DPW: Scheduled Water Shut-Off in the Union Street and Delta Drive area on Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Please spread the word! Water shut-off tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28, 2026 in the Union Street and Delta Drive area. Affected homes have been notified via door hangers.

Thank you for your patience and please plan accordingly.

Shared from - https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/173

2026 Memorial Day observances for the Town of Franklin

The Town of Franklin invites residents, veterans, families and visitors to come together in remembrance and gratitude during the community’s 2026 Memorial Day observances. A series of events will honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

The Memorial Day Breakfast will take place on Friday, May 22, from 9 to 11 AM, at the Franklin Senior Center and offers an opportunity for the veteran community to gather ahead of Memorial Day. Reservations are required and must be made by Friday, May 8, by calling the Veterans’ Services Office at 508-613-1315.

On Memorial Day, the community is invited to attend a series of commemorative events, beginning with ceremonies at Dean College at 9:30 AM, Union Street Cemetery at 9:50 AM, and St. Mary’s Cemetery at 10:10 AM, prior to the start of the parade.

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony — May 25, 2026

The Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, at 11 AM, beginning at Horace Mann Middle School and proceeding along Oak Street, Daniel McCahill Street, Union Street, West Central Street, Emmons Street and Main Street, ending at the Franklin Town Common.

View the parade route: Memorial Day 2026 Parade Route

Download a PDF copy - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L7xl3qkGgSuR-9vLd2wpdOCqsiBUPdRq/view?usp=sharing

The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 12 PM at the World War I Memorial on the Town Common immediately following the parade. The ceremony will honor Franklin veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day, as well as the Town’s 45 fallen heroes who died in service to the nation.

In the event of inclement weather, updates and cancellation notices will be posted on the Town’s Veterans’ Services webpage (https://www.franklinma.gov/335/Veterans-Services).

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served. The Town of Franklin encourages all to take part in these observances and join in honoring the legacy of our nation’s heroes.

Franklin, MA: Economic Development Subcommittee Agenda for May 23 meeting at 5:45 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee

Agenda & Meeting Packet

May 23, 2024 - 5:45 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

Council Chambers, 2nd Floor

355 East Central Street

Agenda:

1. Proposed Zoning Map Amendment 24-913, An Area on Union Street Near Franklin Crossing -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/24-913_submittal_for_edc.pdf

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

TO: JAMIE HELLEN, TOWN ADMINISTRATOR 

FROM: BRYAN W. TABERNER, AICP, DIRECTOR

RE: PROPOSED ZONING MAP AMENDMENT 24-913, AN AREA ON UNION STREET NEAR FRANKLIN CROSSING

CC: GREGORY RONDEAU, FRANKLIN PLANNING BOARD CHAIR; MARK CEREL, TOWN ATTORNEY; AMY FRIGULIETTI, DEPUTY TOWN ADMINISTRATOR; AMY LOVE, TOWN PLANNER; GUS BROWN, ZONING ENFORCEMENT AGENT

DATE: MAY 16, 2024

Department of Planning and Community Development staff have been meeting with Casey Killam and Rick Kaplan from K Commercial Real Estate Services (KCRES) regarding the industrial property at 305 Union Street. The 5.37+/- acre property is on the market, and KCRES has been looking at the possibility of redeveloping the property for a mix of residential and non-residential uses.

The parcel’s structures contains over 95,600 square feet of floor area with a long manufacturing and commercial history. Substantial portions of the property are in need of major improvements, and remediation of lead and asbestos will be needed for any large scale redevelopment. Redevelopment will be expensive.

As part of DPCD’s communications with KCRES we discussed several ways that the Town and or State could assist KCRES to assure property redevelopment occurs in the near future. Most importantly, the property will need to be rezoned to allow a mix of multifamily residential and commercial uses. The easiest way to make that happen would be rezoning the parcel from the Business Zoning District to the Commercial I Zoning District.

DPCD is asking the Town to support this zoning map change, which would give KCRES a certain level of comfort in that it will be able to redevelop the site with a wide range of uses. Redevelopment without the residential component would be substantially more difficult, and KCRES is not likely to go forward.

