What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 ???

Wednesday, January 28

• Tuesday trash and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday
• Wednesday trash and recycling will be picked up on Thursday

1:00pm Scribblers Writing Group (recording session) (Franklin Senior Center)

Library & Senior Center events

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/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

*** NO  Town Meetings today   ***

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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 Garden Club Program on New Age Floral Techniques

Kristin VanDijk, the founder of New Age Floral, will demonstrate how to create floral designs based on sustainable and regenerative floral practices at the February 3, 2026, Franklin Garden Club meeting. 

New Age Floral Techniques

The meeting will take place at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 6:00– 8:30 p.m.  An informal social get-together will take place from 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. followed by a business meeting and the program. The meeting is open to the public at no charge, including those interested in becoming a member.    

 

New Age Floral provides floral professionals and hobbyists with eco-friendly solutions that replace unsustainable materials and contribute to a healthy, sustainable future.  Products include staples in the floral industry, such as the OshunPouch, a groundbreaking alternative to the traditional single-use ecologically toxic plastic floral foam block that sits in landfills. 

The OshunPouch is 100% sustainable, biodegradable, and home compostable.  VanDijk’s career spans leadership positions in garden clubs, owning flower shops, and pioneering online flower show education. She founded New Age Floral in 2020 and has grown the business to include numerous naturally sourced, regenerative materials to reduce the strain on the earth’s resources caused by the floral industry. 

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

School Committee get preview of FY 2027 school budget with 2.5% increase, assuming health costs transfer to Town account (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026. All 7 members were present in the Council Chambers.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UxhayAn6s

The agenda can be found -> https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/8d6ca562-53e6-4ea4-a1af-54dc11571527/SCAGENDA-1-27-26.pdf?disposition=inline

Released documents will be posted to the 'packet folder' ->  https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-27%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24906664

Quick recap

• The committee and community got a preview of the FY 2027 school budget. Excluding the health care costs ($8.8M), they presented a 'level service' budget that stays within a 2.5% increase
• The discussions with the Town to transfer the health care costs to the Town account 910 are in process. A Memo of Agreement (MOA) is being prepared to cover the details of the transfer. The Committee will schedule a special meeting to vote to approve the transfer next week

My notes in one PDF file ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/140kTZI5bmwVFlufRsU54cNneJ2BytZ-c/view?usp=drive_link

A copy of the presentation via photos captured during the presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4FRM9xmqLKzUwXFY8

FY 2027 school budget with 2.5% increase, assuming health costs transfer to Town account

FHS girls basketball team tops Mansfield on Tuesday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Boys Basketball = Mansfield, 48 @ Franklin, 42 – Final

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_j_4Db9LKg

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 45 @ Mansfield, 44 – Final

"After a rough start to the season that saw Franklin lose six of its first seven games, the Panthers went into Tuesday night’s visit to the Albertini Gym on a seven-game win streak and alone atop the Kelley-Rex division.

It was never going to be an easy game against their rivals and seemed likely to be a close one. Each of Mansfield previous five games had been decided by six points or less and Tuesday would be no different.

With less than three minutes to play, Kaylee Fernandes picked off a pass under the basket and scored to tie the game. Tessah Rodrigues forced a turnover on the next possession and Sophia Sacramone followed her own miss, used a nice pump fake to get free, and laid it in to put the Panthers in front 43-41 with 2:04 to play.

Mansfield got one back on a free throw from Katelyn Troilo. The score would stay the same for the next 80 seconds before freshman Brielle Nicholls went 1-of-2 at the line. Troilo managed to break the intense Franklin press and got the ball back for a decent look at a three. The shot was short but Sadie Jablonski snatched her 16th rebound of the night and put it in, plus a foul, to tie the game with 9.0 on the clock."

Continue reading the recap by Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-rallies-at-mansfield-extends-win-streak-to-eight/

For a photo gallery from this game.  https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-rallies-at-mansfield-extends-win-streak-to-eight/#:~:text=After%20a%20rough,on%20the%20clock.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)  

https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-27-26/

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

Have Fun While Making a Difference!: Soccer for smiles tournament Feb 17-18, 2026

Have Fun While Making a Difference!

Soccer for smiles tournament Feb 17-18, 2026

Our 2026 tournament is in the planning stages so save the dates in February!

February 17-18, 2026

Even though the tournament runs for two days, a player's commitment is just a few hours on one particular day. The day is split by age groups in 2- or 3-hour blocks of time (see schedule). It is great fun!

Tournament details ->  https://www.soccerforsmiles.org/

Pour Richard's The First & The Last 1st Anniversary Grand Tasting Feb 7

Pour Richard's The First & The Last
1st Anniversary Grand Tasting Feb 7

via Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions

"Turns out we don't actually know when Giorgio is retiring, but we're not going to waste an opportunity to party and open bottles.

