Second Sunday Speaker Series with Chronicle's Ted Reinstein - Oct 9

October 9 features the Second Sunday Speaker Series with Chronicle's Ted Reinstein discussing his latest book, Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier. 

The Franklin Historical Museum opens at 1:00 PM on Sunday with the presentation beginning at 1:15. The Second Sunday Speaker Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. Admission is always free.

When visiting the museum, shop many unique items in our Museum Gift Shop including this year's edition of the Holiday Ornament featuring adorable ladybugs. A nod to Franklin's participation in securing the ladybug as our state insect.  Come in and find your history!

You can also visit the museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com/

Before Brooklyn, the unsung heroes who helped break baseball's color barrier

Author Visits scheduled for Franklin Middle Schools Oct 25-27

Horace Mann MS (@HMMSLightning) tweeted Fri, Sep 30, 2022:

Exciting news! We'll welcome @LeslieConnor29 to HMMS in October - this will be her second tour of the middle schools and our first IN PERSON author in two years! 

Be sure to read before her visit @EscapeIntoFictn @FrkPublicLib https://t.co/kl8A7N2HWK

Shared from Twitter -> 
https://twitter.com/HMMSLightning/status/1575881728249339910?t=lk2ltmsX3s4kaW7eMbUUyQ&s=03

Author Tour scheduled for Middle Schools Oct 25-27

More Perfect Union: 055 - A History of U.S. Civil Rights and John Marshall with Author Peter Canellos (Part 1)

In this episode, the group sits down with award-winning writer, author and former Boston Globe Editor Peter Canellos, to speak about his book 'The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America's Judicial Hero', a look at the U.S.'s history of civil rights, how John Marshall shaped the political and economic landscape at the turn of the century and the ties that has to today.

This conversation is part one in a two-part conversation with Peter Canellos.

If you'd like to learn more about Peter Canellos, his book 'The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America's Judicial Hero', or Peter's other works, you can visit his website here:  https://peterscanellos.com/

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/055-a-history-of-u-s-civil-rights-and-john-marshall-with-author-peter-canellos-part-1

Franklin.TV: A More Perfect Union (audio)

Coach Ian Bain writes "Creating Your Passing Game: How to lay the foundation of an elite passing attack"

FHS football Coach Ian Bain writes: 

"First attempt at writing a football coaching book for new and aspiring coaches. I think there is something in it for everyone. Available on Amazon. Creating Your Passing Game: How to lay the foundation of an elite passing attack."

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/Coach_Bain/status/1538896325453938690 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B42ZQ7Q5

Liturgy of Easy Walks: a conversation with Marjorie Turner Hollman - 03/28/22 (audio)

FM #764 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 764 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with local area author Marjorie Turner Hollman. Our conversation was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We had an easy conversation catching up with Marjorie since we had last talked in Sep 2020. Marjorie has just released a new book now, My Liturgy of Easy Walks. More of a memoir than an easy walk guide, she gets into the back story on how and why she developed easy walks in a series of essays as she recovered. 

Let’s listen to my conversation with Marjorie which runs about 20 minutes.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-764-liturgy-of-easy-walks-with-marjorie-turner-hollman-03-28-22

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Links to 

• The new book page on Amazon -> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0989204391/ 

• Marjorie’s webpage which among other things features her books   https://marjorieturner.com/ 

• ‘Easy Walks, Massachusetts, RI and Beyond’ group on Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/groups/616401235386068/ 

The video links to our walk and conversations around the Sculpture Park in Franklin

https://youtu.be/IBYcPoNICv0   and Choate Park in Medway https://youtu.be/aGrspVpaMs4 

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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 https://www.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 with your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

Liturgy of Easy Walks: a conversation with Marjorie Turner Hollman

From the Hindu Kush to Franklin - Conversation with Chris Woolf (audio)

FM #758 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 758 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Franklin author Chris Woolf. I met Chris when he did the Second Sunday Speaker Series at the Franklin Historical Museum. He talked of his adventurous trip to Afghanistan and we scheduled to get together at the Franklin studio to explore more of his story.

