What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, September 21, 2025 ??

Sunday, September 21

7:30am All You Can Eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

9:00am Fallen Hero: Lawrence E. Garron Jr & Alfred L. Mucciarone (Veterans Walkway, Franklin Town Common)

11:00am Sunday Brunch (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free) (Franklin Historical Museum)

5:00pm Movie Night Under the Stars (St. Mary's Parish)

** NO Town Meetings today   **

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What's happening in Franklin, MA

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

2 Fallen Hero Recognitions Today: Garron & Mucciarone - Sep 21, 2025 at 9 AM

Memorial event today (9/21/25) at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor Lawrence E. Garron and Alfred L. Mucciarone. 

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history may be available for that veteran.  This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

Fallen Hero: Lance Corporal Lawrence E. Garron

Lance Corporal Lawrence E. Garron was born on September 27, 1948, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence E. Garron Sr. Lawrence lived with his parents and a sister at 1295 Pond St., went to grade schools in Franklin and then went to Boston Trade High School from which he was graduated in 1967.  

Corporal Garron enlisted in the Marine Corps in May of 1967 and had served overseas for 10 months. During his tour of duty in June of 1968, Cpl. Garron had been wounded and was hospitalized for eight weeks in Saigon from shrapnel wounds in the leg, for which he received the Purple Heart.  

Cpl. Garron later returned to- active duty where he became a casualty on September 21, 1968 when he was one of eight marines in a platoon of 15 men killed in the explosion of a mine while on patrol in Quang Nam province, Vietnam.   

Lance Corporal Lawrence Garron Jr. was 19 years old at the time of his death in Vietnam.

Posted previously -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/fallen-hero-lance-corporal-lawrence-e.html

Fallen Hero: Pvt. Alfred L. Mucciarone, U. S. Army,  WWI

Born in Italy, son Accenzia (Bertino) and Mariannino Mucciarone, he came to Franklin as a child. After living here for 17 years, he entered the service on September 20, 1917 and was assigned to Company F, 302 Infantry Battalion of the 76th Division, and later transferred to Company A 306th Machine Gun Battalion of the 77th Division. He went overseas on April 13, 1918

With this group, he became mortally wounded, during the Ouse - Aisne Offensive, and died at Base Hospital #41.

Franklin Honored this hero by naming a Town Square after him.

He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously in 1967, and the award was presented to his brother, Elio.

Posted previously -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/fallen-hero-staff-sergeant-anthony-j.html 

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For the full published series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

Photo album of the Fallen Hero pillars along the Veterans Walkway

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oRGdmq9krLNEBnjJ7

Fallen Hero Recognition

Gobble, Gobble! The Franklin Turkey Trot is Back! - Nov 27

Get ready to run, walk, or waddle! Registration is now open for the annual Franklin Turkey Trot, a family-friendly fun run held on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 8 AM.

All levels and abilities are welcome to join in this community event. Participants can look forward to a light breakfast, raffle prizes, and medals for each age bracket after the run – and NEW this year is a prize for best costume! 

Gobble, Gobble! The Franklin
Turkey Trot is Back! - Nov 27

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.

Event Details:

What: Franklin Turkey Trot

When: Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 8 AM

Where:  Start and finish from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 91 Jordan Road, Franklin, MA 02056

Registration:

Register Online at www.franklinturkeytrot.org,  in-person at 91 Jordan Road, Franklin, MA, on November 26, 2025, from 7 to 9 PM, or on race day from 6:30 to 7:30 AM

Early Bird: $25 until October 13, 2025

Standard: $30 after October 13, 2025

Swag: Race shirts are available for purchase online through October 30, 2025, or in-person at bib pick-up and on race day (while supplies last)

 

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Last year, nearly 1,000 people participated in the Franklin Turkey Trot. Businesses interested in gaining valuable name recognition while supporting the Franklin Food Pantry can contact Jen Johnson, Franklin Food Pantry’s Development Associate, at jjohnson@franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.

The Franklin Food Pantry extends a special thank you to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Franklin for hosting and helping to organize this event.

Note: Franklin Matters is a proud sponsor of this event

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer condenses the 2+ hour meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

FM #1514 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1514 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, September 18, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of September 17, 2025.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Announcements from the Chair

• Town Clerk Nancy Danello provides update on biennial election status

• School Cmte Chair Dave Callaghan provides an update on school opening and traffic issues being worked

• 2 Police Dept new hires effectively back filling for positions authorized within the reduced Police Dept staffing were sworn in and pinned by family members

• 2 public hearings were opened separately; one for the 2 commercial kitchen bylaws to enable the operation of a commercial kitchen within a residence if on septic (not on town sewer); and second, a set of 6 bylaws to create the Crossing Neighborhood zoning district. It would be similar to the Downtown zoning with a couple of exemptions. Councilor Frongillo recused himself from these discussions and votes as his father's business operates in the proposed zoning area

• In legislation for action 

• all 8 of the zoning changes moved to a second reading

• The Council voted to formalize the early in person voting schedule for the November election as announced

• A couple of water & sewer extensions were approved

• A definition of a collection container was accepted and authorized to extend the current use by religious organizations to non-profits, in particular the American Legion and VFW

• A presentation on Solicitation Permits by Police Chief Thomas Lynch and Deputy Police Chief James West was made to provide some info on the process in response to an incident earlier this year. 

