Watch the FHS Class of 2023 Graduation via Livestream at 6:30 PM

Watch the FHS Class of 2023 Graduation via Livestream from Franklin TV  on YouTube: click HERE  

Shared from -> https://www.franklinps.net/fhs/urgent-alerts/watch-graduation-livestream-630pm

Watch the FHS Class of 2023 Graduation via Livestream at 6:30 PM

Meeting coverage for Wednesday, Jan 4, 2023

Multiple meetings tonight but we'll keep you covered. Franklin TV is set to broadcast/Live stream two of the meetings. I'll be in the 3rd floor training room to record the audio of the other two.

5:00 PM - Board of Health Meeting  (audio recording)

5:45 PM - EDC Meeting  Franklin TV

6:00 PM - School Committee Budget Subcommittee (audio recording)

7:00 PM - Town Council Meeting   Franklin TV

The audio recordings should be available for listening Friday or Saturday at the latest.

Agendas for these meetings

Board of Health  

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/board-of-health-meeting-agenda-january.html

Economic Development Subcommittee
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/economic-development-subcommittee.html

School Committee budget subcommittee

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/fps-school-committee-budget.html

Town Council

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/franklin-ma-town-council-meeting-agenda.html

Meeting coverage for Wednesday, Jan 4, 2023

Winter Wonderland - INSIDE at the Senior Center - Dec 15 (or listen/watch)

Enjoy walking/driving* around the Senior Center to view beautifully decorated trees & lights, visit with Santa, live entertainment, Hot Cocoa & Cookies, and more! 

Free to the public and fun for the whole family-an event you don't want to miss! #winterwonderland #community #lights 

4:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Walk around Inside the Senior Center  

• listen via wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM radio dial

5:30 PM to 6:30 PM - Driving

• listen to the LIVE broadcast via wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM radio dial and watch via Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26)  AND  YouTube   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahhxS6rENnYA3iH0pgf0jA

* changed to interior event only due to the weather forecast for Thursday evening.

Franklin Senior Center schedules Winter Wonderland - Dec 15

Reminder: A Conversation of Hope: Black & Jewish Voices in Harmony - Dec 11 at 7 PM

Seating in the Temple is limited so Franklin.TV will broadcast and live stream the event. 

• You should be able to find it on your "All Access" channel either Comcast 8 or Verizon 26
• You can also find it on All Access YouTube Channel as "Live"  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahhxS6rENnYA3iH0pgf0jA

Via Temple Etz Chaim: 

"December 11, 2022 at 7:00 PM. Come attend a special presentation at 900 Washington St in Franklin. 

Rabbi Alpert will be among those presenting."

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/ClkUpqvoKBf/

A Conversation of Hope: Black & Jewish Voices in Harmony - Dec 11 at 7 PM

Inclusionary zoning and tax rate hearing on tap for meetings Wednesday night

Two meetings on tap for Wednesday at the Municipal Building. First up at 5:45 PM the Economic Development "Plus" subcommittee, followed by the Town Council meeting at 7 PM. I plan on reporting on both meetings. Franklin TV will be broadcasting both via cable (Verizon or Comcast), live streaming, Zoom, and YouTube. So there are multiple ways to view and/or participate in the meetings.

1 - Economic Development Agenda

1. Discussion: Zoning

a. Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw

Agenda doc and remote connection info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-11-30_edc_agenda.pdf

The prior meeting started this discussion and as time ran out, the discussion resumes at this session. Catch up to the discussion before the meeting:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/economic-development-subcmte-recommends.html

2 - Town Council Agenda

Full agenda and docs released ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/nov_30_town_council_agenda.pdf

Charts explaining the tax rate history can be found ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/good-news-tax-rate-is-going-down.html

the "Plus" Cmte gets into housing density proposal

Reminder: Franklin Interfaith Council - Thanksgiving Service - Sunday, Nov 20 at 7 PM (live stream added)

The Franklin Interfaith Council will be holding its annual Thanksgiving Service at the Franklin Federated Church on Sunday, November 20, at 7 PM. Rev. Bev Waring of the First Universalist Society of Franklin will be preaching. All are welcome to attend in person at the Franklin Federated Church or via live stream.

The service is being live-streamed courtesy of Franklin TV. You can find the live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahhxS6rENnYA3iH0pgf0jA. The live stream will begin a few minutes before 7 PM.

You can also find a live stream on the Facebook Page of the Franklin Federated Church here: https://www.facebook.com/franklinfederated/.

Donations will support the Fuel Assistance Fund. You can also contribute online via the Interfaith webpage ->  https://franklininterfaith.org/

Franklin Interfaith Council schedules Thanksgiving Service - Nov 20

Tune in to the 2022 FPAC GALA AND TELETHON - Saturday, Nov 5

The 2022 FPAC GALA AND TELETHON is scheduled for Saturday, Nov 5, 2022.

