Register now for the 3rd Annual Nick Gaspar 3v3 Basketball Tournament - Nov 11, 2025 (not a school day)

The Nick Strong Foundation is thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual Nick Gaspar 3v3 Basketball Tournament — happening on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (Veterans Day – no school!) 🎉

Franklin High School & Franklin Middle School
$50 per player (includes a T-shirt!)

Play in the 3v3 Tournament OR join the Youth Clinic

Open to ALL skill levels — even if you’ve never played before!
No team? No problem — register as an individual and we’ll place you on one!

Come compete, learn, and most importantly, support the Nick Strong Foundation ❤️ — helping pediatric cancer patients and families while funding life-saving research.

Whether you’re on the court or cheering from the stands, your support makes a difference!

Register now: nickstrongfoundation.com/nick-gaspar-3v3-basketball-tournament

Car wash fundraiser Saturday, Sep 27 from 9 AM to noon to support FHS Girls Basketball

Car wash fundraiser Saturday, Sep 27 from
9 AM to noon to support FHS Girls Basketball

Our Car Wash Fundraiser is this Saturday September 27th 9 AM to 12 PM @ Franklin Car Wash! 

Get ready to have your car shined up while supporting FHS Girls Basketball and our generous local business Franklin Car Wash. The girls are excited and ready to go! 

See you Saturday at 349 E Central St, Franklin, MA 02038. 

Franklin Car Wash also has all your propane needs whether you need to fill your tank or buy a new one!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DPB40LGFQg0/

FHS' CJ Neely Steps Down After 11 Seasons

"Franklin boys basketball head coach CJ Neely is stepping down after 11 years at the helm of the Panthers, he confirmed to HockomockSports.com. He guided the Panthers to the program’s first state championship this past March.

Neely met with his players and school administrators on Friday afternoon to announce his decision.

“My kids are getting older, and I want to be a part of this time in their lives,” Neely said. “Basketball was conflicting with being there for them, being a coach for them, and just being a dad. I want to be around more while they’re still young. I think about how fast they’re growing up, and I want to maximize the time I have with them. I didn’t want to shortchange Franklin by being pulled in different directions.”

In his time at Franklin, the Panthers won four Kelley-Rex titles, reached four Division 1 state finals, and capped a 25-1 season this past year with a 55-52 win over Newton North in the championship game. He is a three-time HockomockSports Coach of the Year, earning the honors in 2022, 2024, and 2025."

Continue reading the article by Ryan Lanigan HockomockSports.com Editor  (subscription required) ->

https://hockomocksports.com/franklins-cj-neely-steps-down-after-11-seasons-with-the-panthers/

https://hockomocksports.com/franklins-cj-neely-steps-down-after-11-seasons-with-the-panthers/

Final week for "F" driveway logo fund raiser

Final week for "F" driveway logo fund raiser

Sign up form -> https://forms.gle/15ivENKQCWAHFDg17

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNy0alq4j74/

Pre-Season Basketball Camp opens next week, register now

CALLING ALL YOUNG HOOPERS!

Pre-Season Basketball Camp opens next week, register now 

Our Pre-Season Basketball Camp is coming up fast — and we still have plenty of spots available!

Join us for some skills, drills, and fun before the season tips off! Whether you’re brushing off the rust or getting your first taste of the game, this camp is a great way to get ready.

• Dean College Pieri Gym
• August 11–14
• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Open to Grades 3–8

Register now and get ready to hit the court! Let’s ball!

Direct link to registration ->    https://franklinma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29966

Reminder: The “Panther F Logo” fundraiser is open until August 15, 2025

It's that time of year show your Panther Pride with a driveway F painting!

The “Panther F Logo” fundraiser returns for 2025

The FHS Girls Basketball Boosters are excited to launch our 2025 “Panther F Logo” fundraiser. As in years past, players will come to your house and paint your driveway or basketball court with the Franklin Panther F logo.

Sign up will be open from July 7 to August 15.

Form to sign up -> https://forms.gle/15ivENKQCWAHFDg17

Once the sign up is closed and all payments have been received the Boosters will establish a schedule for the painting to begin in September and conclude in October (8/1 to 10/15).

The Panther F logo is a great addition to your driveway for all Franklin students and families!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMT3ER0OWfs/

The “Panther F Logo” fundraiser returns for 2025

The “Panther F Logo” fundraiser returns for 2025

It's that time of year show your Panther Pride with a driveway F painting!

The FHS Girls Basketball Boosters are excited to launch our 2025 “Panther F Logo” fundraiser. As in years past, players will come to your house and paint your driveway or basketball court with the Franklin Panther F logo.

Sign up will be open from July 7 to August 15.

Form to sign up -> https://forms.gle/15ivENKQCWAHFDg17

Once the sign up is closed and all payments have been received the Boosters will establish a schedule for the painting to begin in September and conclude in October (8/1 to 10/15).

