What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, January 11, 2025 ???

Saturday, January 11

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

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

10:00am Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Franklin-ventions: Revolutionary Ideas in Franklin Industries (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am ‘Ben Gave us Books and We Gave the World Books’ (Franklin historical museum)

1:00pm Franklin Underground (live music) (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm Padula Brothers (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:30pm FPAC: To Tell a Story About the Earth (THE BLACK BOX)

7:30pm Peter Mulvey (live music) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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

In this SOUPer Bowl, everyone wins

In this SOUPer Bowl, everyone wins

The Franklin Food Pantry and Weymouth Food Pantry are going head-to-head in a SOUPer Bowl matchup! Now through February 9, 2025, each community is challenged to donate cans of soup to their respective town’s food pantry. The pantry that receives the most soup donations will be crowned Souper Bowl Champ 2025!

Donations for the Franklin Food Pantry can be placed in the purple bin on The Pantry’s loading dock at 341 W Central St. Franklin, MA, or sent directly to via The Pantry’s Amazon Wish List.

Get in on the action! Take a pic of your donation, post, and tag the Franklin Food Pantry and Weymouth Food Pantry!  Help us tackle hunger and everyone wins!

Economic Development Subcmte reviews and discusses priorities for the goals for this year (audio)

FM #1351 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1351 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in Council Chambers. All 4 members of the subcommittee participated in Chambers (Hamblen, Sheridan, Frongillo & Chandler).

Quick recap

• Goals update, discussion on setting what priorities there should be

• Open Space plan not yet approved by State, comments sent back to Town and they will take time to adjust and incorporate

• Round among the subcommittee as they shared their priorities, except for Chandler

• After the round, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen - The Crossing and 40r would probably be best to start with. Home business, taking a reasonable step forward re: water and sewer. Current bylaws restrict auto and food prep from home use, as well as medical. At scale, it gets to be a problem for the infrastructure. Possible joint discussion with Board of Health, Health Dept, along with DPW to talk about the issues they see. Attempting to provide an overview to someone to answer "How does someone start a business, and what are the triggers for the growth steps?" How to ensure the property owner is responsible for their damage that could be caused

• Frongillo comes back to offer his priority, (1) shared parking with initiatives/incentives, residential downtown parking permit, others do it; 19 Dean case for the managed shared parking - (2) downtown business use, a few minor exemptions would be good to look at to enable active store fronts (3) we stopped at downtown dimensions, didn't get into the frontage,  setbacks, etc. which are a massive difference to enabling development; has drafted starting points for each of these 3 points

• Per Jamie, If there are bylaw changes required, we would need to get those started by July in order to get those thru the process, before the Nov elections

• Cycling back to the 40r discussion, a 40r draft was prepared a year or so ago, could be picked up from there

Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0 

The recording of the meeting runs about 55 minutes.   Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1351-franklin-ma-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-01-08-25/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n11fImC7CE4&t=126

The agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2025-01-8_edc_agenda.pdf 

My full set of notes in one PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zpUk1_QkADUkb-iCbJGP9CKvXRx2yj-8/view?usp=drive_link 

--------------

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Economic Development Subcmte reviews and discusses priorities for the goals for this year (audio)

Both FHS girls & boys basketball teams top Attleboro on Friday (video)

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Friday, January 10, 2025

Boys Basketball = Attleboro, 37 @ Franklin, 52 – Final 

– Game recap provided by Ryan Lanigan, HockomockSports.com Editor

"Franklin has always been one of the top defensive teams in the Hockomock League under head coach CJ Neely.

In one of the biggest games thus far this season, the Panthers found a way to take its defense to another level.

Buoyed by physical full-court pressure that started in the second quarter and a suffocating second half effort, Franklin stayed unbeaten on the season and handed Attleboro its first loss with a 52-37 win. "

Continue reading the recap -> (subscription required) 

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-boys-basketball-uses-physical-suffocating-defense-to-beat-attleboro/

For a photo gallery from this game ->

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2024-2025/Winter-2024-2025/Franklin-Attleboro-Boys-Basketball-01-10-25

Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/zOemS4W36pU?&t=737  (note there is no sound until it gets fixed at approximately 58 minutes, or the start of the 2nd half)

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 57 @ Attleboro, 46 – Final 

– Game recap provided by Josh Perry, HockomockSports.com Managing Editor.

"The last time that Franklin stepped on the court at Attleboro, in penultimate league game of the 2023-2024 season, the Panthers saw their chances for a piece of a sixth straight Kelley-Rex division title evaporate and the Bombardiers secure a first Hock championship.