Mark your calendars and come prepared, you know how we do things."

Shared from -> 

https://www.facebook.com/share/14XtdxMvcWB/

Wright Old School Chocolate schedules class on craft chocolate - Feb 3

Bean to Bar: The Journey of Chocolate

Hello Chocolate Friends,

Have you ever wondered how chocolate is made — really made — from cacao bean to finished bar?

I'm excited to invite you to Bean to Bar: The Journey of Chocolate, an engaging evening presentation where I'll walk you through the full chocolate-making process and share what goes into crafting small-batch, artisan chocolate at Wright Old School Chocolate.

Bean to Bar: The Journey of Chocolate, Feb 3

This class is presented in a lecture format, making it a relaxed and informative way to learn about chocolate — with plenty of opportunity for questions along the way.

• Tuesday, February 3, 2026
• 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School
• $25 per person (includes tastings!)

During the talk, you'll learn:

• Where cacao comes from and how it's sourced 
• The key steps in transforming raw beans into chocolate 
• What makes craft chocolate different from commercial chocolate 
• How flavor develops along the way 
• Enjoy guided tastings of finished chocolate

For those who are curious to see where the magic happens, there is also an opportunity to tour the chocolate lab afterward (tour not included with class registration).

Whether you're a longtime chocolate lover or simply curious about how it's made, this is a fun, approachable introduction to the world of bean-to-bar chocolate.

👉 Space is limited. Register here: https://registration.xendirect.com/tri-county/calendar.cfm?action=month&month=2&year=2026

I'd love to see you there — and yes, loyal Wright Old School Chocolate patrons are always welcome too!

P.S. Come curious — leave chocolate-smart (and well tasted). 🍫

Wishing you well,

Peter W. Carlson, Founder

South Street 6 on Valentine's Day at The Chieftain

South Street 6 on Valentine's Day  at The Chieftain

Romantic, cheesy, sexy... chocolatey? 

Well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad! We're pulling out our favorite love songs, break-up songs, and set the bed on fire songs for Valentine's night at The Chieftain! 

Come grab a few drinks, maybe a candy heart or two, and stay for the music. 

8pm - close! 

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT_fy1EDgKl/

"the majority of its immigrant detainees have no convictions"

via Financial Times:

"the majority of its immigrant
detainees have no convictions"

"Trump administration officials have said that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is only targeting criminal illegal immigrants. But it is also the case that innocent people have been caught in the dragnet.⁠
⁠
Data from ICE shows that the majority of its immigrant detainees have no convictions, and a third have pending charges.⁠
⁠
Tap the link in our bio to read more" -> (registration required) https://www.ft.com/content/6642d7c7-d623-49b4-9bcf-0e9f7c65b4e0

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT_XxXEk2Hg/

Brene Brown on what makes power dangerous is how it is used

Via Brene Brown:

Brene Brown on what makes power dangerous is how it is used

"I’ve written about the idea of power-over and power with/to/within in all of my books, starting with “I Thought It Was Just Me” in 1997 and as recently as “Strong Ground.” 

We see the cruelty of power-over in organizations, families, and politics, and it’s getting worse. I’ve spent the past few days revisiting our research and work by other scholars and organizers who explore power. 

I think it’s important to remember that when people are leading with chaos, coercion, and cruelty, they’re showing us exactly what they’re afraid of.

They’re afraid of us. Our inclusivity and accountability and community and agency and freedom and learning and art and love and joy. Everything that is positively correlated with growth, renewal, learning, and impact."

This is one of 8 slides, you can find the remaining slides at -> 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT8atWKgmcg/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio introduced a brand new schedule early in 2025 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:

 

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM   Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock 

Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 2 PM)  

• This segment shares my conversation with  Scott Mason who thinks spring and talks baseball  1/12/26  ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/get-that-spring-feeling-with-scott.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone  All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points.    (repeats Saturday at 1 PM)  

• This segment features Kim & Mark in Episode 307 - Wine Social Media Star Kelly Axelrad   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode_0602953869.html

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

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:30 am     ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

8:30 am Vera Meyer: Glass Armonica

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Katie Kindilien

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Lasagna

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:30 pm Cook with Linda: Broccoli Salad

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 4

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

3:30 pm More Perfect Union: Susan Rodriguez McDowell

6:00 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Kim Moberg & Jenna Nichols

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

8:30 am Lifelong Winter Music 2026

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports

11:00 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

1:30 pm     FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Mansfield 01-07-26

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Swimming v Taunton 01-09-26

8:00 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling: v Taunton 01-05-23

10:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball v Sharon 01-23-26

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

8:00 am Town Council 01-21-26

1:30 pm     Town Council 01-21-26

6:30 pm Finance Committee 01-14-26

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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 ???

