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

Sunday, December 21

10:00am Girl Scout Cookies (Shaw's, until 1 PM)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Franklin in Miniature or Train Town #3 (Franklin Historical Museum)

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

2:00pm Humbug! (FPAC performs at Franklin High School)

** 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

Blues legend James Montgomery returns to THE BLACK BOX - January 10, 2026 with The Daybreakers!

Blues legend James Montgomery returns
to THE BLACK BOX - January 10, 2026
with The Daybreakers! 

About James Montgomery Band — When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he “brings it on home.” Whether it’s recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he, learned first-hand from the masters – James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells – at the legendary “Chessmate.” Over the years, he’s carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene. In 1970, while at Boston University, James Montgomery formed the James Montgomery Band. His electrifying stage presence and unique harmonica style quickly made the band a staple of the New England music scene, earning them a multi-album deal with Capricorn Records alongside acts like J. Geils and Aerosmith.

About The Daybreakers — Blending folk-rock melodies with blues guitar muscle and rock and roll grit, the Daybreakers have earned their stripes over four years of consistent gigging throughout New England. The band has played many of Boston and Cambridge’s most revered rooms, sharing the stage with some of the region’s best roots rockers, such as Entrain and the Silks. The band has also performed as an opener at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA for three years running, opening for Three Dog Night, The Beach Boys, and Bret Michaels.

THEBLACKBOXonline.com | 508-528-3370

Agenda for Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Zoning Board Of Appeals

December 23, 2025, 6:30 PM

Meeting will be held at the Franklin Municipal Building

355 East Central Street - 2nd Floor, Council Chambers

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

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 Zoning Board

cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Zoning Board ask the Dept Director/Other to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

December 18, 2025

4. TOPIC

a. 6:30PM : 444 East Central Street- TAG Central LLC

Applicant is seeking a building permit to construct a 264 unit multi-family development. The building permit is denied without a Comprehensive Permit from the ZBA.

1. Draft Decision

5. GENERAL BUSINESS:

6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

7. ADJOURN

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057

Agenda for Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM

FHS Girls hockey results for Saturday, Dec 19, 2025

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

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 1 @ Leominster, 6 – Final

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

• HockomockSports.com recap of the Indoor meet King Philip vs. Franklin Thursday   https://hockomocksports.com/indoor-track-meet-1-highlights-top-performers-2025-2026/

Boys Score: Franklin 61, King Philip 38

• Peter Gubka for Franklin was unstoppable in the infield. He set two personal bests and Hock-best times in the 55-meter hurdles and the 55-meter dash, clocking 7.85 in the hurdles and 6.62 in the dash
• Michael Joseph of KP and Kyle Twomey of Franklin battled all the way to the line in the mile, finishing .05 seconds apart, with Joseph taking the win (4:44.93, 4:44.98)
• Pranav Srinivasan, Chris DelVecchio, and Matt Labriola of KP had the only 1-2-3 sweep of the meet in the boys 300m (38.77, 38.98, 39.71)
• Franklin won all 3 field events. Stephon Reed won the high jump (5’4). Peter Gubka won the long jump (20’0.50) for his third event win on the day. Jackson Bartro edged out Brandon O’Brien by a quarter-inch to win the shot put (40’7.75)

Girls Score: King Philip 62, Franklin 38

• King Philip dominated the shot put. Caitlin Laplante (30’7) and Rory Bresson (28’11) had massive personal bests, along with Isabella Sharpe placing third (28’9.75) to give the Warriors the sweep
• Riley DoRosario was dominant in the middle distance events. She won the mile in a PR (5:46.81) and also won the 1000 (3:34.18)
• Alex D’Amadio won both the long jump (16’0) and 300 (43.31), while placing second in the hurdles (9.74)
• Ali Gill for KP made her return to the track after three years away. It was like she never left. She won the 55-meter dash (7.71), placed third in the 600 (1:48.82), and anchored the 4×2 to a come from behind victory (1:51.60)
• Maddie Bruno and Gwen Holland took the league’s top two spots for Franklin in the girls 600 (1:40.86, 1:41.49)

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)  

https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-20-25/

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

Franklin TV: Ornaments

Our Lives are Ornamented – with Memories

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/21/2025

As we amble through our allotted years we collect things. We are collectors. Doubt me? Check that cabinet of coffee cups – mugs. There’s the one from the museum of whatever – the gag mug – that mug you got as an ‘award’ from coworkers – and so on. Coffee mugs. They are ordinary – and not. They mark moments and memories. Memory mugs?

