Ben is now dressed for success!

Ben is now dressed for success!

"Sassy Ben Franklin showing off his new leg warmers outside of the heart of Franklin @franklinpubliclibrary!

This is part of a new public art piece knitted together by the Friday knitters group that meets weekly at the library.

Click our link in our profile to read more about the yarn installation and listen to a podcast by @franklinmatters.ma sharing the inside scoop of this project featuring knitter and Cultural District Committee member, Sue Cass" along with Anne Frye.

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DAbUstqR4OT/

Interview audio can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/09/sue-and-anne-talk-about-yarn-project.html

Sue and Anne talk about the yarn project that will dress the Ben Franklin statute (audio)

FM #1269 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1269 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Sue Cass and Anne Frye. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Monday, August 19, 2024.

Sue & Anne are members of the Knitting group that meets at the Franklin Public Library on Fridays from 10 AM to noon, the group sits to knit or crochet and have a conversation. 

We talk about the yarn installation coming at the end of September. The yarn will be used to dress up the bronze statue of Ben Franklin at the Library. There will be other yarn creations in the immediate vicinity and these will remain until mid-December.

The recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1269-knitting-group-project-08-20-24/

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

The Knitting Group meets each Friday at the Library from 10 AM to noon. Anyone wishing to knit or crochet is welcome to join. 

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

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

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Sue and Anne talk about the yarn project that will dress the Ben Franklin statute (audio)

Ben Franklin Book Week: Vera Meyer - Glass Harmonica (video)

Want to catch up to the Vera Meyer glass harmonic performance from Ben Franklin's book Week? Thanks to Franklin TV, you can.

Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24tz4q1n8hg

Norfolk County Deeds: "History Comes Alive" on the Franklin Public Library (video)

Friends of Franklin Library (@FriendsFranklin) posted Tue, Feb 27, 2024

Good Deeds: History Comes Alive, Franklin Public Library https://t.co/A98m9NOrFL via @YouTube  or  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHCJUQDye2Y

Shared from -> https://t.co/eKCN8v8snC

a view of some of the books from Benjamin Franklin

Franklin Cultural District: Ben's Book events all week & more as #artshappenhere

Wednesday, January 17

9:30am Ben Franklin Autobiography* LIVE Readathon (Franklin Historical Museum)

11:00am Franklin Q&A (Franklin Senior Center & remote)

6:30pm SPECIAL Trivia Night (Teddie Gallagher’s)

7:00pm State of the Commonwealth Address (online, & YouTube)

Thursday, January 18

8:30am Town Council Office Hours (Franklin Senior Center)

6:30pm World PREMIERE, “The Boatbuilders” Pre-release Screening & Discussion (Franklin Public Library)

Friday, January 19

1:00pm Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm Get to know ‘Ben’s Books’ (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament and Sale (First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF))

Saturday, January 20

9:00am Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Ben Franklin, America’s First Scientist (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament and Sale (First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF))

10:30am Children’s Ben Franklin Story Time (Escape Into Fiction Bookstore)

11:00am Preschool & Kindergarten Open House (Sunrise Montessori School)

1:00pm Library "Books by the Bag Sale" (Franklin Public Library)

6:30pm Vera Meyer and Ben Franklin’s Glass Armonica (Franklin Public Library)

Sunday, January 21

7:30am All you can eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

1:00pm Ben Franklin Considered and Reconsidered (Franklin Historical Museum)

1:00pm Children's Museum of Franklin pop up (Elks Lodge)

Tuesday, January 23

2:30pm Rainbow Café

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

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

Find the full Community event calendar   https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:   https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

Events for Ben Franklin Book Week January 14-21, 2024

Tues. 1/16 Ben Franklin’s Journey from Slaveholder to Abolitionist AND African Son, a discussion. Local historian Jim Johnston and Historical Commission Chair, Alan Earls, will start the discussion with Jim regarding Ben Franklin’s initial acceptance of the institution of slavery and his eventual “conversion” within the context of the 18th century world, the Enlightenment, the Great Awakening, and the American Revolution. Jim will then take the story of slavery into the 19th century with a discussion of his novel, African Son*, which traces the fortunes of an African man who is enslaved in 1815 and has his survival skills tested in his new “home” in pre- Civil War Georgia…6:30 PM at the Franklin Historical Museum. FREE

Weds. 1/17 Ben Franklin Autobiography* LIVE Readathon at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, 9:30 AM on Ben’s Birthday, Jan 17 2023. Come and participate! Contact Alan Earls with any questions (alan.r.earls@gmail.com). FREE. Note, the ‘kick off ‘ speaker will be Franklin’s Congressman, Jake Auchincloss followed by State Senator Becca Rausch and State Rep. Jeff Roy.  Volunteer readers typically participate for 10-15 minutes in sharing this classic work of American literature. Completion times vary but the event will likely end around 5 PM. Sign up for a reading slot here or just come by to listen.