Links to Chris’s web site, the book link, and he and his wife’s voiceover company are included in the show notes. 

Let’s listen to my conversation with Chris as we follow his life journey from Britain, via Afghanistan, to the US, and ultimately to Franklin.  Our conversation runs about 35 minutes. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-758-chris-woolf-talks-about-bumbling-through-the-hindu-kush-03-21-22

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Chris Woolf   https://chriswoolfbooks.com/ 

The Voice Depot    https://the-voice-depot.com/   (voiceover company)

“Bumbling Through the Hindu Kush - A Memoir of Fear and Kindness in Afghanistan”

https://chriswoolfbooks.com/bumbling-through-the-hindu-kush/ 

Video link to Historical Museum presentation to be added when available from Franklin.TV 

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

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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

Chris Woolf, left in 1991, right in 2021

“Bumbling Through the Hindu Kush - A Memoir of Fear and Kindness in Afghanistan”

Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier with Author Ted Reinstein, Tues, Mar 15, 7 PM

Before  Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier with Author Ted Reinstein, Tuesday, March 15, 7:00 PM

In April of 1945, exactly two years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball, liberal Boston City Councilman Izzy Muchnick persuaded the Red Sox to try out three black players in return for a favorable vote to allow the team to play on Sundays. The Red Sox got the councilman's much-needed vote, but the tryout was a sham; the three players would get no closer to the major leagues. It was a lost battle in a war that was ultimately won by Robinson in 1947. 

This book tells the story of the little-known heroes who fought segregation in baseball, from communist newspaper reporters to the Pullman car porters who saw to it that black newspapers espousing integration in professional sports reached the homes of blacks throughout the country. It also reminds us that the first black player in professional baseball was not Jackie Robinson but Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884, and that for a time integrated teams were not that unusual. And then, as segregation throughout the country hardened, the exclusion of blacks in baseball quietly became the norm, and the battle for integration began anew.

About the Author: Ted Reinstein has been a reporter for "Chronicle," WCVB-TV/Boston's award-winning—and America's longest-running, locally-produced—nightly news magazine since 1997. In addition, he has been a contributor for the station's political roundtable show and sits on WCVB's editorial board. He lives just west of Boston with his wife and two daughters. He is also the author of New England Notebook (Globe, 2013) and Wicked Pissed (Globe, 2016).

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/%C2%A0-brooklyn-unsung-heroes-who-helped-break-baseballs-color-barrier

Before  Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier with Author Ted Reinstein

Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier with Author Ted Reinstein - Mar 15 - 7 PM

In April of 1945, exactly two years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball, liberal Boston City Councilman Izzy Muchnick persuaded the Red Sox to try out three black players in return for a favorable vote to allow the team to play on Sundays. The Red Sox got the councilman’s much-needed vote, but the tryout was a sham; the three players would get no closer to the major leagues. It was a lost battle in a war that was ultimately won by Robinson in 1947. 

This book tells the story of the little-known heroes who fought segregation in baseball, from communist newspaper reporters to the Pullman car porters who saw to it that black newspapers espousing integration in professional sports reached the homes of blacks throughout the country. It also reminds us that the first black player in professional baseball was not Jackie Robinson but Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884, and that for a time integrated teams were not that unusual. And then, as segregation throughout the country hardened, the exclusion of blacks in baseball quietly became the norm, and the battle for integration began anew.

About the Author: Ted Reinstein has been a reporter for “Chronicle,” WCVB-TV/Boston’s award-winning—and America’s longest-running, locally-produced—nightly news magazine since 1997. In addition, he has been a contributor for the station’s political roundtable show and sits on WCVB’s editorial board. He lives just west of Boston with his wife and two daughters. He is also the author of New England Notebook (Globe, 2013) and Wicked Pissed (Globe, 2016). 