On Friday night, Franklin returned to Attleboro with both teams part of a three-way tie for first. While the Hockomock campaign is only about a third of the way through, the Panthers saw a chance for revenge and to get an early leg up on a rival.

After Franklin got off to a strong start, Attleboro rallied and closed to within one early in the third quarter. The Panthers engineered a 24-7 run, opened up an 18-point edge, and then held off a late Attleboro charge to win 57-46."

Continue reading the recap -> (subscription required) 

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-basketball-pulls-away-in-second-half-to-win-at-attleboro/

For a photo gallery from this game

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2024-2025/Winter-2024-2025/Attleboro-Franklin-Girls-Basketball-01-10-25

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required) 

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-01-10-25/

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

St Mary's restoration status update 1/10/25

Via St Mary's posting to Facebook:

St Mary's restoration status update 1/10/25

"Here’s a look at the restoration work of our primary worship space upstairs.

The damage caused by the smoke was extensive.

Here is a list of some of the work which has been accomplished:

The walls and ceiling have been cleaned.

The walls and ceiling have been sanitized.

The walls and ceiling have been painted.

Here are a few tasks which are being worked on:

New electrical wiring is being installed.

New sound equipment is being installed.

New floors will be installed soon.

It is taking time but soon (no date yet) we will celebrate Mass together in this beautiful space!"

Additional photos can be found with the posting -> 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15vrnexPPK/

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project - Grove St at train tracks closed between RT 140 & Forge Hill Rd

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project - Grove at train tracks closed between RT 140 & Forge Hill Rd

 

 BSI Construction Update for the Week of January 13th!

Monday (1/13) - Friday (1/17): Grove Street will be closed at the MBTA train tracks between the hours of 7am - 4pm.  Traffic turning onto Grove Street from Rt. 140 will be detoured over to Beaver Street via Rt. 140. Please follow posted detour signs for directions. 

Please follow the DPW Facebook page for detour maps and updated information during the week. 

Monday (1/13) - Friday (1/17):  The construction crew will be conducting the  jack and bore trenchless installation of the new sewer under Rt. 140.  The work will be occurring off the road at 38 Pond Street and within the Franklin Village Mall Area.  No traffic impacts are expected. 

At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with formwork and concrete placement. 

Please reference the interactive map below and posted signs for details and updates.

Grove at train tracks closed between RT 140 & Forge Hill Rd

We appreciate the public's continued support and understanding and will
continue to communicate regularly via social media, our dedicated email list, and the construction map below as work progresses.

BEAVER STREET INTERCEPTOR HOTLINE: 508-553-5526
(PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AND WE WILL RETURN YOUR CALL)
EMAIL: BSI-info@franklinma.gov

 

Beaver Street Interceptor Rehabilitation/Replacement Project

This project consists of the replacement and repair of Franklin's largest piece of sewer infrastructure,
originally constructed in 1914.

Read more -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/beaver-street-interceptor-project

Job Opportunities with the Town of Franklin in Human Resources, Franklin Fire, Public Works, & Franklin Police

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email. 

Administrative Assistant (Part Time)- Human Resources

Firefighter/Paramedic - Franklin Fire Department

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works 

Crew Leader / Lead Pesticide Applicator (Tuesday - Saturday) - Department of Public Works

Patrol Officer (academy trained) - Franklin Police Department

Updated 01/10/2025

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Senior Center van rides can be scheduled, call 48 hours in advance

Senior Center van rides

 

Our new Senior Center van is ready to help our Franklin Seniors take care of business.  

Call Emily at 508-520-4945 to set up your ride to get you where you need to go.

Shared from ->

https://www.facebook.com/franklinseniorcenter/posts/pfbid02cF2kNW3SDaGLy19g1wAMb5xGe4JF7bo5aU5Hts49cJV3KMAcuFVSqZ9YQc8ctEapl

Quilt and Crafting Weekend in Holliston February 28 - March 1

Yankee Quilters, a local guild of quilters, will hold a weekend “staycation” for all interested quilters and crafters who enjoy sewing in a beautiful space with friends new and old.

This three-day quilting event will be Friday February 28th to Sunday March 1st at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 600 Central Street, Holliston. In addition to giving participants the time and space to create their own quilts and crafts in a well-lit spacious hall, ironing tables, 6-foot table, and wagons to unload equipment are provided. 

An elevator is available. Hours are Friday 1:00 to 9:00 PM; Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM; and Sunday Noon to 6:00 PM. A Yankee Quilters member will be available all weekend to give basic tips on quilting, knitting, or crochet.