Ben Franklin Book Week

Weds. 1/17 SPECIAL Trivia Night at Teddy Gallagher’s on Main Street. The BEST TRIVIA NIGHT South of Boston happens on Tuesday Nights at Teddy Gallagher’s Irish pub in Franklin. In honor of Book Week, there will be an ADDITIONAL Trivia night on Wednesday, focusing on ‘bookish” topics — Come for the fun, bring your friends and a smartphone. 6:30 PM at 30 Main Street. See you there!

Thurs. 1/18 World PREMIERE, “The Boatbuilders” Pre-release Screening & Discussion Thursday January 18th. 6.30 PM Franklin Public Library. Join Director Gregg Seibert and Producer & Dean College Historian R. A. Lawson for a Pre-release screening of the first episode and Discussion of their new Documentary Series, “The Boatbuilders”! The docuseries uncovers the historical legacy and present-day impact of the boat building community, showcasing boatbuilders, sailors, and owners who speak to the realities of boat building today. FREE

Fri. 1/19 Get to know ‘Ben’s Books’ — Meet Reference Librarian Vicki Earls on the second floor of the Franklin Public Library, at the display case, at 2 PM for the story of the books Franklin donated to our town — what are they and how did they end up in Franklin! Attendees will receive a newly published, illustrated mini-book all about THE books! FREE

Fri. 1/19 BIG Library Book Sale. Friday, January 19th, 1:00 - 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 20th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. All books are just one dollar!

Sat. 1/20 Children’s Ben Franklin Story Time. 10:30 AM at Escape Into Fiction Bookstore, 12 Main Street FREE

Sat. 1/20 Ben Franklin, America’s First Scientist — a talk and demonstration by engineer-entrepreneur John Berg, on Saturday, Jan 20, 2023 from 10 to 1 at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St. FREE

Sat. 1/20 Bag Sale Finale of Library Book Sale. 1 PM to 4 PM  $5 per bag!

1/20 Vera Meyer and Ben Franklin’s Glass Armonica. Among Ben Franklin’s most amazing inventions is the glass armonica, a series of concentric, rotating crystal glass bowls that can be played (think of the sound of wine glass rims being rubbed). Mozart and others composed music for it. And Boston area musician and expert Vera Meyer will return to Franklin for a performance featuring many styles of music. Don’t miss the haunting, ethereal, and beautiful sounds of the armonica at the Franklin Public Library 6:30 - 8 PM. FREE (School St entrance)

1/21 Ben Franklin Considered and Reconsidered — an authorized showing of PBS interviews with modern leaders discussing the many facets of Ben Franklin. Sunday Jan 21, 2023 from 1-4 PM at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St. Audience members will be encouraged to continue the discussion! FREE

Check for updates -> https://benfranklinbookweek.com/

In Franklin, MA, It’s All About the Benjamin!

Birthday Celebration for a Founding Father Goes BIG This Month!

Franklin, Massachusetts’ biggest claim to fame is that it is named for the great 18th century polymath and patriot, Benjamin Franklin, and that Franklin in his wisdom, repaid the compliment with a generous gift of books. The town’s people made the most of this and turned this gift into the first free public lending library in North America. 

It was a good move. Franklin farm boy, Horace Mann, the ”father” of American Public education, educated himself in large part through the books donated by Ben and Oliver Dean, another local influenced by access to Ben’s books, founded Dean Academy in Franklin (now Dean College)!

Today, with the town’s growth and a renewed focus on arts, culture, and history in the town’s Cultural District, a literary and library past is being celebrated with Ben Franklin Book Week, Jan 14-21, “A Community Rediscovery of Ideas, Literature, and the Shared Gift of Language.” This new annual event that celebrates the birthday of Benjamin Franklin (Jan. 17) and his gift of books to the town AND it recognizes the town’s ongoing book- and culture friendly environment, with a growing slate of events and activities! 

Book Week is cosponsored by the Franklin Historical Museum, Franklin Public Library, and Escape into Fiction book store with funding provided by Mass. Cultural Council through the Franklin Cultural District Committee.

Events include lectures, a film premiere, a live ‘readathon’ of Ben Franklin’s Autobiography, a concert with the Glass Harmonica instrument invented by Ben Franklin, a lecture and demonstration of Ben’s fundamental contribution to the understanding of electricity, and more. 

More information is available at https://benfranklinbookweek.com

In Franklin, MA, It’s All About the Benjamin!

Franklin's Event Outlook: January 12, 2023 to January 18, 2024

Friday, January 12

7:00pm Steve Demers (live music) (Raillery Public House)

7:30pm Electric Youth Debut Concert (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

Saturday, January 13

9:00am KoC Free Throw Tournament  (Hockomock YMCA)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Train Town Franklin; Part 2 (Franklin Historical Museum)

2:30pm FHS Best Buddies fund raiser basketball game (Franklin High School)

7:00pm Steve Demers (live music) (Raillery Public House)

8:00pm Joe Jencks (live music) (ticketed event) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

Sunday, January 14

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Train Town Franklin; Part 2 (Franklin Historical Museum)

1:15pm Second Sunday Speaker Series (CANCELED): Joe Landry on History of Thompson Press (Franklin Historical Museum) 

Monday, January 15 -  Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 16

6:30pm Ben Franklin’s Journey from Slaveholder to Abolitionist AND African Son, a discussion (Franklin Historical Museum)

7:30pm Voice of Franklin, part of Toastmasters International (Franklin TV Studio)

Wednesday, January 17

9:30am Ben Franklin Autobiography* LIVE Readathon (Franklin Historical Museum)

6:30pm SPECIAL Trivia Night  (Teddie Gallagher’s)

7:00pm State of the Commonwealth Address (live broadcast)

Thursday, January 18

8:30am Town Council Office Hours (Franklin Senior Center)

6:30pm World PREMIERE, “The Boatbuilders” Pre-release Screening & Discussion (Franklin Public Library)

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

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin's Event Outlook: January 12, 2023 to January 18, 2024

Hey kids, paint a portrait of Ben Franklin, yes, the 4 legged one: for K-5 students, Sep 26

Join us for a fun art workshop on September 26th. Spend your day with a fun art workshop. We will be painting portrait's of Franklin Police Department one and only Ben Franklin.

Register online at franklinma.myrec.com

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CxLO_4TOod3/

Paint a portrait of Ben, yes, the 4 legged one: for K-5 students, Sep 26

PBS Newshour features Franklin Library and Ben's legacy

In case you missed it, there was a nice 5 minute story on PBS Newshour on Monday.  Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adVFgReaS1Y

"Benjamin Franklin's literary legacy lives on in country's longest-running lending library"

PBS Newshour features Franklin Library and Ben's legacy

Living Statues to make appearance at the Franklin Cultural Festival - Sep 10

Watch pieces of history come to life at this year’s Franklin Cultural Festival! We are lucky enough to be joined by three different LIVING STATUES this year - you won’t want to miss it!

Be sure to join us on September 10th from 12-6pm for artisan booths, live performances, great food, a beer/wine garden, and more for your whole family to enjoy!

Ben Franklin, Harriet Tubman, and Betsy Ross will make an appearance! 

Shared from the Cultural Festival social media posts  ->   https://www.facebook.com/100000855565679/posts/pfbid0gtqnZeBGyBWmfkCGFQBo1D311xS8QxKX5rR4dPUvvFLARkey5orwwewgTi29u3Dwl/

Living Statues to make appearance at the Franklin Cultural Festival

Ben's Books - RI Public TV does an episode on the books in the Franklin Library (video)

Vicki Earls, Franklin Library Head of Reference and James Johnston, Franklin historian, contribute to this RI Public TV episode on Ben's Books.  

"There are dozens of U.S. towns named for famous patriot, diplomat, writer, scientist, and inventor, Benjamin Franklin - but the very first was a local community with a lasting legacy. Rhode Island PBS Weekly's Pamela Watts explores how an unexpected gift of books, bestowed by Franklin upon the townspeople, helped inspire an educator to launch the country's public school system.

Video link -> https://watch.ripbs.org/video/bens-books-ztqikx/

 

The photo album of Ben's Books when they were most recently unveiled in April of 2018  https://photos.app.goo.gl/BuBL0ZVshZR0vxXP2

a close up of some of Ben's books gifted to Franklin, now viewable in the Public Library

The Dog Project scheduled for Saturday, June 4, from noon to 3 PM will feature our own "Ben Franklin"

The Franklin Lion's Club is presenting an event about everything Dog with demonstrations from Hanscom AFB K-9 unit, and Franklin Police's K-9, Ben Franklin.

Comfort and Service dogs will show you how they assist people.

Representatives from organizations that provide training, doggie day care, doggie treats, dog walkers, and more will be participating.

The Dog Project is scheduled for the Town Common on Saturday, June 4 from noon to 3 PM. Rain date is Sunday, June 5, noon to 3 PM.

No cost for the event. Raffle items will be on site to raise money to donate to a Dog organization.

• Donations of dog food for the Franklin Food Pantry would be appreciated.
• Donations of old eye glasses will be collected by the Lion's Club.

Franklin Police: Ben Franklin gained his "Canine Good Citizen" certification in Jan 2021

 

Franklin TV: Finding Ben Franklin, Part 6

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 03/06/2022

The Review:

Our original quest for Ben in 2012 was simply to address the need to reasonably reproduce his likeness on signage and TV by creating a proxy of the Town Seal. When blown up on an HDTV screen – not a visually pleasing representation

Our approach was simple; work with the most public image. Ben’s engraving on the hundred dollar bill was our source as an image in the public domain.

However, the U.S. mint’s printing is intended to make reproduction (counterfeiting) difficult. Our 2012 engraved image (right) has these reproduction limitations. When we reduce its resolution or its size it falls apart.

Our 2022 Ben quest took us to the source of the Mint’s version – the Duplessis portrayals. We started with a blank canvas – to reinterpret, repaint and reconstruct Ben’s likeness from scratch for modern digital publication in many forms.

Our modern interpretation of Ben Franklin is slightly younger. His image has been reilluminated, and his countenance is a bit less formal, more approachable. Our last step will be to reduce all of this detail and nuance to the limits of a notary seal. The Reveal (so far):

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.

And, thank you for watching. 

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

 

Finding Ben Franklin, Part 6