Exclusive audio: Franklin (MA) Board of health Meeting held 3/04/26 (audio)

FM #1680 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1680 the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The meeting agenda was held in the 3rd floor training room as well as via Google Meet. All 3 board members were present with the full compliment of Health Dept staff. 

Quick Recap:

• Chair Kim Mu-Chow opens the meeting

• Reads protocol statement re: Google meet

• Confirms participation via roll call

• Approval of Feb minutes, moved, second, passes 3-0

• No citizen comments

• Restricting the sale of tobacco products inspection violations discussion 

• Report My Meal Report My Meal | Mass.gov link added to Town page

 https://www.mass.gov/info-details/report-my-meal 

• Planning for a women's health fair

• Mobile mammogram vehicle confirmed, child care set up for mother who make appointments

• At New England Chapel, all women's health issues to be covered with vendors and info tables

• Additional details being worked

• Motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0

The meeting runs about 47 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting March 4, 2026. Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1680-franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-03-04-26/

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Agenda doc ->

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2164 

My notes in one PDF file -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DjqfX6IxRhuLudVhGzMDybBtk2DIEu_D/view?usp=drive_link 

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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. 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"

In this "Talk Franklin" episode Jamie & I welcome Liz, get updates, and dive into MMA (audio)

A new episode of the Talk Franklin podcast with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen is now available! 

In this "Talk Franklin" episode Jamie & I
welcome Liz, get updates, and dive into MMA (audio)

Produced in collaboration with Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio, this conversation covers Town updates and community topics.

🎧 Listen here: https://buff.ly/0eTqtVi

This session of the radio show shares our “Talk Franklin” discussion with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Liz Kalaijian, the new Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Town of Franklin. We recorded our conversation in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Key topics

• Welcome Liz
• Quick updates on Town business
• Deep dive on Mass Municipal Association (MMA)
• Close with some musical fun (songs about communications)

The recording runs about  59 minutes. Let’s listen to our conversation.

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, March 5, 2026 ???

Thursday, March 5

• Regular curbside trash/recycle schedule for this week
• Free overflow bags at DPW Admin building, 257 Fisher St
• Hours added at Beaver St Recycling Ctr  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/reminder-regular-curbside-schedule-for.html

6:30pm Four courses. Four regions. All Italy (ticket event) (Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen)

7:00pm Argentine Tango Night! (La Cantina Winery)

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

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

*** Town Meetings today   ***

Franklin Commission on Disabilities Meeting

Thursday, March 5 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2163 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, March 5 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2146 

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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

Town Council authorizes fire truck replacement, approves goals, & hears total expenses on snow & ice now exceeds $2M (video)

The Franklin (MA) Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, March 4 and managed to conclude their session in their new 4 hour time constraint. All 9 members were present in Council Chambers.

The Franklin TV video is available for replay (approx. 30 minutes of the beginning is missing) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqBnx2pcj5U

The agenda (and released documents) can be found  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2166

The thread of my notes capture via Blusky can be found 

https://skywriter.blue/@franklinmatters.bsky.social/3mgbesyelks2u 

or PDF format - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ONzSiMKofgqw1riOlBPJyqB-Hopo3bcs/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap

• The video on YouTube is missing approx. 30 minutes of the meeting; citizen comments and then picking up in the middle of Council Comments. Likely this video link will get replaced with the full video backup.
• Council changed agenda order and jumped to Legislation for action to tackle those items before getting to the goals discussion
• Snow and Ice total at $2.1M which doesn't include the $65K from last nights double coat of salt to counter the ice. This amount will eat into the operations budget as it has already wiped out the snow/Ice stabilization amount
• Ad-hoc subcommittee with 3 Council members will report back with community input on potential charter changes was approved by 9-0 vote
• Appropriating Funds by Borrowing to Pay Costs of Purchasing a Fire Truck for the Fire Department was approved by 9-0 vote.
• $20,000 from special fund for paid parking fees was authorized to pay for the system (2 years worth) and some repairs to one of the kiosks by a 9-0 vote
• 2 zoning bylaws (Zoning Bylaw Amendment 26-948 & Zoning Bylaw Amendment 26-949) were approved to refer to the Planning Board. They will conduct their public hearing and send them back as is, or with comments for adjustments. The Council will then hold their public hearing (possibly in April) before voting on the measures. The new Planning Director Morena Zelaya made the presentation for her first appearance before the Council
• Then they got to the goals discussion. After a lengthy discussion with some tweaks, some cuts, but mostly approval of the goals as presented the Council was able to move to accept the goals as revised at approx. 9:58, approved to waive the reading, voted to approved, and then with seconds to spare, voted to adjourn before 10:00 PM