Hosted by Ben Cameron! Red Carpet hosted by Christopher Rice-Thomson! 

And, of course, enjoy top-notch FPAC GALA ENTERTAINMENT featuring Ben Cameron, Emily Koch, Nick Rehberger, Christopher Rice-Thomson, Tyrick Wiltez Jones, Ali Funkhouser, Nick Paone, and Robbie Resigno! With a 9-piece band music directed by Hallie Wetzell! 

New this year! The Telethon will be televised live and free thanks to Franklin TV!  Tune in on the FPAC YouTube channel to watch live!

7:30pm Red Carpet
8:00pm Gala & Telethon 

FPAC YOUTUBE ->   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkIQaPpreP8oF9ISrV6pOZg

FRANKLIN.TV ->  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahhxS6rENnYA3iH0pgf0jA

FPAC Gala Auction Items (open for online bidding) -> https://event.auctria.com/e550951d-6f07-4fc2-b3dc-a92cc2a2e1f0/a780d600ec2e11e9ae081db830846aa5

Tune in to the 2022 FPAC GALA AND TELETHON - Saturday, Nov 5 

Watch the FHS Class of 2022 Graduation today

If you want to watch the Class of 2022 graduation at 7:00 PM today, there are several options to do so.

You can watch the live broadcast

• on the Franklin Pride EDU channel, via Comcast 96,  or via Verizon 28.
• on Franklin TV live stream  available at   https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/franklintv/video/61d5c56c98c2200008a35d58?page=HOME&type=live
• or with the Franklin TV YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of4NzEJWZj0&list=PLfmIkAj28lU8TpDLOIvu4NrlL-PdQoXu_&index=2

Watch the FHS Class of 2022 Graduation today

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Budget hearing #1 - May 25, 2022

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

Agenda & Meeting Packet

May 25, 2022 - 7:00 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm

a. FY23 Town Council Annual Operating Budget Hearing

i. FY23 Voting Document   (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/voting_document_fincom_level_fy23.pdf)

• FY23 Town Administrator Budget Message (per Town Charter Section 6-4-1)

• Appendix A1 - Town Administrator Recommended Budget Voting Document & Budget Book (per Town Charter prevision 6-5-1 & 6-5-2)

• Appendix B1 - Franklin School Committee Recommended FY23 Budget Executive Summary

• Appendix C1 - Historic Data: Budget Breakdown

• Appendix C2 - Historic Data: Operating Revenue

• Appendix C3 - Historic Data: Fixed Cost

• Appendix C4 - Historic Data: Local Aid

• Appendix C5 - Historic Data: Local Receipts

• Appendix C6 - Historic Data: Assessments

• Appendix C7 - Historic Data: New Growth

• Appendix C8 - Historic Data: Free Cash Balances

• Appendix C9 - Historic Data: FC & RE

• Appendix D1 - Stormwater Brochure and Summary

• Appendix D2 - DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi Stormwater Ad-Hoc Committee presentation

• Appendix E - COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Update

4. ADJOURN

Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda document and remote connection info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_budget_hearing_1_-_may_25_2022.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Budget hearing #1 - May 25, 2022

Franklin.TV: We’re Live! Yes, we are

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 05/22/2022

A program note:
(Actually, three of ‘em.)

This week on Thursday evening we will be originating LIVE from three venues. It’s a technical challenge in our new normal, but we’re up for it.

There is an extended (double-header) Town Council meeting on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. It’s a continuation of the usual meeting on Wednesday evening. You can watch this meeting on Town Hall TV, Comcast 11, Verizon 29 – as usual.

For those who wish to see the Conservation Commission’s meeting, again Thursday at 7:00 PM, it will be on our All-Access channel, Comcast 8, Verizon 26.

We are also originating Senior Awards Night, live from the FHS Auditorium, also at 7:00 PM on our Franklin Pride EDU channel, Comcast 96, Verizon 28.

So, if you want to take it all in as it happens, you’re gonna need three TV sets.

However, we also stream all of our channels live from our website’s home page.

SO, –

You could watch the FHS Senior Awards Night, live on cable TV – while streaming the Town Council meeting on your laptop or tablet, and then you could also watch the Conservation Commission stream on your phone – all at the same time.

You could.

Of course, replays will be available on demand from our YouTube channel (https://tinyurl.com/FranklinMATV).

We’re doing everything we can on our end to bring you lots of live local TV. The rest is up to you.

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.
And, thank you for watching.

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

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

How to comment or watch the Franklin For All event Monday, May 16 at 6:30 PM

Monday, May 16, 2022 at 6:30 PM, join MAPC and the Town of Franklin for the next Franklin For All hybrid public forum. 

This event will take place at THE BLACK BOX (15 West Central Street) and over Zoom. Weigh in on draft zoning recommendations and learn about next steps for the rezoning effort. Doors to The Black Box open at 6:00 PM.

