What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, October 24, 2026 ???

Saturday, October 24

Get your spot for the FHS Theatre Company Boosters November Calendar Raffle

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/get-your-spot-for-fhs-theatre-company.html

8:00am Early voting (Town Clerk's Office)

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch (St John's Episcopal Church)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Drug Takeback Events (31 Hayward St)

10:00am    Steps & Strides group walk/run    (SNETT Trail)

10:30am Trunk or Treat! (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm Disney’s Frozen (THE BLACK BOX)

2:00pm Halloween Party (Franklin Police)

4:00pm Lions - Trunk or Treat (Franklin High School)

4:00pm Trunk or Treat / Community Cookout (Franklin United Methodist)

7:30pm Disney’s Frozen (THE BLACK BOX)

7:30pm Richard Shindell (live music) (262 Chestnut St)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

8:00pm Kendo (live music) (The Tavern on Central)

For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

*** NO Town Meetings today ***

---------

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Pumpkin Patch open until October 31 with pumpkins of all sizes

The folks at St. John’s Church Pumpkin Patch have been busy selling pumpkins and plants this month. And there’s still plenty more. Come and buy your pumpkin for Halloween fun and autumn decorating. 

The large pumpkins are great for carving, the smaller pumpkins are ideal for baking treats, plus gourds and mums add interest to seasonal decorations. All are displayed throughout the lawn at 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin. Cash, checks, credit and debit cards are accepted.

The patch is open 7 days a week through October 31. Here’s the schedule:

• Monday-Friday 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
• Saturdays 10:00 am-4:00 pm
• Sundays Noon-4:00 pm

The pumpkins are grown using sustainable agricultural practices that help benefit the environment. They are grown in a region of New Mexico with 42% unemployment, providing jobs for Navajo people. Proceeds from pumpkin & plant sales benefit the Navajo Nation in New Mexico as well as St. John’s Episcopal Church and its service in the Franklin community. 

For more information:

• Call the office 508-528-2387
• Email admin@stjohnsfranklinma.org
• Follow us on Facebook at St John’s Episcopal Church
• See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org    

Franklin Garden Club Offers Program on Working with Nature to Re-Set Nervous System - Nov 3

A program on “Working with Nature to Reset the Nervous System” will highlight the November meeting of the Franklin Garden Club. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.  beginning with an informal social time from 6:00 – 6:30pm followed by the program. The meeting is open to the public at no charge.

The program will be presented by Diane Pienta, an author, teacher, intuitive mentor, healer, and former businesswoman.  She will discuss how individuals can use nature –based practices to weave together resetting and calming the nervous system to work with their intuition.  

Her presentation offers a practical approach grounded in nature, is deeply intuitive and fun, and helps participants to connect with their own inner wisdom rather than someone else’s.  For more than three decades, across many paths, she’s supported people to awaken to their true potential and to live and lead from a place of alignment, authenticity and joy.

Through intuitive mentoring, nature-based practices, and energy healing, Pienta supports individuals in returning to clarity, vitality and the deeper wisdom already within them.  She notes that nature continues to be one of the greatest teachers and is a reminder that healing and wisdom are always available when we slow down enough to listen.

Pienta is the author of the award-winning book “Be the Magic,” a powerful guide to living with greater joy and purpose in life.  The book received a gold medal for spirituality and enlightenment from Living Now Book Awards, a silver medal for “Best Gift Book” from Independent Publishers, and was a finalist in the Global Book Awards and the Indie Excellence Book Awards.

The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.

The Franklin Recreation Department’s 2026-2027 Winter Brochure is here. Registration opens Nov 2

The Franklin Recreation Department’s 2026-2027 Winter Brochure is here! We are excited to share our upcoming winter programs and activities for residents of all ages.

Whether you are looking for preschool activities, arts and crafts, sports programs, after-school enrichment, or adult pickleball opportunities, we have something for everyone this winter!

Registration for selected winter programs will open Monday, November 2nd, at 8:30 AM. Programs fill quickly, so we encourage you to register early to secure your spot.

View our Winter Brochure: 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11481/WINTER-2026-2027?bidId=

Register Online: https://franklinma.myrec.com

If you have any questions, please contact the Franklin Recreation Department at 508-613-1666 or franklinrecreation@franklinma.gov.

We look forward to another great season and hope to see you this winter!

FHS volleyball tops Stoughton on Friday (video)

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Friday, October 23, 2026.

Football = Franklin, 6 @ Milton, 41 – Final

1st Quarter: (M) Chaz Putman 7-yard pass from Sean Lane, XP no good; (F) Christian Holmes 20-yard rush, XP blocked.