To find out more about Ted, please visit https://tedreinstein.com/ 

When - March 15, 2022 at 7:00 PM
Where - Franklin Public Library

Shared from Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/events/372451

Before  Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball's Color Barrier with Author Ted Reinstein

Second Sunday Speaker Series - March 13 – Chris Woolf

Bumbling Through the Hindu Kush – A Memoir of Fear and Kindness in Afghanistan

What happens when a regular person accidentally finds themselves lost in the middle of a war? In 1991, BBC journalist Chris Woolf travelled to Afghanistan. The government in Kabul was fighting for survival, after the withdrawal of its superpower patron; in this case, the Soviet Union. The parallels to today are extraordinary.

Woolf was visiting a colleague, Chris Bowers, to see what the life of a foreign correspondent was like. They hitched a ride with an aid convoy and bumbled straight into the war. They survived minefields, artillery, armed robbery. They were trapped in no-man’s land during a battle, and even escaped from detention by the secret police. They kept going, despite the horror and terror. There was no choice.

Amid the darkness, Woolf discovered the generosity and hospitality of ordinary Afghans, eager to share what little they had with strangers in peril. Along the way, they became the first journalists to pass through the battle lines from Kabul to meet with legendary warlord Ahmed Shah Massoud, and carried home a vital message for the peace process. They met with Soviet POW/MIAs and recorded messages for loved ones.

Woolf shares an intimate portrait of first encounters with death and real fear. He explores the lingering effects of trauma, and explains how he put his experience to good use. He introduces just enough of Afghanistan’s history, geography, culture and politics for audiences to understand what was going on around him. He also makes a few comparisons and contrasts between the situation in Afghanistan then and now. Chris’ book by the same title was published in October 2021 and is available in paperback; Kindle e-book; audiobook (narrated by the author).

Doors open at 1:00 PM, the presentation starts at 1:15 PM. 

Sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum. When visiting the museum, please bring a non-perishable food item for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Admission is always free.

The Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central St, Franklin, MA.

Chris Woolf - then and now

Ruta Sepetys visits HMMS virtually

"Books, balloons, and @RutaSepetys. These @HMMSLightning kids and this extraordinary author filled the auditorium with *wonderful*. 

There aren't enough words for this day. It means so, so much. #IMustBetrayYou #letthemread @PenguinClass @unlikelybkstore "

https://t.co/x96dQz1iHy  (follow link for additional photos)

Ruta Sepetys visits HMMS virtually 

Shared from Twitter:   https://twitter.com/allinreading/status/1488935181692153859

Horace Mann MS: Announces favorite author Ruta Sepetys returns Feb 2

Ms. O'Leary had an exciting announcement this morning: SURPRISE!🥳One of our favorite people is returning to HMMS! 

Sign up for the Feb. 2 presentation using the Google Form. 

Excited to introduce @RutaSepetys to our wonderful readers. https://t.co/p4UP9aRuvr

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/nJpIRXht5L

Horace Mann MS: Announces favorite author Ruta Sepetys returns Feb 2

Stockdale Paradox: stoically accepting reality while maintaining faith in the endgame

"Every good-to-great company faced significant adversity along the way to greatness, of one sort or another. … In every case, the management team responded with a powerful psychological duality. On the one hand, they stoically accepted the brutal facts of reality. On the other hand, they maintained an unwavering faith in the endgame, and a commitment to prevail as a great company despite the brutal facts. We came to call this duality the Stockdale Paradox.

The name refers to Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the highest-ranking United States military officer in the "Hanoi Hilton" prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War. Tortured over twenty times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Stockdale lived out the war without any prisoner's rights, no set release date, and no certainty as to whether he would even survive to see his family again. …"

Read more about the Stockdale Paradox online -> 

https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/Stockdale-Concept.html

Listen to Shane Parish's discussion with Jim Collins. Before they close their conversation, they talk about the Stockdale Paradox ->  https://fs.blog/knowledge-podcast/jim-collins-2/

Stockdale Paradox: stoically accepting reality while maintaining faith in the endgame

FM #586 - Breaking 'radio silence' on "Men & Miscarriage" - 07/21/21 (audio)

FM #586 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 586 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin residents Aaron and MJ Gouveia. You may recall that Aaron and I talked about his first book outdoors on the Town Common in May of 2020. 

