What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, September 12, 2024?

Thursday, September 12

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

7:00pm Karaoke Night (La Cantina Winery)

7:00pm premiere of Episode 1 of The Boatbuilders (Newport, RI)

7:00pm Spoonfuls .. Wasted Food, Hunger, and the Climate Emergency: How Food Recovery Helps (First Universalist Society of Franklin, FUSF)

9:00pm Brian Cabral (live music) (3 Restaurant)

**  Town Meetings today   **

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School agenda

Event Date:  Thursday, September 12, 2024 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/bot_agenda_09122024.docx.pdf

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting - CANCELED

Event Date:  Thursday, September 12, 2024 - 7:30pm

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Celebrate the Season and Great Food at Franklin’s Harvest Festival on Sep 28

The 21st Annual Harvest Festival is set for Saturday, September 28, from 12 noon to 5 PM. The rain date is Sunday, September 29, from 12 noon to 4 PM. It will take place on Main Street and the surrounding area in downtown Franklin.

Harvest Festival on Sep 28

More than 150 vendors will display their specialties. Come and enjoy live music, food, kids’ activities, artwork and crafts. It’s a great time to meet local shop owners and check out all that Franklin offers.

Many delicious choices from local restaurants at the food court: Italian sausage, pizza, hot dogs, barbecue chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, pastries, fried dough, ice cream, gelato and more. Teddy Gallagher’s Pub will be working their grill. Dean Bank will be selling apple cider, cider donuts, and popcorn in front of the bank. Proceeds of their sales will go to the Harvest Festival. 

Here’s the entertainment schedule at The Performance Tent.

• Dom DeBaggis 12 pm to 1:20 pm
• Rep. Jeff Roy 1:35 pm to 2:55 pm
• FSPA Entertainment 3:10 pm to 3:30 pm
• Heath Nisbett 3:40 pm to 5:00 pm

The Performance Tent is located between the Post Office and Dean Bank. 

The Franklin Fire Department will have its popular touch-a-truck attraction. Fire trucks will be out front at its Route 140 station and Sparky will give out plastic fire helmets to children. 

The Franklin Historical Museum will celebrate the long-running St. Rocco’s Festival. The museum will share images, news clips, and memories of the St. Rocco’s Festival and celebrate Franklin’s Italian roots as well. The Rome restaurant will sell pizza slices in front of the museum.

“Downtown Franklin is a busy social center for shopping, dining and entertainment. The Harvest Festival is the perfect time to get acquainted with local business owners and community groups,” said Scott Martin, President of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and Harvest Festival Chair. “We welcome friends from our town and beyond.”

The Partnership invites business owners to sponsor the Harvest Festival. Email the FDP office at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. 

Thank you to this year’s generous festival sponsors: 

• Platinum sponsors – Coastal Glow Skin Care, Dean Bank. Gold sponsors – Dean College; Floor & Décor; Middlesex Savings Bank. 
• Silver sponsors – Camford Property Group, Inc.; The Enclave of Franklin; Glen Meadow Apartments; Hockomock YMCA; Notturno Home Services; Rockland Trust. 
• Bronze sponsors – Beaux Regards Photographic Art; Chestnut Dental; DCU; D.G. Ranieri Real Estate; Eagle Stainless Tube & Fabrication, Inc.; Fenton Financial Group; Keefe Insurance; LeafFilter Gutter Protection; MyFM; Nerds To Go; Simons Furniture; and Turtle 2 Properties, LLC.

For more festival or sponsorship info, visit the FDP website at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org.

Follow the Downtown Partnership at:

https://www.instagram.com/franklindowntownpartnership/   and

https://www.facebook.com/franklindowntownpartnership.org/

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization made up of more than 300 business owners, residents, and community leaders working to revitalize downtown Franklin. Residents can join the Downtown Partnership for only $25. The Partnership manages events like the Strawberry Stroll and the Harvest Festival, and initiatives such as beautification, streetscape design, green space, alley murals, and sculpture projects. For more information go to www.franklindowntownpartnership.org

Franklin Veterans - Brick Order Deadline for November Installation is September 20

Engraved Veterans' Bricks Make Great Holiday Gifts

The deadline for ordering engraved bricks for the November 2024 installation on the Veterans Memorial Walkway on the Franklin Town Common is September 20. 

