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Monday, April 14, 2025
Town of Franklin issues a "CALL FOR ARTISTS" + Includes Stipend Opportunities
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Cultural arts a key force for our economy
Via the Mass Cultural Council
On Monday, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael Bobbitt and Senior Director of Public Affairs Bethann Steiner testified before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways & Means in support of the Agency’s $28 million funding request for Fiscal Year 2026.The hearing, which was held in Gloucester City Hall and chaired by Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Senator Jake Oliveria, was focused on the Governor’s H. 1 budget recommendations for various economic development focused secretaries, state agencies, boards, and commissions, such as the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Mass Cultural Council, Mass Board of Library Commissioners, Commission on the Status of Women, and the Cannabis Control Commission.During their presentation, Mass Cultural Council’s representatives outlined the reasons for the Agency’s $28 million request and were available to respond to questions from the Committee members. Once the Committee completes its schedule of hearings, the House Committee on Ways and Means will release its spending plan for debate in April, followed by the Senate budget debate in May. FY26 begins on July 1, 2025.
"Artists and cultural organizations fuel our economy, communities, and identities as a vital health and human service—yet too many are barely getting by.Today Mass Cultural Council released the 2024 Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory. This comprehensive project, developed in collaboration with Diversity North Group, identifies and documents thousands of cultural organizations, programs, and individuals contributing to the state’s vibrant cultural landscape.The Cultural Asset Inventory provides a wealth of information that will be instrumental in informing future cultural policies, programs, and initiatives. Its key findings are outlined in the Agency’s press release and detailed in a Summary Report, and County Fact Sheets."
Friday, March 7, 2025
Use of Opioid Settlement Funds to bring Art Pharmacy to Franklin "another first of many"
FM #1396 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1396 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Art Pharmacy Community Conversation held at THE BLACK BOX on March 5, 2025. Cory Shea, Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy opened the event with 3 panelists who made brief presentations and then participated in a Q&A session.
Panelists:
Michael Bobbitt, Mass Cultural Council
Emily Devlin, Art Pharmacy
Amy Friguiletti, Deputy Town Administrator
The Q&A session of this is not shared, the audio quality was not sufficient.
The presentation portion of the event runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to overview of Art Pharmacy and how the Town of Franklin will be the first community to use their Opioid Settlement funds to use this Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1396-art-pharmacy-community-comversation-03-05-25/
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** Presentation by Michael Bobbitt -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_g76jrwROR3wWehzLD5mDxrWk3zhk8Uo/view?usp=drive_link
Mass Cultural Council press release on Art Pharmacy -> https://massculturalcouncil.org/blog/introducing-the-first-statewide-social-prescribing-solution-in-the-u-s/
Mass Cultural Council -> https://massculturalcouncil.org/
Michael Bobbit -> https://massculturalcouncil.org/about/staff/michael-j-bobbitt-bio/
** Presentation by Emily Devlin -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yFFjIH-x0lHx53F8MMwxatqg_JoDJ35F/view?usp=drive_link
Art Pharmacy -> https://www.artpharmacy.co/
Emily Devlin -> https://www.artpharmacy.co/about
** Town of Franklin -> https://www.franklinma.gov/
Amy Friguilett -> https://www.franklinma.gov/159/Administrator
Cory Shea -> https://www.franklinma.gov/916/Arts-Culture-and-the-Creative-Economy
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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
And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. 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!
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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"
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| Use of Opioid Settlement Funds to bring Art Pharmacy to Franklin "another first of many" |
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, March 6, 2025
wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Thursday
Franklin and its local government, services and events
- This segment features the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting of Feb 26, 2025 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/economic-development-subcmte-recommends.html
Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
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| Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA |
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Economic Development Subcmte recommends adding shared kitchen definition for Council review (audio)
FM #1390 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1390 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 in Council Chambers. All 4 members of the subcommittee participated in Chambers (Hamblen, Sheridan, Frongillo & Chandler).
Quick recap
The meeting started and then restarted to get to the correct Zoom link so a few minutes were repeated for some on the video recording and net new for others on the proper Zoom link. This audio recording only includes from the restart
The shared kitchen definition and addition to the use tables for commercial (not residential) zones was discussed, clarified, and then moved to bring to the Town Council by a 4-0 vote
The naming of the Crossing Neighborhood District and the minor additions was agreed to in concept but after discussion determined that it is an opportunity to do more with than "just renaming". Especially with the Master Plan approved, some of those items can be considered for implementation here
Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0
The recording of the meeting runs about 58 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1390-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-02-26-25/
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Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aC6kDo1DtM&t=408
The agenda doc -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/economic-development-to-review-proposed.html
My full set of notes captured during the meeting
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CkUfWVxVbGsGOp9bj8Ew6yDP8BiZDsvy/view?usp=drive_link
--------------
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"
 |
| map displaying the proposed Crossing Neighborhood District changes |