In addition to benefiting KCRES, the property’s redevelopment will eventually benefit many others, including other local property owners and businesses. Additional residents living in the property’s condominiums and apartments will increase expenditures at local businesses. Any new restaurant, and existing restaurants, will see an increase in business and related increase in meals tax revenue. And redevelopment of the property will substantially increase its assessed value and related real estate tax revenue.

The zoning map change would allow development of the parcel for a variety of commercial and residential uses. Uses allowed by right in the CI zoning district include: restaurant; other retail sales and services; office uses including banks/credit unions, medical/dental, and other professional or administrative uses; business incubator or co-working space; artisanal and craft maker space; art gallery; indoor commercial amusement, recreation or assembly; health club; and multifamily residential up to one housing unit per 2,250 square feet of lot area. Note, any housing component of the redevelopment over 9 units must contain at least 10% affordable.

Uses that may be allowed by Planning Board special permit include function hall or catering; light manufacturing and processing; brewery, distillery, or winery production with tasting room. Attachments 2 through 8 (Use Regulations Schedules Parts I through 7) of the Town's Zoning Bylaw (Chapter 185 of Franklin Town Code) contain a complete list of uses that are allowed by right or may be allowed by Zoning Board of Appeals or Planning Board special permit in the CI Zoning District.

DPCD staff believe it to be in the Town’s best interest to support the property redevelopment and related zoning map amendment.

Attached are the following:

• Bylaw Zoning Amendment 23-913; and
• A diagram with two maps: one showing the current zoning in the area, and one showing proposed Zoning Map changes.

If the Economic Development Subcommittee supports the proposed zoning map amendment, the issue should be scheduled for a Town Council meeting in the near future for further consideration. Please let me know if you have questions or require additional information.

Franklin, MA: Economic Development Subcommittee Agenda for May 23 meeting  at 5:45 PM

Agenda doc contains remote participation info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/edc_agenda_-_may_23_2024.pdf

DPW Notice - Mill & Overlay Project to continue Wednesday, August 3, 2022

DPW Notice - Mill & Overlay Project to continue August 3, 2022

• Sections of Beaver Street near the recycling center, 
• Union Street near the Common 
• the intersection of King / Chestnut/ East Central (Route 140) will be impacted.

Notice from the Franklin Department of Public Works

Our road improvement program continues tomorrow. Areas that will be "Milled & Overlaid" (i.e. remove top inch and half of asphalt fix manholes and drains structures then repave with new asphalt) are sections of Beaver Street near the recycling center, Union Street near the Common and the intersection of King / Chestnut/ East Central (Route 140).

This work is expected to cause significant traffic delays especially at the intersection of King / Chestnut/ East Central (Route 140)! 

As always, please seek alternate routes and proceed with caution in construction areas.

Shared from Town of Franklin DPW ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dpw-notice-mill-overlay-project-continue-tomorrow-august-3rd-2022

DPW Notice - Mill & Overlay Project to continue Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Attention: Road repaving work starting July 5 - sections of King St, Beaver St, Union St, & East Central

On my transits this week, I noticed covers being put on the storm drains along King St. Something was coming. With the DPW confirmation yesterday, the repaving work is going to being after the 4th of July.

Work areas 

• King St from Union to East Central 
• East Central from Ruggles to Lewis St 
• Union St from Beaver to School
• Beaver St from the railroad tracks to i495 

Road repaving work starting July 5

MBTA: Commuter Rail - shuttles service to Walpole; Traffic alert: Unions St closed at crossing

#1 - Walpole – Forge Park/495 - June 6-7, weekend

Shuttle buses replace trains between Walpole and Forge Park/495 to allow for work to continue on the Franklin Line Double Track project.

Learn more about the Franklin Line Double Track project
https://www.mbta.com//projects/franklin-line-double-track?

See all Franklin Line service changes  https://www.mbta.com//diversions/franklin-line?

#2 - Union St closed at the railroad crossing

The track section crossing Union St will be replaced this weekend. Union St will be closed with detours marked

MBTA: Commuter Rail - shuttles service to Walpole

track section prepared to be replace at the Union St crossing

Traffic Advisory for Union Street - Jun 6-7

Traffic Advisory for Union Street

June 6th Traffic Advisory for Union Street

The MBTA/Keolis will be performing maintenance at the track crossing on Union Street over the June 6th weekend. The work will involve closing the roadway with a detour in place. 