Bricks are $100 each and order forms are available in the Senior Center and Town Hall lobbies and on the Veterans Services web page: https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services

Bricks are installed in May and November and frameable certificates are sent to the purchaser after the installation. Bricks can be ordered for any current U.S. Service Member or Veteran. There are currently 1,889 engraved bricks on the Walkway. Bricks will be personalized until all blank bricks have been engraved. 

Thank you to all who have supported the Veterans Memorial Walkway project. For more information, call the Veterans' Services Office at: (508) 613-1315.

Order form ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/brick_order_form_with_shannons_name.pdf

Brick Order Deadline for November Installation

Joint Budget Subcommittee starts the long road to the FY 2026 budget, override likely but what, when determined next year (video)

The Joint Budget Subcommittee met as scheduled on Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 to begin the discussions on the FY 2026 fiscal budget. All members participated, 2 remotely (Frongillo, Griffith).

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7RPb5Q66Q

Quick recap:

• Chair Tom Mercer opened the session with a review of the committee charge (linked to below), and a round of introductions, as well as explanation of why only 3 members of the School Committee vs. 4 each of Finance Cmte and Town Council. Finance and Council have 9 on the full body, hence 4 is the most to avoid a quorum; Schools have only 7, hence the 3 keeps within the quorum rules
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen in his opening remarks said this budget situation is not unique to Franklin, Jamie using his time at Mass Municipal Assoc (MMA) to advocate for state funding at local levels esp. for schools, Lt Gov hearing this message not just from Franklin; this is the norm not the exception
• Supt Lucas Giguere in his intro remarks wants us all to learn from last year, getting together and starting early is good, how do we work together to solve this. Redistricting planning is underway, the reorganization is not going to solve the budget issues, it will make us more sustainable... Think about big picture of town and schools together
• Hellen continued to walk the group through the revenue projects as shared in the agenda (link below)
• Budget timeline overview (linked below) Capital budget due Dec 1, Ops budget first pass due Dec 20. They do get refined as the process works along
• Dr Dutch explains revolving account usage for schools, akin to the enterprise funds on the town side; money collected by the specific area is used to pay for the costs incurred by that area. If any excess within, can not be used elsewhere, only within that space. Transportation for transportation, etc.
• Q - on grants and where it might be in the projections as shown? A - we do get grants but they are not shown in this. Grants are special revenue and are not in the operational budgets, there are a couple of exceptions with reoccurring grants for Senior Center, Board of Health
• Q - Will the same level of budget document be shared with the folks? A - yes, last year's docs are posted, this year's will be when available. Go to and click the Budget button to get last year's budget details   https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget
• Q - on turnover for school district A - 56 resignations and 8 since the Aug 27 meeting. HR status report for the SchCmte meeting yesterday. The report can be found ->  https://coredocs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/4824938/September_10__2024_HR_Staffing_Report.pdf
• Items not explicitly covered in this first pass of the budget 
• Contract negotiations also with all the unions (9 or so) are not factored in (other than the automated 2.5 already in the forecast)
• Savings or cost regarding redistricting
• health care (as mentioned) numbers usually ready in March
• inflation not explicitly covered
• There is no anticipated relief on the expense side. With expense increase coming, modeling to see where we can get to stabilize the budget or we end up cutting additional services and staff. We are already starting at a deficit ($3m) and we need to work together to solve it
• Per Chief Lynch - No one (municipal side) will sign a contract until the teachers are signed. He goes further to clarify the situation that happened 3 years ago when former Supt Ahern approved the 4-4-4 for teachers
• Q - Raises the possibility of getting some tax assistance, or subsidy, what is the legal ramifications, other Towns do it, we need to look at it. A - We already do most of the state tax abatements. Take discussion offline to get more details on the proposal

