Franklin Matters

Thursday, August 27, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, August 27, 2026 ???

Thursday, August 27

8:00am Early Voting - State Primary (Town Clerk's Office)

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/9890

*** Town Meetings today ***

Pole Petition Hearing

Thursday, August 27 Time: 10:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272026-2460

Conservation Commission Meeting * Council Chambers

Thursday, August 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272026-2473

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting * 3rd Floor Trng Room

Thursday, August 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272026-2463

* both agendas initally called for their meetings to be in the 3rd floor training room. Per email with TOwn official this AM, Conservation will be held in the Council Chambers

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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 SEPAC schedules "Popsicles on the Playground" September 11

We’re so excited for this! 💕

Come join Franklin SEPAC* for a relaxed afternoon of popsicles, play, and connection! This is a chance for our families to meet one another, let the kids have some fun, and start building our SEPAC community. Siblings are absolutely welcome!

🍦 Friday, September 11 at 3:30 PM

📍 Nason Street Playground

We’d love to see you there!

Please RSVP so we know you’re coming. RSVP here:

https://partiful.com/e/yUZrYm20OCRjVZMaMpRC?c=-3gLwvg_

Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC)*

Town of Franklin Early & Mail Ballots Received as of August 26, 2026

Per Town Clerk Nancy Danello, as of close of business Wednesday, August 26, 2026:

Primary ballots mailed: 4220

Ballots returned: 2368

a 56% return for the mailed ballots

Early votes cast: 238

Early and mailed votes received: 2606

Click for more info about voting in Franklin, MA

Chasity & Jillian fill us in on what's coming up at the Senior Center in September (audio)

FM #1803 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1803 in the series.

This session shares my conversation with Chasity Cheng, Deputy Director and Jillian Rochat, Activities Coordinator. We had our discussion in the Franklin Senior Center on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

We talk about

All the key event highlights for Sept 2026
Change in fitness class on Tue/Thu to ensure safety of participants, limited to first 35
Senior Center Yard Sale - Saturday, Sept 12
Nominations for Stella Jeon Silver Spirit Award close Sept 22
First Senior Center Art Gallery - Sep 24
Senior Expo scheduled for Oct 2, programs canceled for the afternoon of Oct 1 to prepare for the Expo

The show notes include links to the Senior Center page, the calendar of events, and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter.

The recording runs about 41 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1803-franklin-senior-center-sept-2026-event-highlights-08-19-26/

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Chasity & Jillian fill us in on what's coming up at the Senior Center in September (audio)

To sign up for the Senior Center Art Gallery contact Jillian Rochet at 508-528-4945 or via email at jrochat@franklinma.gov

September 2026 newsletter ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10676/September-2026-Newsletter?bidId=

Franklin Senior Center page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/583/Franklin-Senior-Center-Council-on-Aging

The newsletter archive page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/585/Connection-Newsletter

Senior Center calendar view (just FSC events) -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

Subscribe to the newsletter -> by calling 508-520-4945

My Active Center -> https://myactivecenter.com/

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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 it!

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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"

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY – Beaver Pond (Chilson Beach) - A Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)

A Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) has been detected.

🚫 Do not swim, boat, or jet ski
🚫 Do not swallow the water or eat fish
🐾 Keep pets away
🧼 Rinse off after contact

For more information visit: 🌐 www.mass.gov/dph/algae

Farland Corp. acquires Guerriere & Halnon, Inc

"We’re excited to share that Farland Corp. has acquired Guerriere & Halnon, Inc., bringing together two experienced teams in civil engineering and land surveying.

As part of this transition, the Franklin office has joined our Milford office at 333 West Street, Milford, just minutes away.

While the location is changing, the things that matter most are staying the same: the same familiar team, the same phone number, and the same commitment to our clients and community.

We’re especially grateful to the Franklin community for the trust and relationships Guerriere & Halnon has built over the years. We look forward to continuing those relationships while providing even more resources and capabilities as one combined team.