2nd Quarter: (M) Jayden Dubois 8-yard rush, Peter Skutnik XP good; (M) P. Skutnik 20-yard rush, P. Skutnik XP good; (M) J. Dubois 35-yard rush, P. Skutnik XP good.

3rd Quarter: (M) C. Putman 10-yard pass from S. Lane, P. Skutnik XP good; (M) Taj Chung 18-yard pass from S. Lane, P. Skutnik XP good.

4th Quarter: No scoring.

Franklin TV video for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvxw-_JeVqE

Volleyball = Stoughton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final

– Franklin’s seniors stole the show on senior night as the Panthers rolled past Stoughton, 3-0 (25-8, 25-6, 25-12). Senior Gianna Laurello finished with nine kills, six aces, and 10 digs, senior Sarah Chace added five kills and two blocks, senior Katelynn Crosby collected nine digs and two aces, and senior Olivia Caruso handed out 20 assists to go with five digs and two aces.

Franklin TV video for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0224oSody8

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-10-23-26/

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

Agenda for Franklin School Committee meeting Tuesday, October 27 at 7 PM

Franklin School Committee 

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Oct 27, 2026 =7:00 P.M.

Meetings are recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon channel 29 Any individual who also wishes to record this meeting must notify the Chair

I. Call to Order Dr. Griffith

II. Announcements from the Chair

III. Pledge of Allegiance

IV. Moment of Silence

V. Routine Business

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan

C. Payroll Dr. Griffith

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

VI. Guests/Presentations

A. Franklin TV

B. FHS Greece Trip 2028

VII. Citizen’s Comments

VIII. Discussion/Action Items

A. FHS Greece Trip 2028 Proposal

1. I recommend approval of the FHS Students Greece trip as detailed.

B. Access to Buildings & Grounds

1. I recommend moving Policy ECAB Access to Buildings & Grounds to second reading as discussed.

C. ABA Tutor Accretion into the ESP Contract

1. I recommend accretion of the ABA tutors into the ESP Contract as discussed.

IX. Discussion Only Items

A. October 1 Annual District Enrollment Report

B. Information Matters

C. May School Committee Meeting Change - From May 11, 2027 to May 4, 2027 @ 7:00 pm

D. Monthly Financial Report (September)

X. Consent Agenda

A. Minutes

1. I recommend approval of the minutes from your Oct. 13, 2026 Meeting as detailed.

B. AP Rhode Island School of Design Field Trip Proposal

1. I recommend approval of the AP French and Spanish Students field trip to RISD as detailed.

C. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $500.00 from The Conlan Family for Championship Signage as detailed.

D. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $25.00 from Dave Callaghan for Championship Signage as detailed.

E. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $2,000.00 from Clay Reeder, CR Custom Builders for Championship Signage as detailed.

F. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $250.00 from Peter Scaccia for Championship Signage as detailed.

G. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $500.00 from Chris & Cheryl Sullivan and family for Championship Signage as detailed.

H. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $50.00 from Roberta & Roger Trahan for Championship Signage as detailed.

I. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $500.00 from Tavern on Central for Championship Signage as detailed.

J. Championship Signage Gift

1. I recommend the acceptance of $2,000.00 fromThe Powderly Family for Championship Signage as detailed.

K. Best Buddies Donation

1. I recommend the acceptance of $500.00 from Claudia Brennick for the Best Buddies Student Activity Account as detailed.

XI. Committee Comments

XII. New Business

A. To discuss any future agenda items

XIII. Executive Session

A. As per M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21 (3) To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.

XIV. Adjournment

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-2581

Townwide curbside event - Saturday & Sunday, Oct 24-25, 2026

via Stacey Cobb

I've created an Interactive Event Map this year. I'm hoping it's helpful with planning your route.

You can click the map below to:

* Find participating addresses

* See what types of items are being offered

* Read descriptions and special notes from residents

* Plan your treasure-hunting route!

VIEW THE EVENT MAP HERE:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1H-f3J9RiNH28degGslmVbO3b6vS-LNo

UPDATED STREET LIST: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/153a7yiaC9KQ6ORf6Q05wr3KRyc3y9aYTk-SrVZxDoyE/edit?usp=sharing

A few friendly reminders:

* Items are FREE and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

* Please respect residents’ property and take only items clearly placed out for giveaway.

* Participating residents, please remember to remove any remaining items promptly after the event.

Happy treasure hunting

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14s6HGqaV8C/ 

Downtown Franklin parking options for Halloween weekend

Heading downtown this weekend? Know before you go! 

With the Franklin Public Library's Trunk or Treat and the Franklin Police Department’s Halloween Party happening tomorrow, it’s a great time to brush up on parking options around town!

📍 The Town of Franklin’s Downtown Parking Map highlights public parking options, including the Library, Depot Street, Davis Thayer Building and Ferrara parking lots.

