Showing posts with label favorite poem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favorite poem. Show all posts

Saturday, April 18, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, April 18, 2026 ???

Saturday, April 18


9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)
9:00am Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

9:00am      Earth Day Recreation Dept (Beaver Pond)
9:30am      Pack 92 Earth Day cleanup
10:00am    Franklin Agriculture & Franklin Conservation Commission at Fairmount Fruit Farm

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
10:00am Rise Up (Franklin United Methodist Church)
10:30am Music at the Blissful! (Franklin Public Library)
1:00pm Library Bag Sale (Franklin Public Library)
1:00pm Diamond Art De-stress (registration req'd) (Franklin Public Library)
1:30pm Favorite Poem Reading (Franklin Public Library)
7:00pm      Laura May Band (live music) La Cantina Winery)
8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)



*** NO Town Meetings today   ***


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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

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Poetry among the key Library events this week April 16 - April 18

Check out some of the big events we have planned at the Franklin Public Library!

Poem Explosion April 16 1pm


Music at the Blissful Concert April 18 10:30am

Diamond Art De-Stress April 18 1pm (registration required!)

Book Sale Weekend! 
Friday, April 17 1pm - 4pm, 
Saturday, April 18 9am to noon, Bag sale 1-4pm

Details for #libraryprograms available on the website calendar: https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events 

And 


Favorite Poem Reading 
Saturday, April 18 - 1:30 PM 

Sign up list (requested, not required)

Friday, April 10, 2026

Read your Favorite Poem at the Franklin Public Library, Saturday, April 18

You can read your Favorite Poem at the Franklin Public LibrarySaturday, April 18 at 1:30 PM


Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Franklin Public Library with a Favorite Poem Reading!


Joy Harjo (US Poet Lauriat from 2019 - 2022)


“When I began to listen to poetry, it’s when I began to listen to the stones, and I began to listen to what the clouds had to say, and I began to listen to others. And I think, most importantly for all of us, then you begin to learn to listen to the soul, the soul of yourself in here, which is also the soul of everyone else.”


Favorite Poem Reading hosted by Steve Sherlock 


Choose a favorite published poem that you have long treasured or recently discovered. Share it by reading it to those gathered for this event.


Use the form to sign up to read your favorite poem -> 

https://forms.gle/YvfTLzxTYYtQDDDE6 



Note: Poems may not be ones you or family members, or friends have written.  


Limit: Five minutes reading time.









Note: We’ll be in the Friends Room, in the ‘new’ section of the building. The Book Sale is running in the other section.


Note: The audio of the readings will be recorded for future broadcast by Franklin Public Radio. You can choose to have your reading part of the recording or not.


Download the flyer as a reminder or to share

Wednesday, March 25, 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


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



Tuesday, March 24, 2026

There is no fooling around with what's happening at the Library in April 2026 (video & audio)

FM #1697 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1697 in the series. 


This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion virtually on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

 

We talk about 

  • Reviewed the regular open hours, book sale and holiday scheduling for the month

    • Closed on Sundays due to budget reduction

    • Closed all day on Monday, April 20 for Patriot’s Day

  • Library events for April 2026

    • In calendar order rather than by category this time around


Registration for those events required should be done through the Town website, Library page. There are nefarious folks trying to convince folks otherwise via Facebook. Be safe, use the official Town and Library pages.


The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended.


The recording runs about 19 minutes, so let’s listen in.


Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uk0vR3tdKg




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


Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net 


Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/233/Franklin-Public-Library 


Library event calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events 


April 2026 newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/109 


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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!

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


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


April 2026 Franklin Library News & Events (P3 of 3) Teens & Adults

 Weekly / Monthly Events for Teens

Library survey needs your input
Library survey needs your input
D&D Club, Mondays @ 4pm
Registration Required
Kids ages 10-17 are invited to join us for a weekly Dungeons and Dragons Club! Dungeons and Dragons, also known as D&D, is one of the most complex tabletop games in history. The library will supply dice, rulebooks, and blank character sheets! We will be using the 5th edition books and rules. Other Table Top systems are welcome! Please email mgousie@minlib.net for registration information.
 - Dungeon Masters must be at least 12 years old and have experience with Dungeon and Dragons.
 - Dungeon Masters are required to choose a premade adventure. Homebrew additions to the adventure are allowed.
 - Players and Dungeon Masters are required to be respectful, kind, and attentive to each other.
 - Groups of players with a Dungeon Master are welcome to share our space!