The Panther F logo is a great addition to your driveway for all Franklin students and families!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DL1JKajtZJY/

FHS Girls & Boys Basketball Boosters: Annual Golf Scramble Tournament - Sep 23, 2025

FHS Girls & Boys Basketball Boosters: Annual
Golf Scramble Tournament - Sep 23, 2025

"The FHS Boys' & Girls' Basketball programs are excited to announce our Annual Golf Scramble Tournament, Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at New England Country Club 

🏀⛳ Please come out to support our programs! There are many sponsorship and donation opportunities available! 

Shared from -> https://t.co/p4VLvczpkk

Franklin High School Boys Basketball and Cheer Teams Honored at State House for Championship Victories

FHS Boys Basketball and Cheer Teams

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Athletic Director Karrah Ellis are proud to share that the Franklin High School cheerleading and boys basketball teams were both recognized for their championship victories during an honorary visit to the State House on Wednesday, April 30.

The two teams were guests of state Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy, of Franklin, and state Sen. Rebecca L. Rausch, of Needham.

Both teams won their respective Division 1 state championships for the winter 2025 season.

The basketball team was recognized for their Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 1 Boys' Basketball State Championship, while the cheer team was recognized for their Massachusetts School Administrators’ Association (MSAA) Division 1 State Championship.

For the Franklin High School cheerleading team, it was the fifth state championship in a row and the second state championship won this school year, after the cheerleaders also won the state championship for the fall season. The cheerleading team’s graduating seniors finished their high school careers having won seven out of their last eight state championship competitions.

In addition to the MSAA Division 1 Championship, the Franklin High cheerleading team earned the title of Hockomock League Champions this season and won its Regional Championship.

The cheerleading team also won the title of 2025 Grand Champions at the Americheer International Competition, coming in first place for their category and scoring the highest score of the competition.

The basketball team went 27-1 overall this season. The team then went 5-0 in the state tournament, beating Shrewsbury, North Andover, Bridgewater Raynham, and Central Catholic, before winning the MIAA Division 1 championship final, defeating Newton North 55-52.

For Franklin High Basketball, this marked a back-to-back state finals appearance. This was only the second time that this happened in team history, following the team’s success in 2017 and 2018.

And for the second year in a row, the Franklin High boys basketball team went undefeated in its 16 games of league play, resulting in the team being ranked No. 1 overall heading into the state tournament. The Franklin High boys basketball team was the first team in the league to accomplish this feat in 50 years.

The Franklin High School Cheerleading roster included seniors Keira Owens (captain), Ceci Pineda (captain), Lea Exposito (captain), Emma Rondeau (captain), Kat Rosenberg, and Taylor Briggs; juniors Cassidy Stanley, Aeriel Orrell, Emily Bartlett, Lilah Wainwright; and sophomores Ashley Rickey and Aria Nicholson. The cheerleading team was led by Coach Doni Gill, and the team received direction from choreographer Eric Bichao.

The championship Franklin boys basketball team roster included seniors Caden Sullivan (captain), Seth O’Donnell (captain), Joseph Conlan, Wyatt Herndon, Zach Allen, Flynn Baker, Andrew Geer, Jake Olmstead and Colin O’Leary; juniors Jack Sullivan, Justice Samuels, James Crowley; sophomore Nas Johnson; and freshman Danny Santos. The Franklin basketball team was led by Head Coach CJ Neely, and the coaching staff also included Mike Doherty, Ryan Perron, Chuck Allen, Tim Rodgers, Connor Moroney, Matt Coooper and Rob Mosher.

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Athletic Director Karrah Ellis both congratulated the teams for the State House recognition, capping off an extraordinary year of success on the basketball court and the cheerleading mat.

"The State House trip was a fitting way to celebrate these two teams and recognize them for their tremendous success this school year," said Director Ellis. "I’m so proud of these hard-working, dedicated athletes. This was truly an incredible year for our Franklin High School boys basketball and cheerleading teams."

"Congratulations once again to our state champion Franklin High School boys basketball and cheerleading teams," said Superintendent Giguere. "This was a remarkable year for both of them. We are very proud of all of their success. I'd like to thank state Rep. Roy and state Sen Rausch for facilitating this special day of recognition for our championship-winning student athletes."

Shared from -> https://www.franklinps.net/article/2205224

Boston Globe’s All-Scholastics for Winter 2024-25 recognize Sullivan, Woodall, & CJ Neeley

"The sounds of winter athletics are timeless, from the thump of a bouncing basketball in a quiet gym, the slice of a skate across ice, the thwack of skin against mat, the whoosh of waxed skis, to the splash of swimmers coming off the blocks.

While the soundtrack is ageless, there’s a new crop of high school athletes filling those gyms, rinks, tracks, pools, and slopes every season. So after crowning 31 state championship teams, it’s time to recognize the top individual athletes with the Boston Globe’s All-Scholastics for Winter 2024-25.

Chosen by a panel of Boston Globe beat writers and editors — with the exception of the prep choices — the 250 All-Scholastics, 39 athletes of the year, and 38 coaches of the year are selected using a combination of statistics, awards, notes, recommendations, and observation. Student-athletes from schools in Eastern Mass. leagues are eligible."

