Wednesday, April 8, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 ???

Wednesday, April 8


1:00pm Writer's Group (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm Smarty Pants Trivia (Raillery Public House)

7:30pm The Prom (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

Library & Senior Center events
Library & Senior Center events


For additional details on Library events -> 
For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times


***  Town Meetings today   ***

Finance Committee Meeting - Budget Hearing

Wednesday, April 8 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2221 


Franklin Public School Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, April 8 Time: 6:40 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2230 



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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


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5 Volunteers talk about their experience volunteering at The Pantry (audio)

FM #1709 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1709 in the series. 


5 Volunteers talk about their experience volunteering at The Pantry (audio)
5 Volunteers talk about their experience
volunteering at The Pantry (audio)
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with (in order of introduction)

  • Donna O’Neill

  • Roberta Trahan

  • Sally Grant

  • Kim DeCrescenzo

  • Carol Malachowski


We had our conversation in person in the community room at The Franklin Food Pantry on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. 


We started with a round of introductions and then 2 questions:


  • How did you first get involved with The Pantry

  • What keeps you coming back


That was all the group needed. The conversation took off from there. It runs almost 40 minutes. Let’s listen in 


Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1709-franklin-food-pantry-the-volunteer-experience-03-04-26/

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2025 Annual report of The Pantry - https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FY25-Annual-Report-2-page.pdf 


Franklin Food Pantry web page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/ 


To volunteer - https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/ 


Follow The Pantry on

Facebook ->  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry 

Instagram ->  https://www.instagram.com/franklinfoodpan/ 



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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"


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Voices of Franklin: Jim Downs on "5 Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention"

As adults, one of our most important responsibilities is to protect our children, something that feels more urgent than ever in today’s world.

In support of that responsibility, the Hockomock Area YMCA, alongside YMCAs across Massachusetts and the nation, will participate in the Five Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention, April 13–17. This campaign raises awareness and empowers adults to take an active role in protecting children from sexual abuse, with a focus this year on Keeping Kids Safe in the Digital Space. We invite community members to visit any of our branches and pledge to act year-round.

Throughout the week, our YMCA will share resources to help adults prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse. The need is real: according to Praesidium and the CDC, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the United States experience sexual abuse—most often by someone they know and trust. These are not just statistics; they represent children whose lives are forever changed.

Prevention starts with awareness. Through the Know. See. Respond. framework, adults can better understand how abuse occurs, recognize warning signs, and take action. By working together, we can foster safer environments and stronger, more informed communities.

We are proud to partner with schools, municipalities, and human service organizations across our region to advance this work. In 2024, our YMCA earned Praesidium Accreditation®, becoming the first YMCA in Massachusetts to achieve this distinction, reflecting our commitment to the highest standards in child safety.

Every child deserves a safe, healthy childhood. Protecting that future is a shared responsibility—one we must all embrace.

Jim Downs
CEO, Hockomock Area YMCA


If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Jim Downs on "5 Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention"
Voices of Franklin: Jim Downs on "5 Days of Action for Child Abuse Prevention"
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The Finance Committee spends about 4 hours reviewing details of the FY 2027 budget on Tuesday, April 7. This is the second of 4 sessions this week to review and question the details of the budget.

8 of the 9 members of the committee were present in Council Chambers for this session.

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SrQw4jc-r0

Agenda doc including links to the FY 2027 budget 


Quick recap 
  • Time spent at the opening to answer questions carried over from the Facilities discussion on Monday
  • Technology, Tim Raposa presents and answers questions
  • Next up, Schools - Supt Giguere, Business Manager Jana Melotti, Paul Griffith (SchCmte Chair)
  • Discussion among the committee on how to proceed, ultimately will use the Thursday session to consolidate their approaches in a discussion to lead to a recommendation vote.
  • Note - meeting location likely to change from Chambers to 3rd Floor Trng Room (Conservation Commission would come down to Chambers).


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FHS Outdoor Track Results for Tuesday's meet (not available)

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Monday, April  6, 2026


Editor’s Note (HockomockSports.com): Track highlights will be posted in a recap two days following meet day (Thursday this week).


Boys Outdoor Track    Sharon @ Franklin, 3:45

Girls Outdoor Track    Sharon @ Franklin, 3:45




For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
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Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2

Join Building Equitable Neighborhoods (BEN) for Franklin on Saturday, May 2nd for our fourth annual walking discussion of downtown Franklin! The event is part of an international series in memory of social activist and placemaker Jane Jacobs.

Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2
Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2

The ~1.5 hour tour will begin at 10:30 AM from the Franklin TV studio (43 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA). Parking available.
All are welcome, including pets and wheels!
Join us for refreshments and continued discussion after the walk!
This year, we will be joined by regional planning professionals from Congress for a New Urbanism (CNU) New England!


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Got a text about expiring reward points? Look closer


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By BCP Staff

If you’re signed up for a rewards program, you may have gotten texts warning that your points are expiring soon. A message like that may catch your attention, but people are reporting to the FTC that some of those messages aren’t real — and come from scammers. So how can you tell which messages are real and which are phishing scams?

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/04/got-text-about-expiring-reward-points-look-closer?utm_source=govdelivery

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Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio introduced a brand new schedule early in 2025 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 Wednesday
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday


8:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM   Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock 
Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 2 PM)  

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone  All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points.    (repeats Saturday at 1 PM)  

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
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Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY
7:30 am     Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture
8:30 am Robert Goddard Centennial Celebration
10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Katie Kindilien
11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Spring
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs
12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Breakfast
1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 3
6:00 pm Metrowest Summit: World Cup 02-26-26
8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am Middle School 6th Grade Concert
8:30 am FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra
10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Task Force
11:00 am Jazz Cafe 03-06-26
1:30 pm FHS Varsity Softball v King Philip 03-30-26
8:00 pm Rec Basketball: 5th & 6th Grade Boys 03-07-26
10:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Durfee 06-01-25

  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council 04-01-26
1:00 pm Town Council 04-01-26
6:00 pm  Finance Committee  CHAMBERS  830 5185 2189

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