Teen Advisory Board, 2nd Wednesday of the Month @ 6:30pm
Join us each month for Teen Advisory Board. The Teen Advisory Board is a GREAT opportunity to get involved here at the library! You'll help plan events and programs, create displays and decorate the teen space, and help drive decisions around the kinds of materials we bring to the YA collection, all while eating snacks and getting volunteer hours. It's a win-win-win! No registration required.

Game Bytes, Wednesdays @ 4pm
Bring a snack and join us for two hours of casual co-op and solo play. Bring your own device or play on the big screen! No registration required.

Special Events for Teens

Favorite Poem Reading, Saturday, April 18 @ 1:30pm
Registration Requested
Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Franklin Public Library! Choose a favorite published poem, whether it's one you have long treasured or recently discovered, and share it by reading it to those gathered for this event.
 - Poems may not be ones you or family members, or friends have written.
 - Limit: Five minutes reading time.
Favorite Poem Project™ hosted by Steve Sherlock

Boston Typewriter Orchestra Concert, Saturday, April 25 @ 2pm
It’s time for different type of music in a whole new key! The Boston Typewriter Orchestra (BTO) is a collective performance of rhythmic typewriter manipulation. Enjoy music, comedy, and satire while exploring the definition of ‘musical instrument’. Funding for this program is provided by, The Franklin Cultural District, a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. No registration required.

STORMWARN Spotter Training with NOAA, Thursday, April 30 @ 6pm
Registration Requested
In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN®. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. Learn about becoming a spotter at this training. 

Events for Adults

English Conversation Group, Tuesdays @ 6:30pm
Looking for a casual, low-stress place to practice your English language skills? Join us on Tuesday evenings for a friendly group chat with your fellow English learners. Please note: this group is meant for folks who have a basic grasp of English and are looking for conversational practice, not very beginners. A tutor will be present to answer questions and help keep the conversation flowing, but the focus will not be on formal instruction. No registration required.

Table Top, Alternating Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 6pm
Registration required (see below). No Experience Necessary.
It's time to dust off your dice, grab a source book and role play your way through hijinks and horrors! Table Top is a monthly game of tabletop role playing games for adults! Email mgousie@minlib.net to sign up and/or get more info.

Knitting Group, Fridays, 10am – 12pm
Love to knit or crochet? Join our group of local fiber artists who will be meeting in the Friends of the Franklin Library Community Room! All skill levels are welcome. No registration required.

Watercolors Workshop, Mondays, April 6 & 27 @ 6pm
Registration Required
Relax with a Monday watercolor class with local artist Sharon Carloni for adults 18 and over!

Craftalong for Adults, Saturday, April 11 @ 2pm
Registration Required
 Get crafty at the library! Adults of all ages and craft ability levels are welcome to join us for this program. One Saturday each month, we'll complete a new DIY, creative craft. All supplies provided. Because adults deserve arts & crafts fun, too! This month: Sun Wheels.

Favorite Poem Reading, Saturday, April 18 @ 1:30pm
Registration Requested
Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Franklin Public Library! Choose a favorite published poem, whether it's one you have long treasured or recently discovered, and share it by reading it to those gathered for this event.
 - Poems may not be ones you or family members, or friends have written.
 - Limit: Five minutes reading time.
Favorite Poem Project™ hosted by Steve Sherlock

Boston Typewriter Orchestra Concert, Saturday, April 25 @ 2pm
It’s time for different type of music in a whole new key! The Boston Typewriter Orchestra (BTO) is a collective performance of rhythmic typewriter manipulation. Enjoy music, comedy, and satire while exploring the definition of ‘musical instrument’. Funding for this program is provided by, The Franklin Cultural District, a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. No registration required.

Painting for Adults! Saturday, April 25 @ 1pm
Registration Required
Are you feeling creative? Join Miss Lily and create a step-by-step painting of a baby lamb! All materials provided.

STORMWARN Spotter Training with NOAA, Thursday, April 30 @ 6pm
Registration Requested
In most years, thunderstorms, tornadoes and lightning cause hundreds of injuries and deaths and billions in property and crop damages. To obtain critical weather information, the National Weather Service (NWS) established SKYWARN®. SKYWARN® is a volunteer program with between 350,000 and 400,000 trained severe weather spotters. These volunteers help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service. Learn about becoming a spotter at this training. 