Shared from -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/02/sports/boston-globe-all-scholastics-winter-2024-2025/

 

Boys Basketball ->  Caden Sullivan and CJ Neely recognized (Coach of the Year)

 https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/202425/all-scholastics/?sport=boys-basketball

 

Wrestling -> Johnny Woodall

 https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/202425/all-scholastics/?sport=wrestling

How to access the Globe articles via the Franklin Library with your library card

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/how-to-access-online-resources-with.html

 

 

Caden Sullivan led Franklin to its first boys' basketball state championship, earning himself a spot on the boys' basketball Super Team along the way. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

St. Mary's 8th grade CYO players recognized: Tommy Flynn & Danny Abdilmasih

Tommy Flynn & Danny Abdilmasih

 

St. Mary's Franklin CYO Basketball 🏀 (@St_MarysCYO) posted  Apr 29, 2025:

 

Congratulations to St. Mary's 8th grade CYO players, Tommy Flynn and Danny Abdilmasih! https://t.co/QCxrQlicpD

Town Council starts with recognitions before conducting business (audio)

FM #1433  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1433 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, April 16, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.   

 

Approx. 10-15 minutes of the recess for photos is excluded from the audio and replaced by a few seconds of music to mark the spot.

Quick recap:

School Committee Chair D Callaghan provided an update on recent meeting updates including the potential naming of the "Horace Mann Campus"

per Town Clerk, notification of election coming via mail re: the override election June 3. Postcard with QR code to register to vote, also includes a vote by mail application. Only one card to head of household not one per every voter

Proclamations and recognition for

•   the FHS Cheerleaders

•   the FHS boys basketball team

•   members of the Dean College Athletic Training first responders who saved the life of an individual at a recent athletic event

Appointment of the 2025 election workers was approved by unanimous vote

Public hearing conducted on 2 related bylaw changes to allow Shared-Use Commercial Kitchens in commercial zones. The Planning Board had approved also, these measures were moved to a second reading (at a future meeting)

Presentation and update on work being done by  Franklin Police Department Mental Health Clinician Division - Kallie Montagano, Clinician Program Manager

Followed by an update on the Franklin Crisis Action Team by Deputy Administrator Amy Friguiletti. Housing and temp shelter the top issue the FCAT group sees

Resolution 25-18: June 3, 2025 Election Early & Mail in Voting was approved unanimously. The scheduled early voting dates will be added to the Community calendar

A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 24, Floodplain District - Referral to the Planning Board was approved unanimously. Apparently, the Town slipped in knowing that this had a 5 year life expectancy and was due to be updated. Only minor changes required but the due process is being initiated now with this referral

Approval for acceptance of gifts from the Robert Catalano family and estate was unanimous. It also led to a discussion on how the funds such as these are used. Mostly for programs but if there is something specifically funded, the Council would like to be notified.

Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs about 2 hours and 53 minutes.  Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1433-town-council-mtg-04-16-25/

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

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/C9jXhRmTTlI?&t=94 

The agenda and released documents can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162025-1682

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nIb72BBNqBkuEgMCgS9ggo5T5UR8A7BD/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo albums of the recognitions ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/NFs8QPA39vzy5tzn8

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

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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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"

 

Rep Roy brought in 2 ancient lanterns for "2 Lights for Tomorrow"

Tom Mercer and I condense the 3 hour Town Council meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

FM #1431 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1431 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, April 17, 2025.  

Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of April 16, 2025. 

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topic for this session:

• School Committee Chair D Callaghan provided an update on recent meeting updates including the potential naming of the "Horace Mann Campus"

• per Town Clerk Nancy Danello, notification of election coming via mail re: the override election June 3. Postcard with QR code to register to vote, also includes a vote by mail application. Only one card to head of household not one per every voter

• Appointment of the 2025 election workers was approved by unanimous vote

• Resolution 25-18: June 3, 2025 Election Early & Mail in Voting was approved unanimously. The scheduled early voting dates will be added to the Community calendar

• Proclamations and recognition for 

• the FHS Cheerleaders, National Champs for 5th year

• the FHS boys basketball team, State Division 1 Champs

• members of the Dean College Athletic Training first responders who saved the life of an individual at a recent athletic event

• Public hearing conducted on 2 related bylaw changes to allow Shared-Use Commercial Kitchens in commercial zones. The Planning Board had approved also, these measures were moved to a second reading (at a future meeting)

• Presentation and update on work being done by  Franklin Police Department Mental Health Clinician Division - Kallie Montagano, Clinician Program Manager 

• Followed by an update on the Franklin Crisis Action Team by Deputy Administrator Amy Friguiletti. Housing and temp shelter the top issue the FCAT group sees

• A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 24, Floodplain District - Referral to the Planning Board was approved unanimously. Apparently, the Town slipped in knowing that this had a 5 year life expectancy and was due to be updated. Only minor changes required but the due process is being initiated now with this referral

• Approval for acceptance of gifts

Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the Town Council meeting. Approx. 35 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1431-town-council-quarterbacking-04-17-25/

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

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/C9jXhRmTTlI?&t=94 

The agenda and released documents can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162025-1682

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nIb72BBNqBkuEgMCgS9ggo5T5UR8A7BD/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album of the recognitions ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/NFs8QPA39vzy5tzn8 

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

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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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"

Tom Mercer and I condense the 3 hour Town Council meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)