What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, December 14, 2025 ???

Sunday, December 14

7:30am All You can eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod and Gun Club)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

1:15pm Second Sunday Speaker  (Franklin Historical Museum)

** 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

Potpourri agenda for last Town Council meeting in 2025

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

December 17, 2025 = 6:00 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Council may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town Administrator from correcting a misstatement of fact.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. November 12, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7849/November-12-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

b. November 19, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7833/3a-November-19-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. 8th Grade Franklin Panthers Football Team

b. Franklin High School Cheerleading Team

c. Franklin High School Girls’ Volleyball Team

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Council on Aging - Christopher (Kit) Brady   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7856/5a-Appointment-Kit-Brady

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 6:00 PM - None Scheduled.

 

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Annual License Renewals

i. See attached “2026 Town of Franklin Alcohol License Renewals”  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7857/7a-1---MEMO---License-Renewals

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Snow Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Carlos Rebelo, Highway/Grounds Superintendent   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025

b. Social Equity Policy Discussion  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7841/Local-Approval-Process-and-Social-Equity-Policy

c. Town Charter Presentation  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation

d. Citizen Satisfaction Survey: the town is headed in the wrong direction  

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/polco.nrc/viz/TheNCSReport-FranklinMA2025/About

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-83: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services Dept. ($91,072.88), Senior Center (21,275.73), Police Dept. ($710.74)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-83 - Majority Vote)  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7854/9a-Gifts

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

slide from the snow presentation

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc contains remote participation info -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-2062 

FHS girls & boys hockey team lose on Saturday

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School   on   Saturday, December 13, 2025

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 1 vs. Falmouth, 3 – Final

Girls Hockey = Stoughton/Sharon, 2 @ Franklin, 0 – Final

"Saturday night’s win has been a long time coming for the Stoughton girls hockey program.

The Black Knights got goals from eighth-grader Sophie Kirkwood and junior Sam Meixler while junior goalie Sarah Scappaticci (28 saves) dazzled in goal to backstop the program to its first-ever Hockomock League win, a 2-0 verdict over Franklin.

“On any given night, she’s the best player on the ice, to be honest with you,” said Stoughton/Sharon head coach Chad Kelley about Scappaticci. “We’re so lucky to have her. She’s a junior for us too, so we have her for another year. She makes those big saves every game. She usually sees 50 shots a night — she didn’t tonight — but she’s still amazing. She’ll make saves that will wow you whether it was an NHL game or this.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription required) -> 

https://hockomocksports.com/sarah-scappaticci-backstops-stoughton-sharon-girls-hockey-first-ever-hock-win/

For a photo gallery from this game (subscription required) -> 

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2025-2026/Winter-2025-2026/Franklin-StoughtonSharon-Girls-Hockey-12-13-25

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)  

https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-13-25/

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

Franklin TV: MIAA Students Rule

It’s Our Student of the Month Series

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/14/2025

The MIAA & MSAA have an unambiguous mission, “Growing Courageous Leaders.” To that end they have selected their Student(s) of the Month for fall ‘25.

Whatever limits we might assume about this generation all vanish as they describe school life and their aspirations for the future. Their candid conversations with Franklin.TV’s Jay Horrigan and MIAA’s Steve Dubzinsky are lively and peppered with a balance of gravity and hilarity. Our student athletes tell their stories – openly and joyfully in all the best ways – on ‘Winning Ways’ with the MIAA.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm

And staying informed at Franklin●news

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

Mark the calendar for these 2026 dates for Franklin Downtown Partnership events

Mark the calendar for these 2026 dates for Franklin Downtown Partnership events

Mark the calendar for these 2026 dates for Franklin Downtown Partnership events

Become a member as an individual or as a company or organization ->   https://franklindowntownpartnership.org/

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

Time to get your Franklin (MA) Questions Answered: Weds, Dec 17, 11:00 AM at the Senior Center or via Zoom

What is going on with .... ?

What happened to ....?

                How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, volunteer Community Information Director for Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have.

Time to get your Questions Answered

When: Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM  

Where: Franklin Senior Center  and via Zoom

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form, or check with the Senior Center front desk, or email me:  https://forms.gle/Nh8RxkMtG1J1DGwj9

Chipotle fund raising for Class of 2026 - Dec 17

Chipotle fund raising for Class of 2026 - Dec 17

via FHS Class of 2026:

We will be holding a Chipotle fundraiser next Wednesday, December 17 from 4-8pm.