From the Friends of the Franklin Library

National Library Workers Day – April 21
Did you know that National Library Workers Day is celebrated on Tuesday, April 21 this year? This special day recognizes the dedicated staff members who make our library a welcoming and vibrant place for the community. From helping patrons discover their next great read to offering programs, technology, and a wide range of services, library staff play an essential role in supporting learning, curiosity, and connection. The next time you visit the library—please consider taking a moment to thank a staff member. Their hard work and commitment make everything the library offers possible. The Friends extend our sincere thanks to the library staff.

Give the Gift of Local History
In 2022, members of the Franklin Library Association published a limited-edition book that tells the remarkable story of our historic library and the Town of Franklin. The Franklin Library Association: Building the Future of the Nation’s First Public Library, 1858–2022 highlights the philanthropists and community leaders who supported the library for more than a century. If you would like to own a piece of local history or purchase one for a special someone in your life this spring, please visit www.FoFL02038.org/book.


Thursday, April 24, 2025

You can read your Favorite Poem at the Library, Saturday, Apr 26 at 10 AM

Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Franklin Public Library with a Favorite Poem Reading!

"The poem that each is trying actually to communicate to us lies in the words. It is at least the words that make it articulate. It has always been so."
Favorite Poem Project™  hosted by Steve Sherlock 
Choose a favorite published poem that you have long treasured or recently discovered. Share it by reading it to those gathered for this event.

Note: Poems may not be ones you or family members, or friends have written.  
Limit: Five minutes reading time.
Use the form here to sign up to read your favorite poem -> 

You can read your Favorite Poem at the Library, Saturday, Apr 26 at 10 AM
You can read your Favorite Poem at the Library, Saturday, Apr 26 at 10 AM

Friday, June 2, 2023

The Favorite Poem Project Reading for National Poetry Month at the Franklin Library - 04/29/23 (audio)

FM #1002 = This is Franklin Matters Radio, number 1002 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the audio of the Favorite Poem Project Reading held in the Franklin Public Library on Saturday, April 29, 2023. This was the second poetry event at the library for April’s Poetry Month.


Each reader introduces themselves, announces the poem and author, and briefly why it is their favorite (or among their favorite).


The reading runs about 30 minutes. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1002-favorite-poem-project-reading-04-29-23



—------------


Thanks to Camille Bernstein and jamele adams for conducting the workshop at the first April event.


Thanks to all the poetry readers who stepped up to share. 


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

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"


The Favorite Poem Project Reading for National Poetry Month at the Franklin Library - 04/29/23 (audio)
The Favorite Poem Project Reading for National Poetry Month at the Franklin Library - 04/29/23 (audio)

Friday, April 28, 2023

Reminder: Read your Favorite Poem at the Franklin Library, Saturday, April 29 from 12 to 3 PM

April is almost but not quite complete so there is time for the Favorite Poem Reading at the Franklin Library, Saturday, April 29 from 12 to 3 PM.

Come to the Library to read your favorite poem, or listen to others read their favorite poem. 

Favorite Poem Project™  with Steve Sherlock  and Camille Napier Bernstein

Choose a favorite published poem that you have long treasured or recently discovered. Read it for a recording celebrating National Poetry Month for later inclusion on Steve’s podcast.

Note: Poems may not be ones you or family members or friends have written.  
Limit: Five minutes reading time.
Use the form here to sign up to read your favorite poem ->   https://forms.gle/yyrpREyk4BBFXGpr8 

Download and share the flyer with your friends & neighbors

From the archives: In October 2017, there was a Favorite Poem Reading at the Senior Center. The listing of poems and readers a few days in advance of that event (which I miss) can be found ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/10/updated-readers-for-favorite-poem.html

Two poetry events at the Library for April to celebrate "National Poetry Month" - Apr 8 & Apr 29
There were 2 events scheduled, only 1 remains - Saturday, April 29, from noon to 3 PM

Monday, April 17, 2023

John Lithgow, Alan Cumming, Malala Yousafzai, Shantell Martin & more will share poems for National Poetry Month on April 26 (virtual)

While this listing of favorite poem readers is of well known folks, there is a spot for you in Franklin's Favorite Poem reading scheduled for Saturday, April 29 from 12 to 3 PM at the Library.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/04/celebrate-national-poetry-month-with-2.html


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