Franklin Matters: 2026-05-10

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Franklin TV: Impact!

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 05/10/2026

It has begun. The erosion of community media is happening – and accelerating – in zip codes here and there – in cities and towns great and small (especially small.) It’s pernicious march is on the move across Massachusetts and many other states. Community Media Centers are working harder than ever to improve and expand their local services while facing shrinking budgets due to cable cord-cutting.

Some services are mandated by state law. Some by federal law. We are obligated by the state to cover local government meetings. Next year we’ll also be required by the FCC to add closed caption services to our programming. These and all the other programs we offer are services for which there are no public funds. We’re supported by cable company access fees. As our working budget shrinks we will eventually be forced to do less work – to reduce our level of service – somehow.

Some community media facilities are already downsizing their studios and staff – or merging with other media centers, or worse – closing. Some are seeking additional financial support from towns whose tax bases are already stretched and struggling to maintain municipal infrastructure and services.

Hadley, MA, an idyllic town with around 5,300 residents, just held its annal town meeting where citizens had to consider and vote on a range of tax override options from painful to very painful. Yet, they approved $40 thousand dollars as a one-year stipend to support Hadley Media. That’s about $8 dollars per capita for annual community media support – voted by a wide majority with little dissent. That’s one for the win column – for now.

Belmont Media is moving – distributing their facility footprint to a smaller space in the town’s new library – and to the middle school and high school – and selling off much of their studio equipment. It’s a smart reconfiguration that will help them maintain services where most relevant.

Here in Franklin we’ve long prepared for this difficult time of deficit spending. We’re working every dollar we have, continuing to actually expand our services while carefully managing our operational spend and cash reserves. Our positive impact on Franklin remains as strong as ever – while we also brace for impact.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thanks 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

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday (5/11) Through Tuesday (5/12), 7 AM to 4 PM

Beaver Street Pump Station

At the Franklin Recreation Center, construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with the installation of the water service into the building. The work will be contained within one lane on Beaver Street. During this time there will be a lane closure on Beaver Street between 7am and 4pm. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

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

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Teaser: Franklin TV and Franklin Matters took the opportunity to get inside of the Pump Station to take a tour and record the video so you will all be able to see what cost approximately $8M of the overall $33M project. The video will take time to edit so stay tuned for an informative inside view.

Suede Pumas scheduled to perform at La Cantina, May 30

Shared from https://www.instagram.com/p/DYC9mieD4lc/

Upcoming "in-studio" taping of "Once Upon A Town" on May 20th at noon

Via Joe Landry:

"Just a quick note to tell you that Scott mason and I will be highlighting the three buildings that make up "Depot Plaza" on Main Street for our upcoming taping session on May 20th at noon.

Many long-time residents of Franklin have memories of the stores that were there, including J. J. Newberry, W. T. Grant, etc. and I think this will be a good one for people to attend. I'll post something on Facebook that will announce this presentation so that people will know about it.

Moving forward, Scott and I are hoping that we can tape future programs in the early evening instead of the middle of the day. Hopefully, this will attract a larger audience as most people work and can't come to the noon presentations. "

Thanks,

Joe

Entering FHS in September 2026? Consider the X-Country Experience on May 27

For the incoming frosh to Franklin High School for the school year starting in September 2026

Shared from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ENWr5QXeh/

Save the date for the Santa Foundation Bingo Fundraiser - Weds, June 17

Additional information to come

Save the date for the Santa Foundation Bingo Fundraiser - Weds, June 17

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1cwtow7D5j/

New trends in reports of imposter scams

By BCP Staff

Every year, the FTC gets millions of fraud reports from consumers and shares information about the top scams. In what’s not a surprise for anyone who’s followed along in the past, imposter scams were the #1 scam for the ninth year in a row.

So, what do we know about these imposter scams?