Links for agenda docs

1. Committee Charge

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/joint_budget_subcommittee_charge.pdf

2. Annual Budget Calendar for Town Departments

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2._fy26_budget_calendar_-_google_docs.pdf

3. Town Administrator Budget Memo & Five Year Fiscal Forecast packet   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/3_0.pdf

a. Sample borrowing schedules for Remington-Jefferson and Horace Mann capital projects.  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/estimates.pdf

4. Next Steps/Meetings

a. October 23, 2024 - JBSC

My notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-PKZkOitZwrzJ31d1F4ygeuQzJoFjWGv/view?usp=drive_link 

Agenda for the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting - Sep 11 at 7 PM

Listen to Tina & Liz talk about how food recovery helps the Franklin Food Pantry clients and climate (audio)

FM #1277 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1277 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Tina Powderly, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry and Liz Miller, Community Coordinator of Spoonfuls.org. 

We spend time in this episode talking about September as Hunger Action Month, and how The Pantry partnership with Spoonfuls is helping to drive awareness around food recovery. Food recovery provides healthy, fresh foods for The Pantry clients and removes the recovered food from the landfill environment, a key climate goal. We had our conversation in the new location of the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s. 

Listen to our conversation to find 

• How The Pantry receives 2 shipment of 1,000 pounds each per week

• How confusion about date labeling adds about 7% to the food waste 

• How food waste costs a typical family of about $1,500, yes more than $100/month

The recording runs about 37 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Tina and Liz. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1277-franklin-food-pantry-hunger-action-month-09-05-24/

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Participate in the event Thursday, Sept 12, 2024 at the First Universalist Society of Franklin, a joint presentation by The Pantry and Spoonfuls. Free but registration recommended to confirm capacity requirements https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/hungeractionmonth/ 

For more about Spoonfuls, visit their page  https://spoonfuls.org/ 

Liz Miller’s LinkedIN profile -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmonizmiller/

Tina Powderly’s LinkedIN profile -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-tavares-powderly-78a81131/ 

YouTube video of WGBH segment 10 years ago -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqSBXwnX8Gc 

Spoonful’s founder Liz Stanley’s TEDxRVA talk -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O_KDxJV3Ow 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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"

Listen to Tina & Liz talk about how food recovery helps the Franklin Food Pantry clients and climate (audio)

FHS golf tops Canton on Wednesday 148-151

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Golf = Franklin, 148 @ Canton, 151 – Final

– Final – In a non-league battle of Hock heavyweights, Franklin secured a three-stroke win to hand Canton its first loss of the season. Senior Jack Nelson had his second birdie of the day on the ninth hole to come in with a match medalist round of 35 for the Panthers. Liam Lewandowski (birdies on three and four) added a 36, Caden Sullivan (birdie on two) chipped in with a 38, and Cam LaBrie shot a 39 on the day. Canton’s Huck McCready fired a team-low round of 36, Travis Thomas was right behind with a 37, and both Aidan O’Toole and Matt Ryan carded a round of 39.

"Great win for the boys today 🏌️‍♂️‼️ Narrowly beating canton 148-151 to move to a 5-1 record💥💥 #mint #pure #butter #birdies #heater #perlman #roc 

Jack Nelson: 35 (+1)

Liam Lewandowski: 36 (+2)

Caden Sullivan: 38 (+4)

Cam Labrie: 39 (+5)  "

https://x.com/FHSGolfTeam/status/1833987411614875961

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-11-24/

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

Teaser on future event at the True Grit Gallery

event at the True Grit Gallery

Via Amy Adams:  

"Hello Community!  

Back in the lab finishing up this one is for a True Grit Art Gallery event featuring poet and visual arts collaborations (more to come on dates to check it out!).  

Just wanted to share the message that came through for this one. 

“You’re not stepping into an abyss. The foundation for your direction is already there.

Don’t overcomplicate and take the step!”