Tuesday, January 27

**  Tri-County Schools announced delayed opening by 2 hours; Franklin Public Schools & BFCCPS canceled school  

** Senior Center delayed opening by 2 hours   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/franklin-senior-center-opens-tuesday.html

9:00am Fallen Heroes: William 0. Martello (Town Common, Veterans Memorial)

2:30pm Rainbow Cafe (Franklin Senior Center)

4:00pm Franklin Skate night (Patriot Place)

Senior Center events before 10 AM are canceled

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/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

*** Town Meetings today   ***

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, January 27 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272026-2100 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, January 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272026-2111 

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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 High School Celebrates Student-Athlete Achievements from Fall 2025

Principal Maria Weber and Athletic Director Karrah Ellis are proud to share that Franklin High School is celebrating a lengthy list of individual honors earned by its student-athletes and coaches during the fall 2025 season.

These awards, distinctions and all-star selections add to the many team accomplishments that made this one of the school’s strongest fall athletic seasons in recent years, including Franklin High Cheerleading winning the Division I State Championship and the Girls Volleyball victory in the MIAA Division I State Championship, marking the program’s first-ever state title.

The individual accomplishments achieved by Franklin’s student-athletes and coaches during the fall 2025 season include the following:

• Alex Weber, Football — Defensive MVP, Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; MHSFCA All-State; Boston Globe All-Scholastic Honorable Mention; Hockomock Sports Football Player of the Year Honorable Mention; Hockomock Sports Top 5 Athlete
• Stephon Reed, Football — Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Hockomock Sports Top 5 Wide Receiver
• Keaton Cooper, Football — Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Hockomock Sports Top 5 Offensive Lineman
• Adrian Rampiono, Football — Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Hockomock Sports Top 5 Defensive Lineman
• Jason Proenca, Boys’ Soccer — EMSCA All-Star; Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Hockomock Sports Second Team All-11; MetroWest Daily News All-Star
• Morgan Lovell, Girls’ Soccer — Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team; Boston Herald All-Scholastic; EMSCA First Team All-Star; EMSCA All-State Team; Hockomock Sports First Team All-11; Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; MetroWest Daily News All-Star
• Lily Strong, Girls’ Soccer — Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Hockomock Sports Second Team All-11; Hockomock Sports Underclassman of the Year; EMSCA Second Team All-Star
• Devon Barry, Field Hockey — Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team; Boston Herald All-Scholastic; Hockomock Sports First Team; Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; MSFHCA Best of 60
• Jossie Camp, Field Hockey — Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team; Boston Herald All-Scholastic; Hockomock Sports First Team; Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division
• Ella Marzulla, Field Hockey — Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Hockomock Sports First Team
• Makayla Kuykendall, Girls’ Volleyball — MVP, Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; Boston Globe Volleyball Athlete of the Year; Boston Globe All-Scholastic; Boston Herald All-Scholastic; Hockomock Sports Player of the Year; MCVCA Division I Tournament All-Star
• Olivia Albert, Girls’ Volleyball — Boston Globe All-Scholastic; Hockomock Sports First Team; Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division; MCVCA Division I Tournament All-Star
• Emma Cunningham, Girls’ Volleyball — MCVCA Division I Tournament All-Star; Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division Honorable Mention
• Stella Nappa, Girls’ Cross Country — MVP, Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division
• Kyle Twomey, Boys’ Cross Country — MVP, Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division
• Ben Burgess, Golf — Hockomock League Kelly-Rex Division All-Star

In addition to student honors, several Franklin High School coaches were recognized for their leadership and excellence:

• Nick Goldman, Boys’ Soccer — Hockomock Sports Coach of the Year
• Jodi Klein, Girls’ Soccer — Hockomock Sports Coach of the Year
• Michelle Hess, Field Hockey — Boston Globe All-Scholastic Coach
• Chris Ridolifi, Girls’ Volleyball — Boston Globe All-Scholastic Coach

Girls Volleyball took home the MIAA Division I State Championship

Principal Weber and Athletic Director Ellis applauded all of Franklin High School’s student-athletes for their teamwork and dedication, applauding them for the hard work they put in on a regular basis, with the awards and distinctions from Fall 2025 attesting to this. Principal Weber and Athletic Director Ellis also commended all of the school's coaches for their dedication and commitment, helping their students to achieve so much in class and on the playing field. 

“This fall truly captured the best of Franklin athletics, and these individual student accomplishments are a reflection of the discipline, teamwork and resilience our athletes demonstrate every day,” said Athletic Director Ellis. “From league honors to all-state recognition, our students and coaches represented Franklin with pride and set an outstanding standard for excellence.”

“Our students and coaches continue to make our entire school community proud,” said Principal Weber. “Their achievements on the field and on the court are matched by their character, leadership, and commitment in the classroom. This was a remarkable fall season for our teams, filled with so many amazing individual accomplishments, and we look forward to building on this success in the seasons to come.”

Additional photos can be found -> https://www.franklinps.net/article/2559807