Franklin TV: Ken Norman - In Memoriam

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/07/2025

2012. A lovely ‘greening’ day in April. A good day to show off the best of any town. Ken drove me (the new guy) all around Franklin. Nothing desultory about his pitch. I had just been hired as the Executive Director for what would become Franklin.TV. Although I hadn’t officially started yet, I was up for the tour. Ken didn’t disappoint. As Board President of FCCA, Inc., dba Franklin.TV, Ken was all about getting me settled in and fully engaged. He brought enthusiasm for the Town and lots of rich detail and backstory to help me know the community firsthand – to welcome me. Yes, I felt welcomed. Vested. Sold!

A week later. Tuesday. My second ‘official’ day on the job. Ken came to our studio at 13 Main that morning to see if I was okay. He instinctively knew that I had a hill to climb. Humbly, sheepishly, he asked. ‘Did I mind him stopping by? He didn’t want to intrude – get in the way or disrupt anything.’

“Are you kiddin’ me? Gladaseeya! Gladahavya! Anytime. Stop by all you want. Whenever. Sit. Let’s talk.” I welcomed him. He felt welcomed. Vested. Sold.

Thus, a deep abiding partnership was born. Partners in crime. Brothers in arms. Call it what you will, but Ken signed on to the ‘grand vision’ – all of it. Truth be told, he owns as much of any ‘grand vision’ as I do. That Summer we stumped around town looking for a new studio home. We visited other PEG studios. We discussed all manner of issues, opportunities, goals. We cobbled plans. Ken came by 3-4 times every week. Gabfests. More plans. More progress. More vision. More victories.

Ken Norman getting recognized for his services
by State Rep Jeff Roy at the Town Council Mtg 12/20/2023

This was our normal – right up until COVID, when our studio was closed – for 2 years. Together, we adapted. We soldiered on. COVID had its hidden costs for many of us. By 2023 Ken was no longer as spry. Getting around town became more challenging. Over time, I saw less of my partner in crime.

There are many business books on managing, but few on leadership. Visionary leadership is rare. There is leadership – and there is cheerleadership. Ken was a cheerleader – for me, for us, for Franklin. Every vision needs a spark. Ken passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon at The Maples in Wrentham. I miss his spark.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And staying informed at Franklin●news.

 

Download a copy of the Ken Norman retrospective

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rzx2-fzT61w218Bpn4h1enlurPP-6EBR/view?usp=sharing

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Video for the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Thursday 12/4/25 (video)

The video for the ZBA meeting is available this morning. 

• (Still researching to find out why it wasn't visible on Thursday evening). 
• (Access to Zoom is a separate issue, research underway on that also).

Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ-BcRLC4NU

LiveARTS String Quartet concert at Franklin Historical Museum (video)

This video shares the Free Concert performance of the LiveARTS String Quartet at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, November 16, 2025. 

There is an intermission and at the end of the performance, the quartet does come back for a brief encore.

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6vwYXZj_5s

LiveARTS String Quartet concert at Franklin Historical Museum (video)

Franklin TV's visibility issue not unlike that facing local TV news stations

"Long a safe haven due to a reliable stream of retransmission fees and advertising dollars, local TV news stations are now facing a stark message as their industry faces the same financial pressures as the rest of media: adapt or die.

That’s the message in a new report from Northeastern University’s Reinventing Local TV News Project, which last month released a “survival guide” that urges local stations to prioritize digital-first programming to reach younger audiences that don’t tune into the traditional broadcast. Specifically, the authors urge stations to hire specialists to spearhead newsrooms’ digital strategy and coach their peers on how to bring their reporting to audiences online.

The guide doesn’t forge a silver bullet that will solve the local news crisis, especially in how to replace the decades-long reliance on advertising dollars that is slowly drying up as viewers flock elsewhere for news. But it argues that hiring a digital content producer — a role that the Reinventing Local TV News Project has piloted in three newsrooms, including WCVB-TV (Channel 5) — is a necessary step to avoid being tuned out by younger generations."

Continue reading the article with this 'gift' link ->   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/02/business/local-tv-news-digital-report/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Franklin TV's visibility issue not unlike that facing local TV news stations

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, December 5, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Vincent Crotty

8:30 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 1

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Roberta Trahan

11:00 am Senior Connection: Spaghetti Bolognese

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Stuffing

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 5

3:30 pm Understanding Anti-Semitism in 2025

6:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

7:00 pm LiveArts String Quartet

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2023

8:30 am Mental Health: Mithun Pasham

9:30 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

1:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

2:00 pm FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra 2024

3:30 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Walpole 11-15-25

5:30 pm Varsity Football: Franklin v King Philip 11-27-25

9:00 pm Critical Conversations: Student Wellbeing

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = FRIDAY

8:00 am  Zoning Board of Appeals 11-20-25

2:00 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals 11-20-25

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, December 4, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = THURSDAY

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Task Force

11:30 am Comfort Food: Comfort Food

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Stuffing

1:30 pm   Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 5

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Roberta Trahan

5:00 pm Historical Museum: Randy LaRosa and Krishna Swain

6:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 1

8:00 pm Franklin Interfaith Thanksgiving 2025

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: The Kennedys

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = THURSDAY

7:00 am Public School Event: Remington Winter Music 2022

8:30 am FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra 2024

2:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Walpole 11-15-25

5:30 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball v Newton North 11-15-25

8:30 pm Critical Conversations: Student Wellbeing

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = THURSDAY

8:00 am Conservation Commission 11-13-25

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 11-13-25

6:00 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals  via Zoom Only  910 1554 4527

7:00 pm Conservation Commission  via Zoom Only  814 1293 8378

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, December 3, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:30 am   Mental Health: Mithun Pasham

8:30 am The Millis Berfield Band

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Vincent Crotty

11:30 am Comfort Food: Comfort Food

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Stuffing

1:30 pm   Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 5

3:30 pm More Perfect Union: Immigration and the Courts

6:00 pm Understanding Anti-Semitism in 2025

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: The Kennedys

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am Public School Event: Remington Winter Music 2022

8:30 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2023

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Task Force

11:00 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

12:30 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball v Newton North 11-15-25

3:00 pm Rec Basketball: 7th & 8th Grade Boys Championship 2025

6:00 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Walpole 11-15-25

8:30 pm Varsity Football: Franklin v King Philip 11-27-25

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council 11-19-25

2:00 pm Town Council 11-19-25

7:00 pm Town Council  CHAMBERS  854 1753 3548 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 ???

Tuesday, December 2

9:30am Busy Bee Holiday Bazaar (Franklin Senior Center)

12:00pm Community Closet (Franklin United Methodist Church)

12:00pm Joe Landry presentation "Once Upon a Town" (Franklin TV and Radio Studio)

6:00pm Table Top (Franklin Public Library

6:30pm Franklin Garden Club - monthly meeting (Franklin Senior Center)

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, December 2 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022025-2023 

Franklin Cultural Council

Tuesday, December 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022025-2027 

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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

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar