The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, May 10, 2025
What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, May 10, 2025 ???
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar
Historical Museum Weekend: Cinema 80 film Saturday; "The Pioneering Women of Franklin" Sunday
- May 10 - Luca ( at 1:00 in the afternoon) (Italian-themed 2021 Pixar animated film)
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Marcella DiChiara talks about her experience on Season 3 of the PBS' "The Great American Recipe" (audio)
FM #1207 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1207 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Marcella DiChiara, Franklin resident and cook. She was selected to participate in season 3 of the PBS show “The Great American Recipe.” We met to record this conversation virtually Friday, May 17, 2024.
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Marcella DiChiara |
How she got selected
Learning Sicilian cooking from her mother
The show experience (no spoilers)
Queue for the first show June 17 at 9 PM Eastern
The conversation runs about 24 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Marcella. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1207-marcella-dichiara-talks-about-the-great-american-recipe-season-3-05-17-24
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Follow Marcella on Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/bostonhomecooking/
The Great American Recipe show page -> https://www.pbs.org/show/great-american-recipe/
Press release shared on Franklin MAtters -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/franklins-marcella-dichiara-was.html
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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
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or www.Franklinmatters.org/
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"
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Franklin's Marcella DiChiara was selected to participate in Season 3 of "THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE" on PBS
Today (May 7, 2024), PBS announced the eight home cooks from across America who will showcase their culinary talents in Season 3 of THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE, the upbeat cooking competition that celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food so vibrant and delicious. With a wide-ranging variety of cooking styles influenced by their varied backgrounds — from Alaskan to African, Chinese to Sicilian, Southern, German, Mexican and more, Season 3’s contestants represent the unique diversity of American home cooking.
Hosted by Alejandra Ramos, Season 3 of THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE features two new judges and a new location. Tim Hollingsworth, award-winning chef and Los Angeles restaurateur, and Francis Lam, host of public radio's "The Splendid Table," join returning host Alejandra Ramos and judge Tiffany Derry in Nashville, Tennessee. Each week, after two challenges, the judges will determine which home cook has the winning dish and, in the final week, the top three will compete for a chance to win this year’s competition. The eight-episode series premieres Mondays, June 17 through August 12, 2024, 9:00-10:00 PM ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App.
Franklin's Marcella DiChiara is one of the Contestants:
Marcella DiChiara (Franklin, Massachusetts) is a first-generation American whose passion for her Sicilian roots comes through in every dish she prepares. Her mother came to the United States with her family at age ten, and her dad immigrated to the United States in his late twenties. Growing up in Connecticut, Marcella spent every summer with her family, including her three siblings, back in Sicily. These experiences informed how she viewed cooking and the importance of family and community gathering around the table. Marcella works as an E-Commerce executive but never misses an opportunity to get in the kitchen and prepare a meal for her husband and two children. She prides herself on cooking traditional Sicilian dishes based on her mother’s recipes while using fresh, Mediterranean-inspired local produce. Marcella’s signature dish is Arancini al Ragu (Risotto Balls with Meat Sauce). |
Meet the other Contestants |
Mae Chandran (Malibu, California) was born in Guangzhou (Canton) in Southern China. At the age of three, she and her mother left China for Hong Kong. When she was eight, Mae left Hong Kong for Fall River, Massachusetts, to join her family, who lived above the Chinese-American restaurant they operated. Although Mae was immersed in the world of cooking (specifically Cantonese cuisine) from a young age, it wasn’t until she met and married her Sri Lankan husband that she began exploring the use of more spices and more "heat" in her recipes. Now with two grown children, Mae and her husband are enjoying retirement while she keeps busy working on their garden, which has been featured in The Malibu Times, making her international award-winning marmalade, and working on her memoirs. Mae’s signature dish is her Cantonese BBQ Chicken made with chicken thighs, Chinese brown bean sauce, hoisin sauce, and sriracha sauce. |
Tim Harris (Fort Mill, South Carolina) grew up living all over the world as a “military brat” until his father retired from a 27-year career in the US Air Force, and the family settled back in the Carolinas when Tim was 12. Influenced by his Dutch mother, as well as his paternal Southern Grandmama’s cooking, Tim developed an appreciation and a taste for many different types of cuisines at an early age. Now married with two children and a career in insurance, Tim uses his cooking to bring people together and spread community and positivity through his dishes. Creative and willing to try anything in the kitchen, he loves to grill, smoke meat, and feature fresh seafood from the Carolinas’ coastal waters along with bold flavors. Tim’s signature dish is his Lowcountry-Style Shrimp and Cheesy Grits.
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Sunday, February 5, 2023
Franklin TV: new cooking shows by the Sons and Daughters of Italy
- Lisa Oxford shares her family recipe for ciambotta is this episode.
- Dora Brett shares her family recipe for Italian cookies in this episode
Friday, November 13, 2020
Franklin Cultural Council: Annarella's Favorites: Italian Ricotta Cookies & Almond Crunch Biscotti
The next Franklin Cultural Council’s Masterclass is schedule for Monday, Nov 16. Are you registered? It’s FREE!
Join owner of Annarella's Bakery, Suzanne Gendreau, for a night of Italian baking!
Join us to make Italian Ricotta Cookies and Almond Crunch Biscotti!
**The Almond Crunch Biscotti has almonds that need to be caramelized 1-2 hours minimum before the class starts***
Annarella's Favorites: Italian Ricotta Cookies & Almond Crunch Biscotti |
Friday, January 25, 2019
Traveling to Italy? Take the course "Conversational Italian for the Traveler"
DATES: 6 Wednesdays, February 6 - April 3
TIME: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION: Franklin High School
COST: $80
Buongiorno! Are you planning a trip to Italy? Through situational vocabulary
framed in a cultural context, you will learn the basics to make a stay in Italy
even more pleasant. Get ready to learn about greeting, sightseeing, ordering
food and shopping – Italian style!
Register online
https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-0e4c00bfd8d043199dc7abf0f6d5736c
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Traveling to Italy? Take the course "Conversational Italian for the Traveler" |
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Check out Coffee In Italia
"As the holiday season gears up, check out new(ish) Franklin owned business www.coffeeinitalia.com for gift ideas for those coffee fiends in your life! Like our page and get notified when our Black Friday sales start.
Or, order now using code "LOCALFREEDELIVER" and pay no shipping if you live in Franklin ... get it delivered straight to your doorstep!"
From the About page:
"Our history with Italian coffee goes back a few years and during that time we've made all the mistakes possible! We received a Moka as a gift and managed to break it after the first use because we paid no attention to the direction not to twist it by the handle. We've learned why the pressure valve is important when making stove-top espresso. We've learned why Italian baristas looked at us knowingly when we order Cappuccino after lunch. We've stared confusingly at an unrequested glass of water provided by the barista in various parts of the country.
Our Italian travels have deepened our love of espresso, not just the drink itself, but more importantly the culture around it that you find in Italy. Popping into a bar in the early morning, late morning, before and after lunch or whenever you need a boost and some chiacchierata (a chat). The process of going to the register to order and pay the reasonable price, then heading to the counter with the receipt for the barista, standing there to drink it. Perfetto!
We plan this site to be more than a place to buy espresso and espresso makers at great prices (although if that’s all you want to do, go for it!). Together we will create a community of like minded Italophiles, travelers, former expats, espresso lovers as well as those who either want to reminisce about their magical Italian experiences or prepare for a new adventure.
We also will be blogging about new coffees, coffee makers, espresso machines and other offerings by the great Italian companies that we love so you can join in the conversation there... "
Let’s talk!
Adrianna and Beppe
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screen grab of Coffee In Italia |