Yankee Quilters members will provide Friday supper, Saturday soup lunch and supper, and bagels and cream cheese on Sunday morning. Coffee, tea, water and snacks are offered throughout. A refrigerator and microwave are available for those who bring their own food. 

Participants may register now for the full weekend with pre-payment of $150 including all weekend meals. To register, contact Anita Stolle at anitastolle@gmail.com. If desired, out-of-town participants should book hotel space on their own.

Quilt and Crafting Weekend in Holliston February 28 - March 1

Quilters from new to experienced are welcome to attend Yankee activities throughout the year. In addition to monthly meetings on the second Tuesday in Franklin, the group offers speaker programs, member “show and tell” demonstrations and opportunities to sew together throughout the year including a four-day sewing vacation in the spring. A major focus every year is the creation of dozens of quilts which are provided to cancer patients and other families in need.

This event is a fundraiser for Yankee Quilters, a nonprofit charity based in Franklin. For information about other events, please contact YankeeQuilters11@gmail.com.

Yankee Quilters Guild is a 501-c-3 charitable organization based in Franklin with members throughout the region. The Guild meets on the second Tuesday each month at Emma’s Quilt Cupboard in Franklin, Horace Mann Plaza, East Central Street, Franklin in space generously donated by the store. Donations to the Guild are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by current law.

 

Notice of Public Hearing - Acceptance of Portion of September Drive and Countryside Lane and Related Drainage Lots and Easements - Feb 5, 2025

Pursuant to Chapter 163 of the Legislative Acts of 2011, The Franklin Town Council will hold a public hearing to determine whether it is in the public interest to accept the following named roads as public ways, together with related drainage lots and easements.

September Drive from Station 0+00 at its intersection with Prospect Street to Station 11+94, currently a private roadway, and Countryside Lane for its entire length, and drainage lots Parcels A & B and four drainage easements, as shown on a definitive subdivision plan approved under the subdivision control law by Franklin Planning Board and recorded in the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds in Plan Book 521 Pages 67-68 (the “Subdivision Plan”), and also shown on the two-page street acceptance plan entitled “Acceptance Plan Countryside Estates Franklin Massachusetts, September Drive and Countryside Lane”, prepared by Guerriere & Halnon, Inc., 55 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 and dated August 11, 2024 (the “Street Acceptance Plan”), available for inspection in the Town Planning Department.

The public hearing will take place during the Town Council Public Meeting beginning at 7:00 pm on February 5, 2025; there will be an opportunity for public input during the process. Location: Municipal Building, 2nd floor Council Chambers, 355 E. Central Street, Franklin, and also via the “ZOOM” platform. Residents can visit the Town website (Franklinma.gov) town calendar to review the agenda and for up to date meeting information, on and after January 31, 2025.  

Please call the Town Administrator’s Office at (508) 520-4949 if you require further information or to make arrangements for translation services.

 Submitted by,

Julie McCann

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/legal-notices/agenda/notice-public-hearing-acceptance-portion-september-drive-and-countryside-lane

Notice of Public Hearing - Acceptance of Portion of September Drive and Countryside Lane and Related Drainage Lots and Easements - Feb 5, 2025

Senator Rausch Makes Important Additions to Health Care Cost Containment Legislation

Today (Jan 8, 2025), State Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) joined legislative colleagues, health advocates, and members of the administration as Governor Maura Healey signed into law a pair of critical health care cost control bills, one aimed at pharmaceuticals and the other providing major health care sector oversight to protect Massachusetts residents from soaring health care costs. 

The laws respond directly to the Steward Health Care collapse and will offer patients financial relief by capping the prices of certain drugs, erecting guardrails against private equity in health care, and giving the Attorney General and state health regulators more oversight authority.  

"This health care cost containment legislation will help hundreds of thousands of Bay Staters avoid the stress and uncertainty of rapidly rising health care costs," said Senator Becca Rausch, lead sponsor of several bills included in the final package. "More than 40% of Massachusetts residents have trouble paying for health care for themselves or their families. That is unacceptable. The strong oversight and reporting measures signed into law today will improve affordability and accessibility to Massachusetts' world-class health care. I'm so proud that my legislation to give the Health Policy Commission more tools in its cost oversight toolkit was part and parcel of this package. I am truly grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Cindy Friedman, and our partners in the House for persevering on this legislation until it crossed the finish line, and to Governor Healey for signing these two bills into law."  

The Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency that monitors health care spending growth annually and sets a reasonable target for that growth. Senator Rausch's language allows HPC to exercise its oversight authority if a provider's total health care expenditures grow at a faster rate than the benchmark and streamlines the oversight of providers who significantly expand their scope of care. Providers will have to issue advance notice of material changes, including mergers and acquisitions, so HPC can assess whether they may substantially impact health care spending.  

Additionally, the suite of bills that became law today expand the scope of data collection and public review of health care and related transactions by regulators, increase visibility and accountability for transactions involving private owners of health care resources, enhance data sharing requirements to improve transparency around health care entities and their ownership, and begins the process of improving access to primary care statewide. Today's legislation reemphasizes the Commonwealth's commitment to prioritizing patients over profits. 

Gov Healey "signed two bills to cut prescription drug costs and make sure patients always come before profit"

Governor Healey's press release -> https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-signs-laws-lowering-health-care-costs-and-strengthening-oversight

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, January 10, 2025 ???

Friday, January 10

• Tree pick up this week on your normal trash day
• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library) 

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

2:30pm Bottle/Can Drive (FHS Class of 2025 fundraiser) (Franklin High School)

7:00pm Friday night West Coast Swing Lesson (Franklin Elks Lodge #2136)

7:30pm FPAC: To Tell a Story About the Earth (THE BLACK BOX)

8:00pm Friday night West Coast Swing Dance (Franklin Elks Lodge #2136)

9:00pm Alex Fradkin (live music) (3 Restaurant)

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

--------------

Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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

Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Sessions starting January 30, running through March 12, 2025

The Joint Budget Subcommittee will be holding several listening sessions in the coming weeks.

Join us for open discussions on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, feedback on last year's override ballot question, the structural deficit this coming year, and the priorities of the community!

Listening Tour Schedule

Listening Sessions starting January 30

Session 1: Jan 30, Franklin Elks 7:00 PM
Session 2: Feb 12, Remington-Jefferson Cafetorium, 628 Washington St. 7:00 PM
Session 3: Feb 19, Franklin Senior Center, Common Grounds Cafe, 10 Daniel McCahill, 7:00 PM
Session 4: Mar 4, Franklin Senior Center, Common Grounds Cafe, 10 Daniel McCahill, 9:30 AM (coffee and light refreshments provided)
Session 5: Mar 8, Franklin Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 355 East Central, 10:00 AM (Virtual and in-person participation options)
Session 6: Mar 12, Franklin High School Auditorium, 7:00 PM

Shared from ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/upcoming-joint-budget-subcommittee-listening-sessions

This Town Council quarterbacking session condenses the Council meeting of Weds, Jan 8, 2025 (audio)

FM #1350 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1350 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, January 9, 2024.  Our conversation condenses the Council meeting of Wednesday night with a focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topics for this session

a. Franklin Ridge Senior Affordable Housing Project Update - Bryan Taberner, Director of

Department of Planning and Community

Construction to commence later this summer, after Town finishes its infrastructure work

b. Residential Development & Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI, aka Chapter 40B) Update - Bryan Taberner, Director of Department of Planning and Community

At 10.86% (the guideline is more than 10%) 

A summary of what’s approved and or in the planning process

Over 1,000 housing units, approx. 400 would be “Affordable”

"A 1% increase in new supply; i) lowers average rents by 0.19%, ii) effectively reduces rents of lower-quality units, & iii) disproportionately increases the number of second-hand units available for rent. Moreover, the impact on rents is equally strong in high-demand markets."

Institute for Employment Research, A German federal agency

A study on secondary housing, or the domino effect of what new housing does to existing stock and population movement within the existing stock

Legislation for action:

• 2 bylaws to enable to Town work on Franklin Ridge

• 2 bylaws to bring to compliance with State law on ADUs

• 2 bylaws on signs deferred to Jan 22

• Resolution 25-01: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($1,672), Veterans Department ($3,125) 

Town Administrator Report reveal the home rule piece was approved to exempt the Town from posting legal notices in print editions of the newspaper

The recording runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the Town Council meeting held this week

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1350-town-council-quarterbacking-01-09-25/

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Franklin TV video  -> https://www.youtube.com/live/7dQWhWlHRW0?&t=208 

Agendas for Town Council meeting ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/tc_agenda_1.8.25.pdf 

Screen grabs of the presentation on housing (40b) ->    https://photos.app.goo.gl/pR2DTs2eaifKxWFo9

My set of notes in one PDF ->  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S-qr25XiQvmFi_gBNBvjrwUaeoK2ZukH/view?usp=drive_link 

--------------

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Town Council quarterbacking session condenses the Council meeting of Weds, Jan 8, 2025 (audio)