Thank you, Franklin for your continued support! "

#FarlandCorp #GuerriereAndHalnon #FranklinMA #MilfordMA #CivilEngineering #LandSurveying #OneTeamOneVision

Morning conference in Boston on "Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform" - Sept 15

via The Boston Foundation (TBF)

Monring conference in Boston on "Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform" - Sept 15

"On September 15th, TBF and Boston Indicators with Boston Society for Architecture are hosting a morning conference on Housing, Land Use, and Building Reform.

Regulatory barriers have been blocking the construction of homes that Massachusetts needs, especially small multifamily buildings like triple-deckers and townhouses. For generations, these were the homes that gave families a first foothold, a place to raise kids, save money, and lay down roots in our region. Please join Boston Indicators for a morning forum on how today’s regulatory problems evolved over time, and what to do about it.

MA has no shortage of people working to fix these systems and policymakers have been making progress in recent years, and we hope you'll join us to hear from leading experts making the case for reform. The morning conference will include time for discussion and networking with policymakers, advocates, architects, builders, planners, real estate professionals, and academics working toward better rules for small multifamily housing construction."

"The leading experts who will speak at the event are: • Jonathan Berk, who will provide a briefing on his new Boston Indicators report, “Delayed by Design: How the Permitting Process Stalls Housing in Massachusetts, which will be released at the event. • Sam Naylor, who will speak on building code reform and share his recommendations for small multifamily housing in Massachusetts, drawn from two Boston Indicators reports that he authored, and • Amy Dain, who will discuss comprehensive regulatory reform, including comparison of state reform efforts across time. There will also be time for discussion and networking with policymakers, advocates, architects, builders, planners, real estate professionals, and academics. Breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM

And lunch will be available at 12:00 PM"

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DcgaRpEjSAP/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/DcJi6utnEPw/

Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office to host “House to House for Heroes” veterans’ outreach in Avon on September 26th

Sheriff Patrick McDermott, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Avon’s Veterans’ Service Office will host a veterans-focused “House to House for Heroes” outreach effort on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Avon.

This community-driven initiative allows volunteers to meet the men and women who have given so much to their country through their honorable military service and provides them with an opportunity to deliver essential information about the many benefits, services, and resources available to those veterans.

Avon will be the tenth Norfolk County Community visited by volunteers through this veterans' outreach from the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office.

Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office to host “House to House for Heroes” veterans’ outreach in Avon on September 26th

The event will begin at 9:30 AM on September 26th with a kickoff ceremony at VFW Post 8892, located at 263 E Main Street in Avon. From there, volunteers will be assigned homes to conduct their door-to-door outreach of Avon’s veterans.

“House to House for Heroes has proven to be an effective way to raise awareness in the veteran community about the resources and financial support available to them,” said Sheriff McDermott. “It’s also proven to be an incredible way for volunteers to learn about the patriotic service and dedication of the veterans in their neighborhoods through one-on-one meetings at veterans’ doorsteps.”

Volunteers will distribute informational packets that include guidance on accessing veterans’ benefits, healthcare services, housing and employment resources, and contact information for veteran-focused organizations.

Previous successful House to House for Heroes outreach events have been hosted by the Sheriff’s Office in Holbrook, Canton, Foxborough, Stoughton, Walpole, Norfolk, Weymouth, Braintree and Quincy.

Volunteers from communities surrounding Avon are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Volunteers are asked to arrive by 9:30 AM at VFW Post 8892 in Avon, ahead of the kickoff ceremony.

Avon House to House for Heroes:

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Location: VFW Post 8892, 263 E Main Street in Avon

Time: 9:30 a.m. Volunteer Arrival & Kickoff Ceremony

10:00 AM Door-to-Door Veteran Outreach Begins

No advance registration is required.

House to House for Heroes will take place rain or shine.

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, August 27, 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, August 27, 2026

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)

This hour features the School Committee Policy Subcmte meeting held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/08/school-cmte-policy-subcommittee-reviews.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 features Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” Album Hour and live recordings from the Natural Wonder record in the Playlist Hour.
“Songs In The Key of Life” debuted September 28, 1976 at number one on Billboard’s 200 chart becoming only the 3rd album to achieve that and the 1st by an American artist.
Enjoy the R&B fun music of a true music industry icon.

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