We had this conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St.  MJ joined us for this session as she is co-author of their new book Men and Miscarriage. A key quote from the intro to the new book: “When it comes to men and how they are impacted by these issues, it’s almost complete radio silence.”

We had a great conversation to help break the ‘radio silence’ (yes, pun intended) on this topic of miscarriage and how it affects both members of the relationship. My kudos to both of them for starting the conversation on this tough topic. The statistics show that one in four women do experience a miscarriage.  “Half the battle is knowing you are not alone.”

In some of my conversations after our recording session, it has been enlightening to find out how many folks I talk with who reveal that they have had one or more miscarriages in their immediate or extended family. One key take away you’ll hear about is to ask someone; “How are you doing?”

The show notes include links to the Amazon book page, Aaron’s Daddy Files book web page. MJ tends to avoid social media and occasionally writes on Aaron’s page.

The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with MJ and Aaron.

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/382fc625-e1ac-4f3a-90b0-cfb4c0d9d256

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Men and Miscarriage: A Dad's Guide to Grief, Relationships, and Healing After Loss – published July 6, 2021  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510763600/

Link to the CNN article mentioned  https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/15/health/miscarriage-men-grief-loss-wellness/index.html

A discussion at the Franklin Public Library scheduled for Sep 1.

MJ's post as discussed during the conversation: https://www.daddyfiles.com/mj-speaks-out-2/

First book links: 

• The DaddyFiles page  https://www.daddyfiles.com/

• The Amazon link   https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510749411?tag=duckduckgo-ffab-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

• Aaron’s Amazon author link  https://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Gouveia/e/B08127Z6JN

• Follow Aaron on Twitter  https://twitter.com/daddyfiles

-------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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"

 

FM #586 - Breaking 'radio silence' on  "Men & Miscarriage" - 07/21/21 (audio)

Priya Parker: "The way we gather has been changed forever"

Priya Parker writes:

"The way we gather has been changed forever. How will we come together moving forward?  

This past year, we've had to figure out how to teach and wed and learn and work and graduate and worship and organize and celebrate and mourn without being physically together.

At long last, gathering is coming back. This re-emergence is the ultimate gathering makeover. And we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to experiment, re-imagine, and dream up how we want to gather now. 

Let’s gather again as we never have before. Join me in this exploration this summer. "  Visit https://gatheringmakeover.com/

Priya talks with Brene Brown in a two-part series, here is the link to Part 1

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2zHey9HxjX4HSCgGr0rVUG

and the link to the Meeting Makeover talked about in Part 2

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ky8LCMrZYY77CZzFn6Tcw

Priya's home page = https://www.priyaparker.com/

Priya's newsletter shared here previously

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/the-most-important-element-of-good.html

Priya Parker: "The way we gather has been changed forever"

FM #579 - Franklin author Susan K Hamilton - 07/08/21 (audio)

FM #579 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 579 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin author Susan K Hamilton.  Susan has just published her second fantasy novel, The Devil Inside.  

We talk about Susan’s Franklin story. How her interest in writing was instilled early on but she really only started exploring this while in college. Her two most recent publications were in the realm of fantasy albeit different from each other. Her next work might be something in women’s literature..

The recording runs about 33 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Susan outdoors on the Town Common

Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/fe74e376-8c86-4d57-8204-2da089aad717

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Susan K Hamilton’s web page  https://www.susankhamilton.com/ 

The Devil Inside ->  https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Inside-Susan-K-Hamilton/dp/1950301206/ 

The Shadow King -> https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-King-Susan-K-Hamilton/dp/1947848984 

The Writing Bloc writing group mentioned during our conversation ->  https://writingbloc.com/ 

NYC Midnight writers challenge -> http://www.nycmidnight.com/ 

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

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"

 

Franklin author Susan K Hamilton (courtesy photo)