Fallen Hero Recognition: Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr. - July 30, 2025 at 9 AM

Memorial event today (7/30/25) at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr., World War II. 

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: Staff Sergeant Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr., U.S. Army

Staff Sergeant Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr., U.S. Army, was born on July 28, 1924 son of Anthony, Sr. and Vera Mucciarone. Anthony lived at 31 Cleveland Avenue with his parents, two brothers and one sister. Anthony attended the Franklin Public Schools ,was a member of the Franklin High School class of 1942 but left high school at the end of his junior year. Anthony entered the army on April 23, 1943.  

Staff Sgt Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr. rose in rank from buck private to staff sergeant in two months and was awarded a citation for personal and group heroism for his combat participation with the invasion forces in Normandy, commencing on June 6, 1944. He was a member of the 29th Infantry Division which captured St. Lo after almost continuous combat since its landing in Normandy on D-Day. Staff Sgt Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr. was also a member of the 116th regiment of the 29th which successfully attacked a heavily fortified and strongly defended beach in the vicinity of Vievill-sur-Mer. The Corps Commander cited the 29th’s repeated “personal and group heroism and its unflagging devotion to duty which overcame discomfiture, fatigue and determined resistance of a resourceful enemy.”  

Staff Sgt Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr. died in combat in France on July 30, 1944 at age 20 years. Anthony rests eternally in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

Fallen Hero: Staff Sgt Mucciarone

The current schedule (note as additional info is gathered and confirmed this schedule may be updated)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/114IR6REsc-Ts_GLlfmgynjyD5IS595RA/view?usp=drive_link

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

The Music of Dolly Parton comes to THE BLACK BOX - Saturday, August 2

THE BLACK BOX, the region’s premier music, theater, and event venue, is thrilled to bring back THE BLACK BOX Sings… Concert Series outside under the stars this summer sponsored by Berry Insurance.

THE BLACK BOX Sings… Dolly Parton on August 2nd at 8:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX. Outside under the stars, a cast of Franklin Performing Arts Company favorites will pay tribute to the living legend. Table seating and general seating are available. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside.

(L-R) Norris, Perona, & Funkhouser

From singing barefoot on the front porch of her Tennessee Mountain Home to commanding the stage in six-inch heels, Dolly Parton is a larger-than-life living legend with a heart as big as her dreams. She is one of an elite group of individuals to receive at least one nomination from all four major annual American entertainment award organizations; Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar, and Tony. Enjoy the songs that have captured the hearts of generations this summer at THE BLACK BOX.

August 2nd’s concert features Maria Sylvia Norris (Beetlejuice the Musical on tour), Boston’s Anissa Perona, NYC’s Ali Funkhouser, and a cast of talented local singers and students/alumni of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. 

The concert series will continue on August 23rd with THE BLACK BOX Sings… The 2024-25 Broadway Season, celebrating the music of all the new shows and revivals that opened on Broadway this past year. 

Tickets and more information are available at THEBLACKBOXonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central Street in downtown Franklin, MA. 

Direct link - https://theblackboxonline.com/the-black-box-sings-dolly-parton/

Santa Foundation 40th Anniversary Gala - Oct 3, 2025

Save the Date!

Santa Foundation 40th Anniversary Gala - Oct 3, 2025

Join us in celebrating 40 years of giving at the Santa Foundation 40th Anniversary Gala!

Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 at the The Franklin Elks

An unforgettable evening of inspiration, community, and heart.

For four decades, the Santa Foundation has brought hope and help to families in need. Now, it’s time to celebrate the impact you’ve helped create.

Stay tuned for ticket information and more exciting details!

Let’s make this a night to remember.

https://www.sfjoy.org/events/event-two-mhgam

"The unbelievable Padulas Band is bringing the energy to La Cantina Winery" - Aug 2

"The unbelievable Padulas Band is bringing
the energy to La Cantina Winery" - Aug 2

You don’t want to miss this!

The unbelievable Padulas Band is bringing the energy to La Cantina Winery on Saturday, August 2 

Live music, wine, pizza, tapas & good vibes all night long!

Tag your crew and make it a night to remember! 

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DMrIHcfRq6b/?

