Franklin TV: It’s Today (3/14/26) (Yikes!)

We Are Go for Launch at 2pm.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 03/14/2026

On March 16th, 1926 the world changed. We entered the space age. From an open field in Worcester, MA Dr. Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket. His rocket’s flight was reminiscent of the Wright Brothers at Kittyhawk; arcing off the ground, and flying for a few hundred feet. In that singular, brief moment space flight went from mad concept to scientific pursuit.

Franklin TV: It’s Today (3/14/26) (Yikes!)

Today, Saturday 3/14 we mark the centennial of the space age. Franklin.TV and The Wonder Mission will cover the event from Worcester – live – on our All-Access channel, Comcast 6 and Verizon 26, and streaming on our YouTube channel.

Visit www.thewondermission.org

We are in the midst of planning our live coverage, and we encourage other Public Access studios around the state and the country to rebroadcast our program and carry this momentous event along with us – live –TODAY!

Video link of the live broadcast Saturday -

https://www.youtube.com/live/vvTD-0GeOZ0?&t=266

And – as always –

Thank you for watching. 

Thanks for listening to wfpr●fm,

and staying informed at Franklin●news

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

Aging Boldfully: Ken Bray (video)

Aging Boldfully is a new show on Franklin TV's All Access channel hosted by Susan Rohrbach. Ken Bray was Susan's guest for this show.

The show description: 

"Aging Boldfully is about living your next chapter outside of your comfort zone—fully embracing the uniqueness of you.

For many of us, the idea of aging doesn’t appear on our radar until we approach our 60s, when retirement begins to loom. During this time, our attention often narrows to one critical goal: ensuring financial independence. While that focus is important, it can distract us from an equally vital question: What am I going to do with the rest of my life? 

Each of our journeys is unique. Rather than clinging to the tired concept of “retirement,” we have the chance to rethink and redesign this new chapter. What will life look like now that we are the CEO of our own story? 

Aging Boldfully will explore the themes that matter most as we step into this phase—purpose, relevance, resilience, physical health, mental well-being, intentional living, and mindfulness. It will showcase members of our community who are finding meaning, living with purpose, and overcoming obstacles—real examples of what it means to age not just gracefully, but boldfully."

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3e4ShaBXo 

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, March 13, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" statio

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

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Christine West

8:30 am Frank Presents: Christel Akouri

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Ken Bray

11:00 am Senior Connection: Ben Franklin

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm Cook with Linda: Pork Tenderloin

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 1

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

4:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

5:30 pm Franklin History: Tommaso Juglaris

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: The Kennedys

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

7:00 am FHS Winter Jazz 01-27-26

8:30 am Metrowest Symposium: Sharing Identity on Social Media

9:30 am FHS Winter Music: Band and Wind Ensemble

11:00 am ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

2:00 pm FHS Concert Hour 02-25-26

4:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball v Lowell 02-25-26

8:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26

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

Finance Committee gets a good discussion on policies, and an update on the grant process yielding $112M over 10 years (video)

The Franklin Finance Committee met on Wednesday as scheduled March 11, 2026. 6 members were present, 2 absent (1 open position reportedly to be filled soon).

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/UZl8H4Koptg?&t=476

Agenda (updated 3/11/26) - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2189

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oxC1JQgvl3PoNs-2qaHf9vacux3JvsZY/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap

• a healthy and engaging discussion on the policies, to be resumed at one of the budget hearings in April before making a recommendation on changes (if any) to the Town Council
• Presentation on the grant process and the yield of $112M over 10 years, an average of $10M/year
• Future Agenda Items / Next meeting Dates:
• a. April 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2026 - Anticipated Finance Committee Budget Hearings
• b. May 28, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion - first look at health care numbers as open enrollment would have closed Apr 30
• c. June 3, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion and vote to recommend budget with changes (if any) for the Town Council to vote on at their June 10 session

Photo album of the grant presentation slides shared 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kLdsxaJEHqXjYEzT7

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, March 12, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

9:30 am SecSun_PeterGlass_021526

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:35 pm Cook with Linda: Pork Tenderloin

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 1

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Ken Bray

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Tune It Out

5:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Christel Akouri

8:00 pm Celebrate with Pride 2025: Sioo

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: The Kennedys

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

9:30 am 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

11:00 am FHS Concert Hour 02-25-26

2:00 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling v Milford 01-08-25

5:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Norwood 01-24-26

9:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 02-26-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 02-26-26

7:00 pm Conservation Commission  CHAMBERS 840 4696 3959

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

School Committee gets insights the recipes and kitchens on food services (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. All 7 members were present in Council Chambers.

 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/CBHC618gXFE?&t=230

The agenda can be found - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102026-2175 

My notes via Bluesky thread in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xZdhJ_TR0vgcoX-NAP_06FKpj1LndhMW/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• Recognition for Chloe Bowser, FHS sophomore, selected as one of 12 essays for the commissioning for the USS Massachusetts March 28, plaque on the sub, for Chloe and Franklin
• Presentation on Food Services, self sufficient with fee based services, able to utilize almost $1M over 3 years for capital upgrades of ovens, refrigerators, etc. to support the food preparation and delivery operations
• Grants also used to cover specific food program and in one case the start up costs for the new District Chef
• pictures of the presentation slides in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/KKTXdScdVsxVK6mg7
• Consent agenda approved
• March 18 Town Council meeting includes a presentation from DESE on Chapter 70 funding, School Committee also scheduled for a public meeting to enable participation that night

Mentioned during the presentation was a fish display at
Parmenter School last year (May 2025) (which I was able to attend)

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, March 11, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:30 am     Metrowest Symposium: Sharing Identity on Social Media

8:30 am FUMC: Cathy Cargill Koch

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Christine West

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm Cook with Linda: Pork Tenderloin

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 1

3:30 pm SecSun_PeterGlass_021526

6:00 pm Franklin History: Tommaso Juglaris

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: The Kennedys

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

7:00 am 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

8:30 am FHS Winter Jazz 01-27-26

10:00 am Pickleball Tournament: Pickleball Tournament

11:00 am FHS Winter Music: Band and Wind Ensemble

1:30 pm     FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Norwood 01-24-26

4:00 pm Critical Conversations: Student Wellbeing

8:00 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling v Milford 01-08-25

10:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball v Lowell 02-25-26

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

8:00 am Town Council 03-04-26

1:00 pm Town Council 03-04-26

6:00 pm Finance Committee  CHAMBERS  892 8239 7154

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

2 Part Audio for the Town Council Mtg March 4: authorized fire truck, approved goals, & heard total exp on snow & ice now exceeds $2M (audio)

FM #1684-85 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1684-85 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated for this 4 hour plus session. 

 

• 1684 - The Opening, and all agenda items except the goals which they saved for last  (approx. 2 hrs. 7 mins)  

• 1685 - Discussion on the goals brings them right up to the 4 hour limit which they managed to stay within  (approx. 1 hour and 55 mins)

  

Audio 1684 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1684-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-04-26-p1-of-2/

Audio 1685 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1685-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-04-26-p2-of-2/

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Additional notes on the meeting recap can be found (including link to Franklin TV video) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-council-authorizes-fire-truck.html 

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Engine 3 is the fire truck authorized to be replaced

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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