🗺️ Did you know? The Town also offers interactive maps and other mapping resources through its GIS website to help residents explore local information and resources.

🔗 Downtown Parking Map: https://buff.ly/3DrqgVE

🔗 Explore the Town’s GIS Maps: https://buff.ly/ofBMFWw 

Please remember to follow all posted parking signs and restrictions, and enjoy this weekend’s Halloween festivities!

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19vak5iTua/ 

LGBTQ Alliance Annual Halloween Party - Satruday, Oct 24 from 2:30 to 4 PM

Join the LGBTQ Alliance At Their Annual Halloween Party! 

 

When: This Saturday October 24 from 2:30-4pm

 

Where: Franklin Public Library Meeting Room (118 Main St in Franklin)

What: Join us for some Halloween snacks, pumpkin painting, making a witch's brew sensory jar, and (non-professional) tarot readings!

 

No cost necessary to join and all ages are welcome!  Please email franklinlgbtqalliance@gmail.com with any questions          

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30

Grove St (Rt. 140 to Beaver St) Road Closure Alert: 

Monday (10/26) and Tuesday (10/27) 7 AM to 4 PM

Monday (10/26) and Tuesday (10/27) between 7AM and 4PM, the contractor will work on sewer main installation in the area of 20 Grove St.  During this time, Grove St. will be closed to all traffic in both directions. Traffic will follow detour signs on Beaver St. to Rt 140.  Local traffic only will be permitted beyond the road closed signs. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted detour signs.

Beaver St. (Rt. 140 to Grove St) Road Closure Alert: 

Thursday (10/29) and Friday (10/30) 7 AM to 4 PM

Thursday (10/29) and Friday (10/30) between 7AM and 4PM, the contractor will work on sewer main installation in the area of 275 Beaver St.  During this time Beaver St. will be closed to all traffic in both directions. Traffic will follow detour signs on Grove St. to Rt 140.  Local traffic only will be permitted beyond the road closed signs. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted detour signs.

For additional project info - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

iAutomation, a division of CAS Holdings, will host "Forge Fest" - Nov 5

Forge Fest: We're Opening Our Doors

Date: Thursday, November 5

Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (come and go as your schedule allows)

Location: iAutomation, 9 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA 02038

For one day this November, the doors at Forge Parkway are wide open, and we've packed the building with everything we love about this industry. Forge Fest is a full day of live demos, expert conversations, and a little friendly competition. You'll walk out with fresh ideas for your next application, and maybe a prize or two. 

Meet the suppliers behind the products you rely on

Banner, Apex Dynamics, CHIEFTEK, Pilz Safety, Weidmuller, Kollmorgen, Rittal, Doosan, and more will be on site all day. This is your chance to get face time with the experts, ask the tough questions, and see the latest in motion, safety, and automation up close. 

Pick the presentations that matter to you

Our partners will be presenting throughout the day on new products, machine safety, and more. The full schedule is coming soon. If you register before it's posted, you'll get a follow-up email so you can choose the sessions and times that fit your day. Registering early means you get first pick. 

Go behind the scenes

Take one of four guided tours of our Forge Parkway facility and see how we work from the inside. 

Register for this event - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx

Steps & Strides meetup in Franklin - Saturdays from 10 to 11 AM

5 weeks left of Steps & Strides meetups in Franklin!

All paces are welcome (strollers, kids, and pets too!)

🗓️ Saturdays, thru Nov 21

🕝10:00 – 11:00 AM

📍 SNETT Trail, Franklin

👉 Send me a DM for details and sign up!

(Please register… weather can be tricky this time of year!)

Whether you're training for a Turkey Trot, looking to increase your step count, or just want to enjoy the outdoors with the local community, this group is for you!

Feel free to message me with any questions!

— in Franklin.

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Saturday, October 24, 2026

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm

Franklin Public Radio has a brand new schedule for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves. 

It is available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following: (see image)

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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, October 23, 2026 ???

Friday, October 23

Get your spot for the FHS Theatre Company Boosters November Calendar Raffle

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/get-your-spot-for-fhs-theatre-company.html

8:00am Early voting (Town Clerk's Office)

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

2:00pm Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

4:00pm 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch (St John's Episcopal Church)

7:30pm Disney’s Frozen (THE BLACK BOX)

For additional details on Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11022/October-2026-Newsletter?bidId=

*** NO Town Meetings today ***

---------

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Franklin 250 invites seniors to share memories, ideas for 250th anniversary

The Franklin 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee will host a senior listening session Monday, October 26, at 10 AM at the Franklin Senior Center, inviting senior residents to share memories, offer ideas and provide feedback as the town prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2028.