Brief video on FB and they don't allow embedding elsewhere. To view, you'll need to follow the link ->  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/USKCuLMQRsje6pSt/

Fall Health Fair scheduled for Sep 25 at Franklin Public Library from 3 to 6 PM

Fall Health Fair

The Franklin Public Library is hosting the Fall Health Fair!

The Fair will take place on September 25, 2024 from 3:00PM - 6:00PM at the Franklin Public Library.

Stop by for local vendors, face painting, refreshments, activities, giveaways, health services, and more!

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/fall-health-fair-0

Jamie Barrett scheduled to perform at Avalena's Friday, Sep 13

via Jamie Barrett 

"Returning to Avalena’s to rock the house! C’mon out and join us!"

Friday, Sep 13 from 7 PM to 10 PM

Jamie Barrett scheduled to perform at Avalena's Friday, Sep 13

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/TzrrRpNmaedmMvW3/

Road Closure Information for Franklin/Norfolk - Lawrence St for Sep 16 through 18

For additional information, including a road closure map, please view the images below

Road Closure Information

Lawrence St for Sep 16 through 18

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/public-works/news/road-closure-916-918-norfolk-and-franklin

Fall 2024 High School Fair scheduled for Sep 19 at 5 PM (for 8th graders)

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is pleased to announce the date for our Fall 2024 High School Fair which will be held on September 19th from 5:00pm to 6:00 pm in the BFCCPS Learning Commons located at 500 Financial Park.  

Sep 19 at 5 PM

The event is open to 8th grade students both at BFCCPS and from local schools as well. Please note that a parent or guardian must accompany all students for the duration of the event.

Students are invited to pick up brochures and applications, ask about fall open house dates and speak directly with representatives and current students of the schools that will be in attendance.

Parking for the event is available in the school parking lot. Please note driving directions to the facility here on our website. (https://www.bfccps.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=529636&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=1013734)

You can view this sheet to see what schools have RSVP'd to attend ​​​​​​​(please note that this list will update as additional schools RSVP between now and the event.)

Shared from -> https://www.bfccps.org/apps/events/event.jsp?eREC_ID=4358672&d=2024-09-19&id=0

Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) Annual Conference scheduled for Oct 24 in Worcester

MNN Annual Conference

Each year, the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) Annual Conference convenes one of the largest gatherings of nonprofit professionals in the state. The day-long event will include an engaging keynote session, a wide selection of exciting workshops, networking opportunities, and the presentation of our Lifetime Achievement Awards.  

Interested in attending this year’s event? The 2024 Conference will return to the DCU Center in Worcester on October 24, 2024. 

Register now! Early-Bird Rates through September 13 only.

for more about the conference ->  https://massnonprofitnet.org/events/mnn-annual-conference/

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Sep 12, 2024

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Thursday

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p 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)" = Turntable Show 10 

The Album Hour features the Eagles "One of These Nights" album which includes their second #1 hit single, One of these Nights, and the album was their first #1 record.  

The Playlist Hour includes the Vibe selected Eagles, Glen Frey, and Joe Walsh live and studio songs

• Show 10 Playlist ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Rv_xWM7GqAwPWIsjfAfV0F1aKlCVRtS/view?usp=drive_link 

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Frank Presents – Notable Local Conversations

 

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

7:00 am     Fallen Heroes Pt 5

7:30 am     Veterans' Call: Robert Pierson

9:00 am     Vera Meyer: Glass Harmonica

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness 2024

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Crescent Rolls

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8

3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: Katherine Kennedy

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

5:00 pm Paris Olympics: Kristi Kirshe

6:30 pm     Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta

9:00 pm Endless Konnections: Kanaya Ryland

10:00 pm Shelley Otis: Harpist

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

7:00 am     Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22

8:30 am     All-Town Showcase 2024: Chorus and Orchestra

11:00 am FHS Varsity Swimming v North Attleboro 01-05-24

1:30 pm     FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

2:30 pm     Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

4:00 pm Track and Field: v King Philip 05-04-22

7:30 pm     FHSTC: Peter and the Starcatcher

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 09-05-24

12:00 pm Economic Development 09-04-24

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 09-05-24

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

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