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

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!

More info at ben4franklin.org/janes-walk-2026

School Committee gets update on Lifelong Learning (video)

The Franklin (MA) School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 PM. This was a change from prior meetings (starting at 6 PM) to enable their budget subcommittee to meet at 6 PM before the full session at 7. 

All 7 members of the Committee were present in Chambers

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/uQe3rLUq6e8?&t=87

The agenda for this session - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2201

My full set of notes taken during the meeting in one PDF -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZuJSdiqLK1QBa9NdcjVsk5KVX7AH2MX3/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• Students scheduled for the pledge got to the meeting for the incorrect 6 PM start and will be rescheduled to another meeting
• Superintendent's report
• substitute nurses being looked for
• Winter sports round up
• earmark funded for middle school library (still needs to make through the budget cycle)
• Innovation labs grant also awarded
• FHS family science night April 9 from 5 to 8 pm
• Lifelong learning update
• For Solutions, the students to teacher ratios; K - 1 to 10, others grades are 1 to 12, 1 to 13
• Footlighters program hiring for, trying to fulfill that position, complications in the hiring process had hindered the hiring to date. Still being worked
• Over 900 adults taking part, a wide variety of offerings from sports to arts, etc.
• Funding question, Lifelong learning is effectively another revolving fund, fee based and those fees can only be used within the program
• Discussion/Action Items
• A.   Student Opportunities Act Plan Vote
• B. Endorsement of Request for Statement of Interest for Development of Strategic Plan
• both passed by 7-0 votes
• Subcommittee updates
• Citizen comment - I stepped up to say thanks for the participation at the Q&A and to provide 2 future dates for their calendars
• April 18, Favorite Poem Reading at the Library 
• On May 2, the 3rd annual Jane Jacobs walk, meet at the TV studio walk about 1 mile or so, return to the studio. Discussions of housing, zoning, which are all budget related. It is a generally good discussion with insights shared

Photo album of the slides presented for Lifelong Learning

https://photos.app.goo.gl/adaJ3sZeYK5ih5t28

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, May 4, 2025 ???

Sunday, May 4 - Horace Mann's Birthday

10:00am Jane's Walk - Franklin (Depot Plaza)
11:00am Sunday Brunch (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)
12:00pm Kenny Hadley LEGACY Big Band (THE BLACK BOX)
1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Celebrate Horace Mann's Birthday (Franklin Historical Museum)
3:00pm LiveARTS: Rachel Childers & Ann Sears (Murray Unitarian Universalist church)
7:00pm Rehearsal for Distinguished Young Women (Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   

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

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

 

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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

Join Cobi & I for an informative discussion on Jane's Walk in downtown Franklin, Sunday, May 4

Via Cobi Frongillo:

Jane's Walk in downtown Franklin, Sunday, May 4

"Happy to be co-hosting a third annual Jane's Walk with Steve Sherlock and BEN 4 Franklin!  

Meet us 10AM THIS SUNDAY (5/4) at the Depot Street parking lot for a walk-and-talk of Downtown Franklin.  

Wheels and paws welcome!"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16RhpxVLLZ/

You can join us along the way if you miss the start. We'll be along Main St to Emmons, to West Central, to Cottage, to Winter, to East Central, to Ruggles and then back East Central to Main and the Depot parking lot.

Join Cobi & I for an informative discussion on Jane's Walk

 

Note: the route covers 1.5 miles.

Join us for a Jane's Walk in Franklin on Sunday, May 4 at 10 AM

Join Cobi Frongillo & Steve Sherlock NEXT SUNDAY (5/4) for our third annual walk around Downtown Franklin to reflect on placemaking and town planning.

The event is part of an annual international series of walks to honor the social activist Jane Jacobs.

Meet at the Depot St parking lot Sunday morning. We will leave at 10:00 AM and should meander back by 11:30 AM.

Join us for a Jane's Walk in Franklin on Sunday, May 4 at 10 AM

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AHWKwXMp5/

Find out more about Buliding Euitable Neighborhoos For Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin)  https://ben4franklin.org/

Join Cobi & I for a 2nd Jane's Walk in Franklin, May 11 at 10:30 AM

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, there will be a second BEN 4 Franklin launch event: Cobi Frongillo and Franklin Matters’ Steve Sherlock will be leading a 90-minute Jane Jacobs Walk (rain or shine!) at 10:30 AM starting from the Franklin TV Studio, to explore the history, physical structure and architecture of Franklin’s built downtown environment. 