Town Council authorizes fire truck replacement,
approves goals, & hears total expenses on
snow & ice now exceeds $2M (video)

Reminder: Live reporting now to Bluesky app

I have stopped putting my live reporting notes out to X/Twitter. I have successfully reported on 2 meetings with Bluesky and likely will continue that way for now.

You can follow me at https://bsky.app/profile/franklinmatters.bsky.social

One draw back is that I don't have a PDF summary of the thread for a single meeting. If I can figure that out, I'd like to bring it back. If someone knows of a tool that could do that for Bluesky, I am all ears.

Or if there is another app with threadlike features I'll consider that (except for @Threads, that was a failure for reporting purposes).

Ok, thanks to quick responses from the community, I do have a thread creator tool and an option to output the thread to a PDF. Slick! The meeting notes for the 3/4/26 Town Council meeting have already been updated with this.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-council-authorizes-fire-truck.html

Reminder: Live reporting now to Bluesky app

Background on process: 

• During the meeting, the thread of the live reporting happens
• The next day, the Franklin TV video link is shared (assuming available) with a quick recap of the major items from the meeting
• In a couple of days, the audio of the meeting is shared. Sooner if the audio is an exclusive (i.e. Board of Health, or other Town or School Cmte subcommittee meeting is not on the TV broadcast schedule)
• The audio post will also include the quick recap and the TV link (if available)
• Usually at the end of the week, the Meeting Notes archive is updated (https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html)
• The meeting summary link is also included in the Franklin Matters Weekly edition prepared Saturday and emailed Sunday morning   https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/

FHS' John Woodall one of five Hockomock Wrestlers to Earn All-State Titles

Via HockomockSports.com:

"Marcolini was one of five Hockomock grapplers to win an All-State title on Monday, joined by Franklin’s John Woodall (113), Mansfield’s Tessa Johnson (145), and Sharon’s Cyrus Jones (175) and Elsa Scott (107).

“Derek wrestled a great tournament, he was motivated all week and put in the work necessary to win All-States,” said Milford head coach PJ Boccia. “Proud of the way he has wrestled all year.”

Woodall, a sophomore, remained undefeated in his career by winning his second straight All-State title this time at 113. He needed just over 90 seconds to earn a 21-6 tech fall in the quarterfinals and then six takedowns in an impressive showing in the semifinals, a 19-6 major decision over Woburn’s Alexavier Orellana. Against the two-seed Devon Mateo (West Springfield) in the final, Woodall had two takedowns in the second period and two more in the third to earn a 12-3 major decision.

Woodall becomes just the fourth Hockomock wrestler to win All-States twice and the first in a decade, joining Foxboro’s Jack Leighton (1997 & 1998) and Matt Kelley (2015 & 2016) and Franklin’s Steve Heleniak (1999 & 2000).

Continue reading the wrestling article (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/five-hockomock-wrestlers-earn-all-state-titles/

Franklin’s John Woodall, pictured here at the 2026 Hockomock Championships, became just the fourth wrestler in league history to win All-States twice. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Please take the quick Franklin Public Library Survey !!!

Please take the quick Franklin Public Library Survey !!!

Franklin Public Library wants to hear from you!

Please take our quick survey to help us plan for the next five years of library goals and greatness!

https://www.franklinma.gov/1211/Library-Survey

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLQTZyetP/

Get your tickets now for the Creative Corner, Fiori & Fern, KCooks collaboration at The Shed March 31

Get your tickets now for the Creative Corner, Fiori & Fern,
KCooks collaboration at The Shed March 31

​Excited to collaborate with other local businesses And invite the community to hold private events 

• Available on Tuesdays •

Bringing more fun to your weekday!