Use the code (QTEBH28) when ordering online or show a physical copy of the flyer!

25% of proceeds go to Class of 2026. See you all there!!

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DSHDOIjjv1r/

Franklin Books is looking for your input to their survey

Franklin Books

One of the pop up shops in THE BLACK BOX on Saturday was a potential future book store; "Franklin Books." 

You can respond to their survey to help them plan for a future!

Survey ->   https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzIzKc3bwS8tvaaRd8cU08vfOfaSOJoa6dsqSAGtdFpT8WuQ/viewform

Tickets for Murder Mystery on New Year Eve at 3 Restaurant on Sale !!!

Tickets for Murder Mystery on New Year
Eve at 3 Restaurant on Sale !!!

"Ring in the New Year with a killer evening!

Bring your friends and join us for a New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Dinner Buffet filled with eerie clues, haunting twists, and food to die for.

Tickets are on sale now!

Call us at (508) 523-6333 to purchase and learn more."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DSJH_uWDey9/

Blackstone River Theater performances for 2026

Blackstone River Theater performances for 2026

"Blackstone River Theatre has some amazing concerts planned in 2026 as we continue celebrating our 25th anniversary!

Tix for all shows are at www.BRTri.org"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/17aPr2J9t3/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday, December 14, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a schedule full of 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 Sunday

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

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, December 13, 2025 ???

Saturday, December 13

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:00am Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

9:00am St Mary's Women’s Faith Formation Meeting (St. Mary's Parish)

9:00am Winter Coat Giveaway (Franklin United Methodist Church)

10:00am A-Wreath-of-Franklin celebration (THE BLACK BOX)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Pictures with Santa (Franklin Police Department)

10:30am Jamie Barrett (live music) (Franklin Public Library)

10:30am Pancakes & pajamas (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Library Books by the Bag Sale (Franklin Public Library)

4:00pm Holiday Stories & Sing-a-Long (Franklin United Methodist Church)

7:30pm Jamie Barrett (live music) (Morin's Hometown Bar & Grille, Attleboro)

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

For additional details on A Wreath of Franklin, please visit the event page ->   https://franklinartsculture.my.canva.site/wreath25-program-site

** 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

A Wreath of Franklin is here today - Saturday, Dec 13 from 11 AM to 4 PM

A PDF version of the email with all the details is here for you to view or print out.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hI52-2WvxUjfe1UEW4wSkVLxipyMzQt8/view?usp=drive_link

For additional details, please visit the event page ->

https://franklinartsculture.my.canva.site/wreath25-program-site

A Wreath of Franklin is here today - Saturday, Dec 13 from 11 AM to 4 PM

An Invite From Congressman Auchincloss to register for a Virtual Update with Q&A - Dec 15

Hi neighbor, On Monday, December 15, I'll be hosting a Virtual Update and Q & A. This is an opportunity for you to raise questions and hear updates on what I'm doing to represent the district's values & priorities. Details about the Q&A are below. I hope you'll be able to join me.  Congressional Update and Q&A with Congressman Jake Auchincloss     Monday, December 15 7:15 – 8:15 PM RSVP for the Zoom link HERE *By registering for this event, you grant our office permission to send you future communications and updates.   Jake Auchincloss

Franklin Public Library: A preview of the top events for January 2026

New Service

Can't make it to the library? Let us bring the library to your door. Home Delivery Service ensures that Franklin residents who are unable to visit the library due to aging-related limitations, illness, disability, or temporary mobility limitations can continue to benefit from library resources. Items will be delivered to and picked up from a homebound patron's home by staff members approximately every three weeks. For more information, please visit the library website.

 

Special Events for Kids
K-Pop Demon Hunters Party, Friday, January 2 @ 10:30am
Calling all Demon Hunters! Join us for an epic celebration of everyone's favorite movie, with music, crafts, games, and a few surprises!

Rainforest Reptiles! Saturday, January 3 @ 10:30am
Travel with us to the different rainforests around the world and meet the critters, turtles, snakes and more that call these places home! Real, LIVE Animal Fun for All Ages!

Stuffed Animal Village, Saturday, January 10 @ 10:30am
Bring your favorite stuffed animal for a special day trip to our stuffed animal village! Visit the bakery, post office, gym, library, doctors, and more.

Hairstyling Workshop for Grown-Ups & Kiddos! Friday, January 16 @ 3:30pm
Join us for a special hairstyling workshop, perfect for learning something new in the New Year! Learn a few special styles and leave with a kit to continue building your skills at home.