Work is expected to begin on Saturday June 6th and the road closure may extend into Sunday, June 7th.

Traffic Advisory for Union Street - Jun 6-7

Alice Wiggin gets a Grave Marker - Saturday, Nov 18 - 10 AM

"Alice Wiggin 1878-1966 - Alice Wiggin was a much beloved English Teacher at FHS for 42 years. A graduate of Radcliffe College, she dedicated her life to her passion of teaching, to her students, and to her friends. She was a strong and positive influence on all who knew her. The Rotary Club of Franklin voted her 'Citizen of the Year' in 1956. 

When she died, at the age of 88 in 1966, she was buried in the family plot of a close, life long friend. It was recently discovered that there was no proper marker on this amazing woman's grave. 

Next Saturday, November 18th at 10 AM there will be a small dedication ceremony for the placing of a grave marker for Alice Wiggin in the Union Street Cemetery. 

The Franklin HS Class of 1929 dedicated their yearbook to Ms. Wiggin. Their words. 'Scholar, Counselor, Teacher, Friend' have been inscribed on her marker. "

Alice Wiggin gets a Grave Marker - Saturday, Nov 18  - 10 AM

Reporting by Walking Around - Sunday, Sep 27 (photo essay)

a good reminder

Signs and other promotional material are available at http://drivelikeyourkidslivehere.com/

Fortunately, Franklin Police do pay attention to speeding and coincidentally, the speed monitor boards were out in both directions on Union St on Sunday. They had been switched over from alerting about the railroad crossing closing for Saturday.

speed monitor on Union St

The traffic was a mess on Saturday trying to navigate around Franklin. Folks unaware of the crossing repair work were being re-routed on East St to West Central St and then to Cottage. Or via Cottage downtown to West Central.

the newly repaired railroad crossing on Union St

brick cross walk showing increase sign of wearing, brick will be coming out soon

even with all the construction, have a wonderful day!

Emergency utility work on Union St

Couldn't get through on Union St early Sunday morning? The Franklin Police had it blocked off to allow some emergency utility work. The police log for 11:35 PM on Saturday April 16th reads:

SEVERAL 911'S REPORTS CAR V POLE. ALL CRUISERS RESP. FD RESP. NATIONAL GRID RESP. REPORT TO FOLLOW. GROVE STREET TOWED MV. POLE 3

When a car goes against a pole, the pole usually wins. In this case, it still needed to be replaced. No word on the condition of the driver from the police report.


Franklin, MA

In local TV - vandalism at Franklin Landing

Two TV stations, one from Boston, one from Providence are covering the tire slashing incident Friday night at the Franklin Landing apartment complex on Union St.

ABC Channel 6 - Providence

ABC Channel 5 - Boston

Video is available on both links

Franklin Train Crossing

Before the snow came, I was out running and got stopped by the train crossing at Union St. Camera handy, I caught this video segment.



Enjoy!

Where are the drains?

Where are the drains?, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Union Street was newly rebuilt this year. Nice sidewalks. Curbed road. New storm drains.

Oh, where are they?

Yes, they are there. Covered under the snow. The plows just did not get that last foot or so on each side of the road to reveal the drains.

In the entire rebuilt section from the Common to Cottage, I found only one visible drain cover. (Yes, the rebuilt section extends up passed Cottage to Washington Street, but we didn't walk that way this morning.)

Nonni Roses Bakery Page1

Updated: June 2012
The bakery has closed or moved to an unknown location

Nonni Roses Bakery Page1, originally uploaded by shersteve.

We stopped for coffee on Saturday as Dolores and I did our walk. They weren't open when we passed on Sunday. They won't normally be open on Sunday but due to their grand opening were going to be. I went back in the afternoon to get a baguette.

Sliced and warmed in the oven, the baguette was a perfect companion for some supper's home-made Venus de Milo soup.

Nonni Roses Bakery Page2

Updated June 2012
The bakery has either closed or moved to an unknown location

Nonni Roses Bakery Page2, originally uploaded by shersteve.

This bakery just opened at 357 Union St. It moved to Franklin from Bellingham.