The listening session is part of the committee's effort to involve residents in planning a celebration that reflects Franklin's past, present and future. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences, discuss local traditions and suggest activities or programs they would like to see included in the anniversary celebration.

The session is not a fundraising event. Its purpose is to gather community input and hear directly from residents about what makes Franklin special to them.

"Our seniors represent the best of Franklin. They have been dedicated volunteers and community participants for years. They are valued and respected," said Roberta Trahan, chair of the Franklin 250 Events Subcommittee." I hope they will feel the enthusiasm of the 250th Anniversary and perhaps be able to participate in some way. Their opinion matters."

The committee also welcomes residents interested in sharing historical knowledge, contributing personal stories or volunteering for future anniversary activities.

Franklin will mark the 250th anniversary of its incorporation on March 2, 2028. The celebration will honor the town's heritage while bringing residents together through community events, educational programs and activities that reflect the people and experiences that have shaped Franklin.

Event information

• Date: Monday, October 26, 2026

• Time: 10 AM

• Location: Franklin Senior Center

Residents are encouraged to attend and invite friends and neighbors to participate. Whether they have lived in Franklin for decades or are relatively new to the community, their perspectives are welcome.

For more information about Franklin's 250th anniversary celebration, visit www.franklin250.org.

About Franklin 250

The Franklin 250th Anniversary Committee is leading the planning and coordination of activities to commemorate the Town of Franklin's 250th Anniversary in 2028. Through community events, educational programming, historic preservation initiatives and partnerships with local organizations, the Committee aims to celebrate Franklin's rich history while inspiring community pride and engagement for generations to come.

Small Business Spotlight: Professional Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine

via Town of Franklin

"This month we're highlighting Professional Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine. The practice has served the Franklin community for 34 years and opened its second Franklin location in 2022.

When asked why they chose Franklin to grow their business and what they like best about being here, they shared: "We chose Franklin because of its strong sense of community, and support from our neighbors allowing us to give that same care and commitment back every day. We value the close‑knit community and the opportunity to build lasting relationships, including caring for multiple generations of families who continue to place their trust in us."

When asked why supporting small businesses matters, they shared: "Supporting small businesses is important because they provide personalized care and maintain a strong commitment to the communities they serve. We are intentional about our hiring—ensuring we have the right people, in the right positions, doing the right thing, for the right reasons, and in the right way. We actively give back by offering free monthly workshops on a variety of conditions for the community, and by donating a portion of our monthly profits to a local charity."

👉️ Follow along as we continue to highlight the local businesses that make Franklin a great place to live and work."

🔗 Learn more about Franklin's Small Business Spotlight Series: https://buff.ly/Mu7l7YL

Shared from - https://lnkd.in/p/gimyhUHe

Town of Franklin's Boston Post Cane Presented to Lydia Dolitka 10/22/2026

FM #1840 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1840 in the series. 

This episode shares the Town of Franklin Boston Post Cane presentation to Lydia Dolitka by Town Clerk Nancy Danello. Recognizing Lydia as being the oldest Franklin, MA resident. State Representative Jeff Roy also presented a proclamation from the House of Representatives recognizing Lydia's youthful age.

Family and friends gathered for the brief ceremony at Magnolia Heights in Franklin, Ma on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Video link - https://youtu.be/7kmTGkmkOgY

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1840-boston-post-cane-l-dolitka-10-22-26/

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Photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/L1HhXg2nh456d4vB8

Wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boston_Post

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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"

FHS golf finishes 6th in Hockomock Leaqgue Championship

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

"Zides Earns Medalist Honors as North Attleboro Wins Hocks"

"Maxx Zides logged four birdies to finish as the top individual and lead the North Attleboro boys golf team to first place at the Hockomock Conference Championship Meet on Thursday at Norton Country Club.

“All of them have gotten better. They’ve worked hard at it and it shows,” North Attleboro head coach Steve Nelson said of his team. “Especially all three guys that counted today, they’ve all worked extremely hard to get better. Max is one of the best players in the state, Lincoln [Frisoli] is right behind him and Tommy’s [Manning] had a great year. He’s worked very hard all year to improve his game, and showed it today that he was up there to help us win.”

Zides topped the 48-player field with an even-par 71. He had three birdies on his first 14 holes to get down to 1-under, and he bounced back from a double bogey on hole 15 with his fourth birdie of the day on hole 17 to close out the day even."

Team Standings

1. North Attleboro, 228

2. Canton, 231

3. Mansfield, 234

4. King Philip, 237

5. Oliver Ames, 242

6. Franklin, 243

7. Foxboro, 245

8. Taunton, 246

9. Sharon, 248

10. Attleboro, 250

11. Stoughton, 260

12. Milford, 263

Continue reading the recap - https://hockomocksports.com/?p=202165

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-10-22-26/

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