"In the logic of money, the old can never beat the new." (video)

"Every minute, a building in Europe is destroyed—not by wind, flood, or fire but by human hands. Real-estate speculators have built a system that puts profit before people and planet. And it’s not only walls and roofs that are lost! This talk exposes the hidden costs of demolition and shows why a home’s true value far exceeds its market price.

Olaf Grawert (@houseeurope.eu @olafgrawert) plans, writes, and speaks about architecture—not just as a profession, but as a cultural-economic and political force. As founding partner of b+ (bplus.xyz) and co-initiator of HouseEurope! (houseeurope.eu), he addresses the big questions of how we adapt buildings and the systems behind them. From campaigns to classrooms, buildings to books, his projects push the boundaries between theory and practice, redefining architecture as more than simply building."

View the full TedX Talk ->  https://youtu.be/2ENMWPx9_-0

How do we lead moral lives in the age of bullies?

How do we lead moral lives in an age of bullies? | Robert Reich

"We are living in an age of bullies. Those with power are less constrained today than they have been in my lifetime, since the end of the second world war.

How do we lead moral lives in the age of bullies?

The question is: how do we lead moral lives in this era?

Vladimir Putin launches a horrendous war on Ukraine. After Hamas’s atrocity, Benjamin Netanyahu bombs Gaza to smithereens and is now starving to death its remaining occupants.

Trump abducts thousands of hardworking people within the US and puts them into detention camps – splitting their families, spreading fear. His immigration agents are accused of targeting people with brown skin.

He usurps the powers of Congress, defies the courts, and prosecutes his enemies."

Continue reading the article ->   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/28/bullies-moral-lives-robert-reich?CMP=share_btn_url 

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, July 30, 2025

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

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)  

• This shares my Town Council Quarterbacking session with Council Chair Tom Mercer -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/4-hour-plus-town-council-meeting-try.html

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)  

• Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi have a discussion with Mike Veseth ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode.html

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

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:30 am Mental Health: Raeleen Sullivan

8:30 am FSPA Spring 2025 Show 3

10:00 am Sons & Daughters of Italy: Paolo DiGregorio

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Grillin'

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Trifles

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 3

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 9

3:30 pm 4th of July 2025: Midnight Ride

5:30 pm The Drummer's Studio: 12th Anniversary

8:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Mike Tarara

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

7:00 am All-Town Showcase 2024: Chorus and Orchestra

8:30 am Public School Event: Elementary Music Pt. 1 06-04-18

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Task Force

11:00 am All-Town Showcase 2024: Chorus and Orchestra

12:30 pm Franklin Fury Softball v Dedham 07-23-25

4:00 pm Tri County Graduation 2025

6:00 pm FHS Graduation 2025

8:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Oliver Ames 03-31-25

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

8:00 am Town Council 07-23-25

2:00 pm Town Council 07-23-25

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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 ???

Library & Senior Center events

Tuesday, July 29

Raffle tickets for TRI-COUNTY COUGAR WRESTLING TEAM  (https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/raffle-tickets-for-tri-county-cougar.html)

2:30pm Rainbow Cafe (Franklin Senior Center)

5:00pm CANCELED due to weather Youth Summer Track Meet (Franklin High School)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->        

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, July 29 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07292025-1836 

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What's happening today in Franklin? 

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

FPAC Searching for Kids to Star in ANNIE and PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) is seeking young local actors ages 8-18 to complete their casts for their October production of Annie and November production of Peter and the Starcatcher at THE BLACK BOX. 

Children’s Auditions for both shows will be held on September 6th from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX located at 15 W. Central Street in Franklin, MA. Those auditioning for Annie are asked to prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theater song and those auditioning for Peter and the Starcatcher are given the option of preparing a brief monologue or reading one provided at the audition. Sign-ups for audition time slots are open now at FPAConline.com/auditions. 

FPAC Searching for Kids to Star in ANNIE
and PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

Those auditioning for both shows are asked to sign up for two slots in the same “group” when possible. For full character descriptions and instrument information, visit FPAConline.com/auditions. All questions regarding the audition/casting process can be emailed to FPACcasting@gmail.com. 

Annie will be directed by FPAC Artistic Director Raye Lynn Mercer, choreographed by Broadway’s Clay Rice-Thomson (Moulin Rouge, Matilda, Newsies, King Kong), with music direction by FPAC’s Resident Music Director Hallie Wetzell. The production runs October 17-26 at THE BLACK BOX. Peter and the Starcatcher will be directed by NYC’s Ali Funkhouser and run November 21-23 at THE BLACK BOX. 

