for a holiday. Rather than throw the items away, donate the items before they expire.
Food rescue is one of several initiatives undertaken by The Pantry to increase sustainability. This year, The Pantry will maintain eight garden beds at the Franklin Community Garden, and at-home gardeners are encouraged to grow flowers for Pantry clients. These efforts will benefit the environment by providing local, fresh items and creating food and habitats for pollinators such as honeybees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other animals.
Additionally, The Pantry plans to install a solar panel system, which will help reduce operating costs and have a positive indirect impact on the environment by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.
The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referral programs to more than 1,300 individuals per year. The Pantry relies on donations and grants to purchase items and pay for daily operations, and partnerships with The Greater Boston Food Bank, Spoonfuls, and local grocery stores to achieve greater buying power and lower costs. Programs include In-person Shopping, Curbside Pick-up, Emergency Food Bags, Mobile Pantries, Home Delivery, Kids’ Snack Bags, Weekend Backpacks, Holiday Meal Kits, and the SNAP match at Franklin Farmers Market. The Pantry is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in good standing in Massachusetts, recognized by Charity Navigator as a Four-Star Charity, and awarded GuideStar’s Platinum Transparency ranking. The Pantry is located at 341 W Central St. in Franklin, MA on Route 140. Please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.
FM #1178 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1178 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares this special episode of Chalkboard Chat with Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and former School Committee Chair Dr Anne Bergen. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Monday, April 22, 2024.
Our conversation was a discussion around the school and Town budget issues in advance of the joint School Committee and Town Council meeting April 24 at 7 PM.
During our conversation we address the key topics of
the rationale for the current school budget as “level service plus”
the history behind the school budget cuts over the years (and resulting declining in academic performance)
teachers and school personnel still providing a heroic effort in the face of challenges
rising special education costs and the creative inhouse programs saving the district (and taxpayers millions of dollars)
the ‘old’ classroom is not today’s classroom, how the schools are telling that story
redistricting status, fixing the holes in the prior studies to provide answers to all the questions that a long term facility plan should have
how this is a “One Franklin” effort, the Town departments need more than they are getting in this budget, check out their needs listing
The conversation runs about 36 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Dr Bergen & Dave Callaghan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1178-chalkboard-chat-school-budget-insights-04-22-24
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Contact info for Dave Callaghan callaghand@franklinps.net
Contact info for Dr Anne Bergen annekbergen@gmail.com
School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee
School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget
Town FY 2025 budget narrative https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy_25_budget_message_narrative_updated_links_2.pdf
Town FY 2025 budget book
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf
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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 www.franklin.news/ or www.Franklinmatters.org/
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"
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com |
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
● Call to Order● Candidate for Interim School Business Administrator Interview● Deliberation on Candidate for Interim School Business Administrator● Adjourn
Franklin, MA: School Committee Special Meeting - April 25 at 6:30 PM |
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
FPS: Comprehensive Facilities Planning Subcommittee Meeting - April 25 at 5 PM |
"Did you know that Massachusetts’ official state insect is the ladybug?The law was passed in 1974 after a large group of second graders from Kennedy School in Franklin, Mass. visited lawmakers at the State House in Boston while wearing homemade ladybug costumes.Since ladybugs are considered good luck, and protect plants from pests without being harmful to gardens, the children and their teachers considered the insect worthy of becoming the Bay State’s official state’s bug."
FM #1177 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1177 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Mary O’Neill, Franklin Commission on Persons with Disabilities. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Friday, April 19, 2024.
We talk about the Disability Expo scheduled for the Franklin Senior Center on May 4, 2024 (yes, may the fourth be with you!). It will begin at 11 AM and run until 2 PM.
Free admission, free tickets to a couple of gift baskets, and plenty of resources to talk with about various aspects of disability.
If you have a question for Mary, you can reach her at 508-440-1265.
If you would like a “Kindness Matters” sign, text Mary at the same # and she’ll arrange for you to get one.
The conversation runs about 12 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Mary. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1177-disability-expo-mary-oneill-04-19-24
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The Franklin Commission on Persons with Disabilities -> https://www.franklinma.gov/commission-persons-disabilities
--------------
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 www.franklin.news/ or www.Franklinmatters.org/
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"
○ $1.507 million in Free Cash; and○ $500,000 from the MECC Stabilization account to help ease the full assessment back into the budget.
○ $100,000 in ambulance receipts have climbed steadily due to a record breaking amount of ambulance calls and the Fire Chief’s ability to stay at market levels for ALS/BLS rates. Those numbers will be evaluated by the end of March and a small increase will be made in the formal budget proposal in April. However, revenues will be invested in additional paramedic positions to reflect the increased demand and we will bring the backup ambulance into the peak, daytime rotation to address the high volume of calls we are seeing.○ $100,000 in cannabis excise local option tax (3%) is well ahead of projections in FY24, and we expect a revised number with additional revenue by the April 12th budget submission.○ $300,000 due to a fourth hotel opening and numerous events in the area from Gillette Stadium, Great Woods Xfinity Center, Dean College and sporting and entertainment events from Marlborough to Mansfield.○ $500,000 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax estimates based on the automobile market, which has historically come in over estimated amounts and the valuation of automobiles increasing due to innovation and limited supply.○ A reminder that most of this revenue source is fee-for-service and reflects fees collected to perform services (e.g. licensing, building permits, ambulance receipts, recreation fees). Motor vehicle excise tax is slightly less than half of the revenue. See FY 2025 assumptions below.