Christmas trees can ‘collect’ as well. Ornaments. Some are gifts. Scattered among the decorations, some are special memories. There are the generational hand-me-downs.

Some are especially special; handmade heirlooms passed down from parents and grandparents. Our Christmas tree is adorned with several of my mom’s crocheted snowflakes.

Then there are the ornaments that mark time, and particularly precious family moments. Michael was born in 1984.

The sled broke one year. Needless to say, it had to be repaired. Like broken ornaments, broken memories can be repaired.

This is what this season and spirit calls us to do. This is a time of joy, giving, forgiving, and perhaps being forgiven.

So, let’s raise a coffee mug of kindness yet . . . 

Then there’s my rubber cannoli. Yes, it’s lovely, because, well –  cannoli! No more need be said.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.

And staying informed at Franklin●news.

G

et 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

Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC) stats for Friday's storm (12/19/25)

Via the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC) :

MECC stats

"Yesterday’s storm pushed our center to the highest call volume we’ve see all year and our team rose to the challenge.

Between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM:

• 911 calls- 196
• Business line calls - 340
• Dispatched Incidents- 350

To support the day shift during the surge, we called in additional staff from home, and everyone worked together seamlessly to manage the influx.

We are extremely proud of our dispatchers and support staff for keeping our communities safe when it mattered most. ALSO a big thank you to all our Fire and Police Departments that worked tirelessly going call to call to ensure safety!"

Shared from ->  https://www.facebook.com/share/1AQmzBnues/

Did you catch my conversation with Gary Premo, Executive Director of the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC) recorded in February 2025 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/gary-premo-talks-about-growth-and.html

The Franklin Democratic Town Committee sets date for caucus as March 14, 2026

The Franklin caucus to elect delegates to the annual Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention is coming on March 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM. 

This year we will be voting to endorse and officially put candidates on the ballot for these offices,

• 
  US Senate (currently held by Ed Markey)
• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of the Commonwealth
• State Treasurer and
• State Auditor

Any Franklin registered Democrat can be a delegate and the Caucus is open to the public.

Watching our democracy in action right here in Franklin is inspiring and you don't have be a nominee to participate, learn or appreciate.

The Convention will take place in Springfield on May 29th and 30th

Look below for more information and use the following link to register  https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/875776/

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19X8M5gN89/

Recycling center hours for the coming holiday weeks

Recycling center hours for the coming holiday weeks

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G826W13GK/

The Guardian: "First wheelchair-using astronaut touches down after ride to edge of space"

"A paraplegic engineer from Germany blasted off on a dream-come-true rocket ride with five other passengers on Saturday, leaving her wheelchair behind to float in space while beholding Earth from on high.

The Guardian: "First wheelchair-using astronaut
touches down after ride to edge of space"

Severely injured in a mountain bike accident seven years ago, Michaela Benthaus became the first wheelchair user in space, launching from west Texas with Jeff Bezos’s company Blue Origin. She was accompanied by a retired SpaceX executive also born in Germany, Hans Koenigsmann, who helped organize and, along with Blue Origin, sponsored her trip. Their ticket prices were not divulged.

An ecstatic Benthaus said she laughed all the way up – the capsule soared more than 65 miles (105km) – and tried to turn upside down once in space.

“It was the coolest experience,” she said shortly after landing."

Continue reading the article with this 'gift' link -> 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/dec/20/first-wheelchair-using-astronaut-blur-origin-rocket?CMP=share_btn_url 

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