• March 31st • SIP & CREATE 

Secure your spot today • Limited seating

@creativecornerartstudio    @Fiori and Fern   @kcooks_momchef_ 

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVbcKGhESrG/

Tickets available online - https://www.creativecornerartstudiofranklin.com/service-page/paint-and-sip-night-at-the-shed?referral=service_list_widget

Power of Positivity, Sunday March 8 at 10 AM

The Power of Positivity = March 8, 2026 10:00 AM

Lay leader and longtime FUSF member Bo Kinney will lead a service entitled "The Power of Positivity." Bo will share how his cancer journey has influenced his life, and how it exemplifies the Unitarian Universalist value of Transformation.

Event by First Universalist Society in Franklin

262 Chestnut St, Franklin, MA

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1DTPXuoGh2/

Save the Date: April 25 is Celebrate Trails Day!

April 25 is Celebrate Trails Day!

Save the Date: April 25 is Celebrate Trails Day!  

The Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) will be hosting a walking tour on the SNETT Trail to highlight some of the history surrounding the the rail trail, and also discussing some of the changes coming in the future.

Details can be found on our web site using the link https://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/2026/03/03/celebrate-trails-day-april-25th-2026/

Senior Story Hour - WFPR: Episode 099 - Self Publishing, Stephen King, Cinnamon Soldiers, 100 Years, and much more

In this episode, The Franklin Senior Center Writers Group shares stories, poems, and writings about self publishing, Susan shares about her upcoming book, Jesus Has Set Me Free, Faith and Peter discuss Stephen King books, love is in the air with the help of the cinnamon soldiers, and a poem about 100 years.

Audio link ->  https://senior-scribblers.captivate.fm/episode/episode-099-self-publishing-stephen-king-cinnamon-soldiers-100-years-and-much-more

Senior Story Hour - WFPR

Senior Story Hour - WFPR = The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group

Steve Sherlock hosts The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group for a monthly reading of short stories, essays, poetry and more. 

Find more episodes here (or on your favorite podcast app) ->  https://senior-scribblers.captivate.fm/episodes

Annual YMCA Impact Highlights for 2025

Annual YMCA Impact Highlights for 2025

As we prepare for our Annual Reach Out Breakfast this Friday, March 6th at Gillette Stadium, we’re reflecting on the incredible impact made possible through the critical funds raised with the help of our generous supporters.

Because of you, we’ve been able to strengthen our community, support families in need, and ensure everyone has access to the programs and services that truly change lives.

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZy9s_lDQm/

NPR signs change for a reason

Wondering why the NPR logo looks a little different today?

After a year of sustained political attacks threatening to silence NPR – including Congress' rescission of $1 billion in funding for public media – we thought it was time to loudly champion the questions that live at the heart of human curiosity.

As part of a national, multi-platform campaign created in partnership with creative advertising agency Mischief @ No Fixed Address, we’re raising the three-letter questions at the core of all our journalism, and we’re putting them everywhere: across out-of-home activations in New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., on feeds across social media— even on the signage in front of our headquarters.

Why? Because questions like these are at the heart of NPR's mission to create a more informed society. Because your freedom to ask “who?” “how?” and “why?” is at the cornerstone of American democracy. Because it’s a reminder that any attempt to silence curiosity will only inspire more of it.

Learn more about the campaign at the link in our bio, or at npr.org/curious.

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1Avm17RtEU/

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, March 5, 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:

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events  (Repeats Saturday at 3:00 PM)

• The episode features the Town Council Quarterbacking session with Max Morrongiello as we recap the meeting held Feb 4, 2026  -    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/councilor-max-morrongiello-shares-his.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM - first hour

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - second hour

Turntable – "Enjoy a fun experience with co-hosts The Vibe and Pauly G sharing personal discussions about a featured rock n roll vinyl record (1st hour) and the best, all music Vibe Playlist (2nd hour)"  

• The Turntable Show Album Hour features Steely Dan's award winning "Aja" record.   Aja was released Sept 23, 1977 and was Steely Dan's sixth studio album which includes hits such as "Peg", "Deacon Blues", and "Josie".  

  
  
• The Dan Vibe Playlist Hour includes some early Dan classics and a special play of the “2021 Live Northeast Corridor Concert" which highlights many classics and Aja songs live..  Enjoy the brilliance of The Dan!"

Find the playlist ->  https://tinyurl.com/TurntablePlaylists

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