FPAC is a professional regional theater (Actors’ Equity SPT Tier 1). The casts and creative teams are made up of Broadway stars, professionals from NYC and Boston, local talent, and student apprentices. All performers 18 (high school) and under cast in FPAC productions appear as “Student Apprentices.” 

The FPAC Student Apprentice program gives students of the arts a chance to share the stage with and be directed/choreographed by Broadway stars and New York, Boston, and local professional artists. A learning experience in the world of professional regional theater, Student Apprentices are sometimes called upon to assist FPAC’s Stage Management team and crew with things like technical rehearsals, upkeep of THE BLACK BOX space, and more. 

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including “Tomorrow.” 

Peter and the Starcatcher is a play with music that upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants, to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair… and the bonds of friendship, duty, and love.

Tickets for FPAC’s entire 2025-26 Season will be available soon at FPAConline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370. 

4 hour plus Town Council meeting?? try our 30 minute condensed recap (audio)

FM #1485 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1485 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 Monday, July 28, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of July 23, 2025.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Discussion items: 

Fire Department - Swearing In of New Firefighter / Paramedic 

• i. Jeffrey Wolcott, a backfill for an existing & funded position

Annual Reappointments and New Appointments of Boards and Committees Members 

• i. See “Committee Appointments” in packet for member names

ABCC Transactions

• New Section 12 Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License and Approval of Xiao Xia Zhang as the Manager - Kojo Asian Fusion LLC d/b/a Kojo, Located at 28 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038.

• License Modification - Change of Location of a Section 15 Wine and Malt Beverages Package Store License: The Little Shop of Olive Oils Inc. d/b/a The Little Shop of Olive Oils,, Located at 5 Main St., Franklin, MA 02038

Legislation for Action

• Resolution 25-27: FY26 Community Preservation Appropriation of Funds - Capital 

Friendly 40b

• Resolution 25-49: Franklin Town Council Support for Proposed GL Chapter 40B Affordable Housing Project at 202 Washington Street Pursuant to DHCD’s Local Initiative Program (LIP)

Residential Commercial Kitchens

• j. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-938: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 3 of the Code of the Town of Franklin

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-939: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 8, Use Regulations Schedule Part Vii: Accessory Uses - Referral to the Planning Board

New Service Fee

• Bylaw Amendment 25-940: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service, by Adding a New Service Fee: Residential Commercial Kitchen - First Reading. Moved to 2nd

Resolution 25-50: Adoption of Local Initiative Program “Friendly 40B” Policy, 

• Motion to Amend, fails 4-5

• Motion to table and deliberate at a future meeting, Seconded. Nondebatable - Via roll call, passes 5-4 to be tabled for later date (Yes - Sheridan, Frongillo, Pellegri, Hamblen, Mercer; No - Cormier-Leger, Chandler, Jones, Dellorco)

Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-929: Creation of the Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 4,Districts Enumerated - Referral to the Planning Board Motion to referral, second 

• Next 6 votes all relate to this one, all 6 moved to Planning Board, to return to Council likely in September

EV Charging Stations

• Bylaw Amendment 25-936: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 73, Departmental Revolving Funds (EV Charging Stations) 

• Bylaw Amendment 25–937: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82,Fees, Municipal Service (EV Charging Stations) 

Acceptance of Gifts

• Resolution 25-51: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($1,646), Veterans’ Services ($400), Fire Department ($1,025), Police Department ($1,000), Recreation (AED)

TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

• Research forthcoming on alcohol license handling. Options for other than the Council 

• Local aid cut $231,000 from final State budget; Further pressure next year, Aug 11 Finance Cmte

• Raeleen Gallivan has a new position elsewhere closer to her home

• Amy Frigulietti has a new position in Yarmouth

The conversation runs about 33 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1485-town-council-quarterbacking-07-28-25/

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The Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dc10zX_m3k 

The agenda docs and supporting material ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232025-1829 

My full set of notes: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HG6gba9gs32QQmenYy89A426iD-eGNLd/view?usp=drive_link 

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1484-town-council-mtg-07-23-25/ 

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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. 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"

4 hour plus Town Council meeting?? try our 30 minute condensed recap (audio)