Ben Franklin Birthday Bash, Saturday, January 17 @ 2pm
Join us as we celebrate the birthday of Ben Franklin himself! Music, games, and more.

Vision Board Making, Wednesday, January 21 @ 1pm
Families- set your intentions for 2026! Join us as we get crafty, creating vision boards AND setting our reading resolutions.

Tape Town! Saturday, January 24 @ 10:30am
Spend an imaginative afternoon at the library! Bring along a small toy vehicle (or borrow one of ours) and cruise along our "roads" made of tape all through our program room, and enjoy a series of interactive pretend play stations all through the town.

Special Events for Adults
The Franklin Stove: An Unintended American Revolution, Thursday, January 8 @ 6:30pm
As part of the town's annual Ben Franklin Month, Harvard Professor Joyce Chaplin will be at the Franklin Public Library to discuss her new book, The Franklin Stove: An Unintended American Revolution. Kirkus Reviews said: "Historian Chaplin focuses on Benjamin Franklin's multiple renditions of an innovative stove to examine the intersection of scientific inquiry, race, class, politics, and economics at a time of climate change and resource depletion―a period, she underscores, not unlike our own."

Go/No Go? Launching your Business w/ Mentors from SCORE, Thursday, January 22 @ 6:30pm
Registration Requested
Hey there, future small business owner! This one hour guided conversation will introduce you to the tools you need to confidently decide if your idea for a new business is ready to launch. Get your questions answered, avoid mistakes, and find FREE mentorship with SCORE.

Special Events for All Ages
Live Reading of the Franklin Biography, Thursday, January 15 @ 9:30am-7:30pm

Franklin Public Library: A preview of
the top events for January 2026 

A tradition returns home! Join us for a live reading of Ben Franklin's Autobiography at the Franklin Public Library. Everyone is welcome to read, listen, and comment on the life of our favorite Founding Father.

Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west Symphony Orchestra, Saturday, January 17 @ 11am
Benjamin Franklin: statesman, entrepreneur, scientist… composer?! Yes, our beloved Ben even dabbled in composing his own music. Join us to explore this aspect of our namesake with the help of the Metro-West Symphony Orchestra.

Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, January 16: 1 - 5pm
Saturday, January 17: 9am - 12pm
All books are just one dollar!
Bag Sale - $5 A Bag
Saturday, January 17: 1 - 4pm
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!

School Committee recognizes the Championship volleyball team, approves the capital budget, hears about Student Services (audio)

FM #1605 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1605 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. All 7 members of the committee were present. 

Quick recap:

• FHS Volleyball team recognized for D1 State Championship for first time

• Student Services presentation

• Link to slides included below

• Capital budget presentation

• Link to slides included below

• Franklin (MA) School enrollment

• Yes, total of Franklin MA and shown where they end up FPS, or elsewhere

• Numbers mentioned during recent Town Council meeting shown to be in error with these statistics

• Link to the 2 page document included below

• Citizen Comments

• Steve Sherlock stepped up to talk about

• “Hold harmless” is akin to OPEB, Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) was for years an unfunded mandate that drove every budget discussion until the Town realized that the funding requirement for the Norfolk County Retirement would be fulfilled shortly (now slipped to approx. 2035) but then once complete, those funds could be shifted to pay down the OPEB liability. The Town has a plan to fund OPEB. The School can not come up with a plan to fund hold harmless without Town help. There needs to be a plan as part of whatever financial plan the Town puts together.

• While the Town (and correctly so) touts clean audits, that wasn’t always the case. The current revolving funds policy to maintain a year's worth arose as a result of an audit issue revealed during 2007. Part of the resolution was (1) the hiring of Miriam Goodman in March 2008 and (2) the intro of the policy to keep one year's worth of funds in the revolving accounts

• Audio of student services available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/insights-into-student-services-how-in.html 

• Community calendar reminder, this week only Weds doesn't have a booster club, youth sports or otherwise a fundraising effort by eating at one of Franklin’s restaurants. Let me know of your fundraising efforts and they can get published on the Community Calendar  

• Action: To submit a community or cultural event, please use this form:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar 

• entered into Executive Session not to return to open meeting

The recording runs about 3 hours and 45 minutes

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1605-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-12-09-25/

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Additional links to key documents for this session

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/school-committee-recognizes.html 

Full School Committee & Supt Giguere with the FHS volleyball team

The State D1 Champion FHS volleyball team showcases their jackets

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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"