The community walk-and-talk will be one of thousands of Jane Jacobs Walks that take place every May in honor of the late social activist and placemaker. The walk will be accessible to wheels and paws, and participants are invited to gather afterwards at La Cantina Winery to share thoughts and observations. 

For more information and to RSVP for the event, or to sign up for BEN 4 Franklin’s mailing list, please visit: tinyurl.com/ben4franklin

Visit the web page for more information -> https://ben4franklin.org/

If you miss us leaving at 10:30, this is the planned route we'll take. You may be able to join us along the way.

You can also find the public route https://www.mapmywalk.com/routes/view/6039415273

Join Cobi & I for a 2nd Jane's Walk in Franklin, May 11 at 10:30 AM

Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin launches with 2 events (audio)

FM #1192 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1192 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with resident Lisa Oxford and Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo. We talk about the launch events for the Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin). 

We talk about how the group

• grew out of last year’s Jane Walk
• subsequent conversations at Strawberry Stroll
• a meeting in August that drew about 30 folks
• the core group kept at it to work on a vision and mission, website, and initial event launch

The vision

We envision an inviting, diverse, environmentally sustainable, and fiscally strong Franklin where all can be engaged and find a home. We are aligned with the vision of the 2022 Franklin for All report.

The mission

We are an inclusive community advocating for a Franklin with abundant, affordable housing for all and walkable, economically vibrant downtown and neighborhoods that evolve in a fiscally-responsible manner.

Our conversation runs about 27 minutes.  Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1192-ben-4-franklin-launches-05-02-24  

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BEN 4 Franklin web page ->  https://ben4franklin.org/  

Launch party - May 10, 7 PM at Franklin TV Studio

Jane’s Walk - May 11, 10:30 AM starting from Franklin TV Studio

RSVP to a launch event or to at least join the mailing list

tinyurl.com/ben4franklin

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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"

Launch party - May 10, 7 PM at Franklin TV Studio

Jane Jacobs' Walk - May 11, 10:30 AM starting from Franklin TV Studio

Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin) schedules launch events - Friday, May 10 & Saturday, May 11

BEN 4 Franklin is pleased to invite anyone who lives or works in Franklin to our two public launch events: 

launch party - May 10

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Ben 4 Franklin will host a launch party at 7:00 PM at the Franklin TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson Street. In addition to a short speaking program with featured speaker Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Executive Director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, this interactive event will be a place where attendees can share memories of Franklin from the past and envision Franklin in the future through discussion, storytelling and artistic expression. Light refreshments will be provided.  

Jane Jacobs Walk - May 11

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, there will be a second BEN 4 Franklin launch event: Cobi Frongillo and Franklin Matters’ Steve Sherlock will be leading a 90-minute Jane Jacobs Walk (rain or shine!) at 10:30 AM starting from the Franklin TV Studio, to explore the history, physical structure and architecture of Franklin’s built downtown environment. The community walk-and-talk will be one of thousands of Jane Jacobs Walks that take place every May in honor of the late social activist and placemaker. The walk will be accessible to wheels and paws, and participants are invited to gather afterwards at La Cantina Winery to share thoughts and observations. 

For more information and to RSVP for either or both of the two launch events, or to sign up for BEN 4 Franklin’s mailing list, please visit: tinyurl.com/ben4franklin

Visit the web page for more information -> https://ben4franklin.org/

Franklin's first participation in the national annual @janeswalk, in honor of the late social activist Jane Jacobs - May 6, 10:30 AM

You are invited to join Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo & I as we walk and talk about Franklin, zoning, interesting tidbits, etc. We'll meet at the High St side of the Town Common and leave at 10:30 AM Saturday morning, May 6, 2023.

The route as proposed is just over 3 miles (or 5 K) that will bring us back to the Common. We should return to the Common by about noon.

• Dress for the weather whatever it is or forecasted to be for Saturday. 
• Bring along water (talking makes one thirsty). 
• Wheels and paws are welcome to come along.

Photo of the walking route (Counter clockwise)

Interactive Maps (via MapMyWalk) 

Counter clockwise  https://www.mapmywalk.com/routes/view/5511189451

Clockwise  -> https://www.mapmywalk.com/routes/view/5518318138/ 

Franklin's first participation in the national annual @janeswalk, in honor of the late social activist Jane Jacobs - May 6, 10:30 AM