To participate & comment:

• in person at THE BLACK BOX
• via Zoom (registration required to get link (and ensure on mailing list))

To view/watch only:

• Via Comcast (11) or Verizon (29)
• via Zoom (registration required to get link (and ensure on mailing list))
• via YouTube (Franklin MA TV) and find the "Live" show - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp4_sDQGHNa9MKpqfmXGZrg/featured
• via Live stream on your desktop/laptop, etc. from the Franklinma.gov page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/live-meetings-stream

Yes, it is the same broadcast starting on Zoom, then feeding out to the various channels of delivery to you at home or wherever on your device.

Yes, it would have been nice to have the recommendations in advance to review and prepare questions & comments. That has not happened; little will change that at this point. What we can do is be patient to listen to what is revealed as a recommendation or recommendations. 

Whatever is revealed may take time to digest. 

The best response may well be quiet, thoughtful absorption of what they reveal.

As mentioned in other meetings, whatever is recommended will be digested and discussed at future Economic Development meetings. 

It will take time to determine what if any changes will be made to the downtown zoning. Those zoning changes also will take time. 

How much time will it take? 

The Town will need 

• proposal to be drafted by the Dept of Planning and Community Development
• reviewed by the Economic Development Committee (EDC) (may be more than 1 meeting)
• when ready EDC will forward to the Town Council
• the Town Council discuss but decide to refer to the Planning Board for two readings & hearing before Planning Board returns the proposal with recommendation(s) to Town Council
• the Town Council will also hold two readings and hearing to review and discuss such before final vote (to accept or reject)

So it will be good to see what MAPC proposes but this is really the START of the process if anything will change.

How to comment or watch the Franklin For All event today

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #3 - Public Schools & Committee vote (video)

The Finance Committee meeting was broadcast, live steamed, and available via either of the cable channels (Comcast & Verizon), as well as broadcast to YouTube. The YouTube recording is now available for replay.  

YouTube link -> https://youtu.be/fgyyBjOb-RE

My recap will be ready in a day or so. In the meantime, my Twitter notes can be found (in one PDF doc) ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oOKQmRPPjOucVB1yuCkTsFu4fv_2LpzN/view?usp=sharing

L - R: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Dan Hanes, Tri-County Supt K McGuire; Tri-County SchCmte member Dr Peter Wernicke

School Committee meeting - May 10, 2022 (video)

The video for the School Committee meeting is available for viewing via YouTube. 

Video link -> https://youtu.be/JcjrcaHzf90

My recap will be ready in a day or son. In the meantime, my Twitter thread of notes can be found ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lLY9SCDvKusqfRV30SQjNiLx3I2WSoBN/view?usp=sharing

You can find Franklin TV on YouTube for government meetings (school and Town)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp4_sDQGHNa9MKpqfmXGZrg/playlists

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #1 - General Government (video)

The Finance Committee meeting was broadcast, live steamed, and available via either of the cable channels (Comcast & Verizon), as well as broadcast to YouTube. The YouTube recording is now available for replay.  

YouTube link -> https://youtu.be/iXCn6jBND1U

My Twitter notes (in one PDF doc) ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ZEDkgsyqARABbLEuDz0RoYIOIAHPFYh/view?usp=sharing

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #1 - General Government (video)

Franklin TV: Goings On. Going Forward

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/10/2022

‘Shopping' for Shows

As we ramp up our post-COVID studio activities we are looking for programming. If you think that you would like to pursue a TV program of your own, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We make it easy. We promise. Now you can interview guests over Zoom – right from our studio as if they were seated right in front of you. That literally opens up a whole world of opportunity. Fascinating folks who would otherwise not have time to come to our studio from wherever can now ‘stop by’ for a virtual sit-down and chat.

Town Chambers – The Sound

We are aware of audience reports regarding noisy or scratchy sound during our coverage of the government meetings. We have been doing all we can to keep the microphone mixing systems in Chambers functioning long enough and quietly enough until we can replace them with new gear. What we need is very specific. Only 2 companies manufacture these devices. They are on back order, like so many other items that people can’t easily obtain because of supply chain issues. We are also working on implementing a temporary system this week until we can install an optimal solution.

Graduation ‘22

This year FHS Graduation 2022 takes place on June 3rd. It’s less than 7 weeks away. That time will hurtle by in a blink, so we start planning and prepping about now. Our latest HD equipment update that I mentioned last week is part of the preparations. We’ll be fine-tuning and testing over the next two weeks or so. This year Franklin High is again conducting the ceremonies outside on the field. If the weather hints at rain then we’ll return to the gym. Either way, we’ll be ready.

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

 

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

Franklin TV: Goings On. Going Forward

Franklin TV: Out With the Old

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/03/2022

It’s my ten-year anniversary! Yay, me! (I guess I’m not the new kid anymore.) Wow!

Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday that I… (Wavy TV screen effect that takes us back to day one.)

My first Summer was a technical firefight to fix damaged, tired gear, and get our snowy Comcast channels cleaned up. We bought a building in the Fall and began our journey to modernize the facility. Old standard definition TeeVee cameras, videotape and DVD players, (remember VHS?) editing systems, audio gear, channel equipment and all the background stuff that made it all go – year-after-year, all of it was slowly being replaced with state-of-the-art, high-definition gear.

The images above are of the old and new Equipment Rack 15. It’s a small-ish, 2-foot high bundle of gear that connects our main studio to Panther TV’s control room in the high school. Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking.

“ OOoooooh! Wow! OMG! What a huge difference. Srsly!”

Uh, huh! Drink it in and savor the moment – just like I did. Why? The old rack was the very last of the standard TeeVee gear to be retired, and the new rack completes our long journey to an entirely modern facility – streaming online 24/7 in Hi-Def. Retiring the last of the legacy gear was a nice moment to mark a decade of progress.

Now, if only we can get our Comcast and Verizon cable providers to do the same. 

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 
And, thank you for watching.

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

“Remote access is the latest instance of universal design"

"Many byproducts of the pandemic cannot disappear too soon – the illness, the social isolation, the toll constant anxiety is taking on our collective mental health. Yet some societal changes have become a silver lining to the pandemic – the realization that some jobs can be done as efficiently at home, the convenience of telehealth, and increased access to government by livestreaming public meetings.

The first real debate about whether to cut off that access has come from the Governor’s Council, the body that vets and confirms judicial nominees."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/should-remote-access-to-government-continue-2/ 

hybrid Town Council meeting early in March 2022

Back to back School Committee meetings Tuesday, April 26

The Franklin School Committee has two meetings back to back on Tuesday evening. The first will be the deliberation on the one internal candidate they interviewed last week for Superintendent. The second is the normally scheduled 2nd meeting of the month.

First meeting - Apr 26, 2022 - 6 PM

How did the school committee get to this deliberation decision?

• They met on March 1 to consult with Tracy Novick from MASC on how to conduct the process fairly and legally. The audio recording (47 minutes) ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/franklin-school-committee-votes-to.html
• They met on April 13 to publicly interview Assistant Superintendent Lucas Giguere. The audio recoding of that session (approx. 1 hour) ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/special-school-committee-mtg.html

The meeting will be broadcast via cable and live streamed. It will not be available via Zoom.  Agenda doc with connection info ->    https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-26-22_special_mtg.pdf

Second meeting - April 26, 2022 - 7 PM

The meeting will be broadcast via cable and live streamed. It will be available via Zoom. Agenda doc (includes remote connection info)

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_4-26-22.pdf

Meeting packet folder

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-26-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

Back to back School Committee meetings Tuesday, April 26

Franklin.TV: Yes. It is – Complicated

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 03/27/2022

That was my hesitant, but honest answer. I was reluctant to admit it.

He looked at all the wires that were radiating outward in all directions from our equipment. The floor was littered with cables. These connected microphones, speakers, cameras, ethernet, computers, displays, intercom and so on. That’s what motivated a bystander’s question, ‘Is it complicated?’

I had never been asked, so I was thrown for moment. But, looking at the mess of wires, I had to admit that it was. It is. Such was my quiet epiphany.

We do what we can to minimize the complexity for our crew by customizing our equipment into configurable, flexible modules. These systems can be connected in different ways depending on need. Think ‘digital Legos’ that snap together to form whatever configuration best serves the event. Like nested Matryoshka dolls, our systems have subsystems within, and these also can have sub-subsystems. Today, our systems and simplified ‘snapping together’ (all the wires} continue to expand.

Ten years ago, it was simple. Bring camera and microphone. Record event. Leave. Lather, rinse, repeat. Simple.

What we do today? Not simple. Today, we are expected to cover civic events that are live and audience interactive via Zoom. We are expected to make engagement effortless – simple – for all participants. We are also expected to be consistently successful. These expanding expectations are reasonable enough in today’s world.

Fulfilling them? It’s complicated. 

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

 

Franklin.TV: Yes. It is – Complicated (part of the crew producing Critical Conversations)

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

FHS girls basketball game scheduled for live stream/cable broadcast - 3:30 PM

FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) tweeted Fri, Mar 11, 2022:

For anyone who can't make it to the Girls BB game tomorrow in Springfield, you may watch it on Franklin.TV. 

Go to https://t.co/0XREXRHzrE and click the button for 'Pride TV'. 

If you have cable, tune in to either Comcast Ch 96 or Verizon Ch 28, depending on your cable provider.

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHSSports/status/1502368470616449024

FHS girls basketball game scheduled for live stream/cable broadcast

FHS Panthers