• In the Town Administrator's Report 2 key items were covered; 

• Qne - a series of personnel moves; B Taberner's replacement was announced, M Kinhart and M D'Angelo are retiring, Breeka Li Goodlander to return from pregnancy leave in mid-Oct; 

• Second - the Assessors revealed new growth will be about $271,000 shorter than projected earlier this year. This will need to be adjusted somehow before the tax rate hearing in Nov/Dec. It seems to be reflecting the slowdown in growth due to interest rates, uncertainty, and the 'nimby-factor', etc.

The conversation runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1514-town-council-quarterbacking-09-18-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQsgBfKN8cY 

The agenda and docs released for this session can be found

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172025-1911 

My notes in a single PDF can be found ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MNwWCGlCOgPnqbmMecTz5TqaesbmSt4z/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 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"

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer condenses the 2+ hour meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

Franklin TV: Children’s Museum

“Play is the Work of Children”

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 09/21/2025

After years of planning and prepping, it’s real. On Wednesday the Children’s Museum cut the ribbon and opened its doors for all to see – and play. It began as an idea and the shared dream of Meg Hagen and Erin Gallagher. In two years it moved (literally) from idea to a mobile museum to today’s grand opening.

Then, (and waiting quite patiently), after several comments and well-wishes by a series of speakers , all the kids enjoyed a ‘ribbon cutting ceremony’ of their own.

Three! –  Two! –  One!

They literally ‘stormed the ramparts’, running the access ramp at top kid speed.

Play is indeed the work of children. Every child is a curious researcher, an intrepid explorer, a self-propelled scientist. Some say that our powers of imagination peak at the tender age of five. They brought their imagination and curiosity, and the museum with its many inspiring, interactive exhibits, provided the tools and toys.

The kids got right down to work.

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

FHS volleyball & field hockey teams post wins on Saturday

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Saturday, Sep 20, 2025

Field Hockey = Franklin, 4 @ Natick, 0 – Final

Volleyball = Franklin, 3 @ Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final 

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)  

https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-09-20-25/

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

ECDC sets schedule for screening of children before 3rd birthday

It is the responsibility of the Franklin Public Schools to identify any child who is a resident of Franklin who may have a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability.

It is also the responsibility of Franklin Public Schools to evaluate those students to determine if they are eligible for special education or related services under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) or 6-3 CMR 28 (Massachusetts Special Education Regulations).

Franklin Public Schools are committed to identifying children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services for 3 and 4 year olds.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s development or to schedule

a PreK screening, please contact:

Jillian Swanson

Assistant Principal of Special Education

F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Center

Download the flyer as a reminder or to share -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w_hA3CgwrbTj_VmiIhGW4dYjXrAy31Rl/view?usp=drive_link

Boston Globe: "Drought conditions worsen across New England, especially up north."

"Another week has passed with little to no rainfall across New England, expanding “extreme” drought to nearly a quarter of New Hampshire as the dry weather worsens conditions in Maine and Vermont. Nearly all of New England is either in some stage of drought or abnormally dry, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, increasing the risk for groundwater shortages and wildfires across the region — very reminiscent of last fall.

Boston Globe: "Drought conditions worsen
across New England, especially up north."

Despite one night of rainfall this week that totaled over an inch or two in parts of Southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape, New England will need more than just one significant rainstorm to pull us out of a nearly yearlong water deficit in those regions.

“We’re approaching the peak of last year’s rainfall deficit and groundwater storage levels,” said David Boutt, professor of hydrogeology at UMass Amherst. “Plus, this is the time of year when we’re naturally in a negative water balance from the combination of growing season and little to no precipitation.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/19/metro/new-england-drought-rain/

Dean College: Homecoming Weekend for Alumni and Families scheduled for Oct 3-4, 2025

Via Dean College: 

Dean College: Homecoming Weekend

"Come home to Dean this fall to reconnect with old friends and rediscover the place that helped shape who you are today. Whether it’s been a few years or decades since you’ve been back, this is your chance to walk the campus again, see what’s new, and share your Bulldog and Demon pride with those who matter most. Bring your loved ones, reminisce, and make new memories along the way."

Check out the Homecoming Schedule and Register for Events

https://www.dean.edu/alumni/events-activities/homecoming/

Save the Date: SAFE Gala - April 17, 2026 Gillette Stadium

Save the Date The SAFE Gala: An Evening of Giving Friday, April 17, 2026 at 5:30pm Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, MA We're thrilled to share some exciting news—SAFE is celebrating 10 years, and we'd love for you to join us at our 4th Annual Gala: An Evening of Giving! Even better, this year's celebration will be held at the iconic Gillette Stadium! Mark your calendars now (and maybe even hold off on those April vacation travel plans), because this is going to be an unforgettable evening—and we want you there! In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing sponsorship opportunities, but in the meantime, please reach out if you'd like to sponsor the evening or donate an auction item. Your support helps make this night possible. As we look back on the beautiful evening we shared last May, we're still carried by the sense of community and love that filled the room. We can't wait to experience that same spirit again—with all of you by our side. Who's excited? We sure are! With gratitude and anticipation, Jen and Jim   Our Contact Information   SAFE Coalition 31 Hayward St., Suite 2C Franklin, MA 02038-0434 508-488-8105 http://www.safecoalitionma.org DONATE

No, that’s not an FTC commissioner on the phone (video)

No, that's not an FTC commissioner on the phone By BCP Staff Scammers like to pretend to be someone official to try to get your money. And who could be more official than the FTC chairman and commissioners, some of the nation's leading fraud fighters?  But here's something important to know: nobody who works at the FTC will ever, EVER tell you to move your money to protect it. We won't insist that you cash out your 401(k) or savings account and give that money to someone else. Read more ->

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGCJSOAWyEM

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday, September 21, 2025

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 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