Franklin TV: Freedom of Assembly

“Some Assembly Required’ –  Indeed.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/05/2026

Getting All the Pieces to Fit. It’s a 3-hour tour in patience while divining assembly pictogram instructions that have no words. I was tasked with assembling a toddler-sized kitchen set.

‘Some assembly is required’ – is invariably a necessary, difficult challenge.

I don’t think this is the type of ‘freedom of assembly’ that the Founding Fathers intended to enshrine as the first of all human rights as amendments in Our Bill of Rights.

Freedom of Assembly –

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,”

It recognizes that a person’s faith – whether it commands them to kneel toward Mecca, light candles for the Sabbath, or pray in a language older than the ruins of Rome – deserves neither derision nor suspicion – whether it be Easter, Passover, Eid or – nothing at all. And it is this simple undeniable fact that the right to exist in peace doesn’t hinge on anyone else’s comprehension – or opinion. We don’t need to understand someone to offer respect. We need only be decent – as compassionate human beings. Respect is the simple daily act of tendering the same dignity to others that we expect for ourselves. As we all assemble in worship this weekend – or anytime common faith and ideals bring folks of like mind together – let’s also respect the first ‘instruction’ in the Bill of Rights.

In these notably authoritarian times ‘Some assembly is required’ – and is invariably our necessary, difficult challenge. And – through respectful abiding assembly, perhaps we can get all the pieces to fit. (We just need the right tools.)

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   

The Economic Development Subcommittee met for the first time Thursday (video)

The Economic Development Committee met for the first time in this new Council term. Committee Chair LeBlanc, members Morrongiello, Griffith & Malloy present for this session.

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Building Commissioner Gus Brown, and Planning and Community Development Director Morena Zelaya were also present

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/EStN4ZeBYow?&t=112

The agenda here - 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022026-2223

My full set of notes taken during the meeting - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n0qTNv-eqTy85Vqdu3aJvo59fGJzHAwu/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• 300 Fisher is scheduled to present at a July session, an EPA brownfield, does have economic value down the line
• NuStyle with grant is advancing and that can be a valuable property given it's location
• The no cap on restaurant alcohol licenses is an untapped advantage, we could do more on it.
• Morena talks of the 600 page doc for Somerville as too much, a recent conference talked of "form based lite" and might be more workable here
• The Town has done a lot downtown but what have the property owners done? How do we engage them to find out what their plans are? There is a gap there, they didn't do much in the Franklin For All project.  We need them to tell us what they are looking for.
• Possible student class with a college graduate level project could help develop a vision or model of what the downtown could be, could incorporate the networking with the owners as part of it, UMass Boston could meet sooner to set the class for the fall.
• LeBlanc economic development is an area where you spend money to make money

The Secrets and Lore of the "License Plate" - March 8,. 2026 (video)

Second Sunday Speaker Series: Alan Young

"Alan Young was first introduced to license plate collecting by his father, more than 25 years ago and "never looked back." What started with an interesting plate or two has grown into a wide range of (mostly) New England license plates as well as research into who the early plates once belonged to.  

Young will share some of his collection and discuss the development of plates over the past 120 years. He has also promised to reveal the first automobile to be registered in Franklin!. "

video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e23hSRwaAaA

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, April 3, 2026 (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: Rachael Diamond Calow

8:30 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: LiveStrong

11:00 am Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 2

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Pies

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Spring 2019 Show 2

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

4:30 pm The Black Box: A Magical Night of Disney Classics

5:30 pm Metrowest Summit: World Cup 02-26-26

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

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

7:00 am FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra

8:30 am Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

9:30 am All-Town Chorus & Orchestra 2026

11:00 am FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

2:00 pm Lifelong Music: Strings School 01-22-25

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Durfee 06-01-25

8:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Legally Blonde

• 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

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, April 2, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

9:30 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Alan Young

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Spring

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:35 pm Cooking with Linda: Pies

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Spring 2019 Show 2

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: LiveStrong

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Dave Hencke

5:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

8:00 pm Celebrate with Pride 2025: Toby

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

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

9:30 am All-Town Band Showcase 2026

11:00 am Lifelong Music: Strings School 01-22-25

2:00 pm FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

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

5:30 pm FHS Varsity Softball v Taunton 04-09-25

7:30 pm Rec Basketball: 5th & 6th Grade Boys 03-07-26

9:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Legally Blonde

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 03-26-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 03-26-26

7:00 pm Economic Development Subcommittee  CHAMBERS  853 1960 7858

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

Benjamin Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west Symphony Orchestra (video)

Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west Symphony Orchestra, Saturday, January 17 @ 11am

Benjamin Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west
Symphony Orchestra (video)

Benjamin Franklin: statesman, entrepreneur, scientist… composer?! Yes, our beloved Ben even dabbled in composing his own music. 

Join us to explore this aspect of our namesake with the help of the Metro-West Symphony Orchestra. 

Members of the Metro-west Symphony will also perform works written around the same time which influenced Franklin as a composer and musician, including a Mozart Flute Quartet and French Horn Quintet. 

Video link -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLG7Pb6CQaw

Joe Landry on "The YMCA in Franklin: The Early Years" (video)

Recorded Saturday, November 15 – The SATURDAY ‘Second Sunday Speaker Series’-- The Early Days of the Franklin Y

Yes, due to scheduling issues, November’s “Second Sunday event” will be on the ‘third Saturday.’ Everyone in Franklin and vicinity knows the familiar, glistening, and modern YMCA atop Forge Hill. But long-before the 1988 Y came into existence, the Y was a vital part of the Franklin Community that actually got its start in 1901. By 1909, the Franklin  Y was in the midst of a capital campaign and only two years later, in 1911, actually opened its own new building on Emmons St.  

YMCA and tennis court postcard

Franklin native and acclaimed presenter, Joe Landry, will be delivering a talk and slide show called "The YMCA in Franklin: The Early Years."  Joe will delve into the building (which was easy to get lost in!), the lore, the personalities and the times in which this older style Y -- aimed especially at the needs of young men -- was a vital community resource. 

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCkA3_b29To

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, April 1, 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: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

8:30 am Robert Goddard Centennial Celebration

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Rachael Diamond Calow

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Spring

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Pies

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Spring 2019 Show 2

3:30 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Alan Young

6:00 pm Metrowest Summit: World Cup 02-26-26

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

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

7:00 am All-Town Band Showcase 2026

8:30 am FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Task Force

11:00 am All-Town Chorus & Orchestra 2026

1:30 pm     FHS Varsity Softball v Taunton 04-09-25

8:00 pm Rec Basketball: 5th & 6th Grade Boys 03-07-26

10:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Durfee 06-01-25

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

8:00 am Town Council 03-18-26

1:00 pm Town Council 03-18-26

6:00 pm Town Council  CHAMBERS  854 3879 0109

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 Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:00 am Historical Museum: Randy LaRosa and Krishna Swain

7:30 am     Once Upon A Town: Town Pool

9:00 am Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

10:00 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Pies

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Spring 2019 Show 2

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

5:30 pm Celebrate with Pride 2025: Toby

9:00 pm Metrowest Summit: World Cup 02-26-26

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

7:00 am All-Town Band Showcase 2026

8:30 am Lifelong Music: Strings School 01-22-25

10:00 am Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

11:00 am FHS Winter Music: Chorus and Orchestra

1:00 pm FHS Varsity Softball v Taunton 04-09-25

3:00 pm FHS Varsity Swimming v Taunton 01-09-26

8:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1

9:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Legally Blonde

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

8:00 am School Committee 03-24-26

2:00 pm School Committee 03-24-26

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