Franklin Historical Museum: The Joy of 12-Tone Music - Sunday, March 30

Beyond Do, Re, Mi -  We Will `Scale New Heights’ of Musical Appreciation with TWO Franklin Music Educators as we discover…

The Joy of 12-Tone Music

Our March "Music at the Museum" program has been rescheduled to March 30. The program offers a deep (but accessible!) dive into 12-tone or serial composition -- a very influential aspect of "modern" music that emerged in Vienna about a century ago and was widely championed by composer Arnold Schoenberg.  Over time, the technique increased greatly in popularity and eventually became widely influential on Mid 20th-century and later composers.

The Joy of 12-Tone Music - March 30

The "joy" of 12-tone music, or dodecaphony, lies in its unique and challenging approach to musical structure, where all 12 notes of the chromatic scale are treated as equally important, leading to a potentially more complex soundscape. Learning about 12-tone music (also known as 12-tone technique or serialism) can offer a new perspective on how music can be organized and can help you develop your creativity across different musical languages as well as your appreciation of modern pop and classical music where 12-tone has been influential.

Using all 12 notes of the chromatic scale equally, avoids the traditional emphasis on a "home" key or tonal center.  Our guides are Franklin native, Randy LaRosa, a multi-instrumentalist who has played with many of the greats – even including Duke Ellington-- and took classes with 12-tone pioneer Karlheinz Stockhausen. He will be joined by Jon Mitchell, a composer (including the Franklin-premiered Opera, Mary Anning: Fossilel Hunter) and retired conductor. Come to be amazed and entertained at this free event at the Franklin Historical Museum, on Sunday, March 30.  

The Museum is open 1-4, program starts at 1:15. 

Open Mic Night; Music & Spoken Word at Brichwood Bakery April 10

4/10 6:30-8:30pm (6:15pm sign up)

Brichwood Bakery April 10

• 15 SLOTS - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
• 2 SONGS OR 8 MIN SPOKEN WORD
PA & CABLES PROVIDED
• GUITAR & MIC INPUTS (NO KEYBOARD OR DRUMS)

Contact JESSI.FANUELE @GMAIL.COM @jessijmusic for details

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

Talking all about the Party For The Pantry March 29 with Marsha & Jen (audio)

FM #1407 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1407 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Marsha Tait, Development Director, and Jen Johnson, Development Associate. We had our conversation in the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s on Monday, March 10, 2025. 

We talk about the Party for The Pantry scheduled for March 29 at THE BLACK BOX with musical entertainment provided by JP Royer, Matt Zajac, & The Pub Kings. 

Silent auction will be available online before and during the event closing out at 9:15 PM. Special bidding in person for one or more trips being offered by AMFund. The opportunity to bid on dream destinations, including Paris, Florence, Greece, Sedona, Ireland, Portugal, Scotland, and Africa—all while supporting The Pantry.

The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Marsha and Jen  Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1407-party-for-the-pantry-03-10-25/

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

Party for The Pantry page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/happenings/events/party/ 

AMFund travel information details -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/travel-auction/ 

Food Pantry current needs page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/ 

Amazon wish lists -> https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SIL7UR08ZZUC?ref_=wl_share 

Sign up for a public tour of the Pantry -> https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4baaa622a4f4c43-pantry#/ 

The Franklin Food Pantry is here for you. If you need us, we are here with not only food, but useful programs and resources for individuals, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity. If you can support us, we thank you - visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org  to explore volunteering, donating funds, donating food, or supporting our Capital Campaign to keep the lights on and the programs, from food elves to weekend backpack stuffing. It truly takes a village to keep our food pantry running and supporting the increasing demand, supporting our Franklin neighbors.

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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 www.franklin.news or www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Talking all about the Party For The Pantry March 29 with Marsha & Jen (audio)

The Joy of 12-Tone Music - March 30

Beyond Do, Re, Mi

We Will 'Scale New Heights’ of Musical Appreciation with TWO Franklin Music Educators as we discover …

The Joy of 12-Tone Music - March 30

The "joy" of 12-tone music, or dodecaphony, lies in its unique and challenging approach to musical structure, where all 12 notes of the chromatic scale are treated as equally important, leading to a potentially more complex soundscape. 

Learning about 12-tone music (also known as 12-tone technique or serialism) can offer a new perspective on how music can be organized and can help you develop your creativity across different musical languages as well as your appreciation of modern pop and classical music where 12-tone has been influential.

Using all 12 notes of the chromatic scale equally, avoids the traditional emphasis on a "home" key or tonal center.  Our guides are Franklin native, Randy LaRosa, a multi-instrumentalist who has played with many of the greats – even including Duke Ellington-- and took classes with 12-tone pioneer Karlheinz Stockhausen. He will be joined by Jon Mitchell, a composer (including the Franklin-premiered Opera, Mary Anning: Fossilel Hunter) and retired conductor. Come to be amazed and entertained at this free event at the Franklin Historical Museum, on Sunday, March 30.  

The Museum is open 1-4, program starts at 1:15. 

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM (except as noted above) and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.    

Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.    

Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Franklin Town Council gets update on the FY 2026 deficit, primed with a performance by FHS student quartet; 2 part audio

FM #1398-1399  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1398-1399 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.  

The audio is in 2 sections:

Part 1 - the beginning and the ending (1 hour 40 mins)

Part 2 - the FY 2026 preliminary budget review & discussion (2 hours)

Quick recap:

Part 1 - non budget

Part 1 audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1398-town-council-mtg-non-budget-sections-03-05-25/

• Police officer Steven Dejoie sworn in replacing Officer Lawrence who had retired a couple of months ago

• A string quartet of FHS students played a brief piece as part of a recognition of their music achievements which also resulted in a formal proclamation of their accomplishments. Many other students recognized were in the audience as well

• Dan Sherman provided the annual update on the town progress towards funding their OPEB liability. We are in good stead, better off than many other MA communities. We will do better once the Norfolk Retirement liability is paid off (2035ish) and that amount of funding can be shifted to the OPEB liability to advance the payoff schedule

• Approval for easement granted to DCR for access to SNETT extension, also a commitment from them for $1M to help prepare it when the trail does become ours (will take time with Federal process)

• From TA Report - another first in that the Town is first in using opioid funding for the Art Pharmacy program, more to come on this exciting opportunity for health with an economic development aspect for local arts/culture organizations

Part 2 - FY 2026 Budget

Part 2 audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1399-town-council-mtg-fy-2026-prelim-budget-03-05-25/

• FY 2026 - Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the preview of the budget, some updates had been previewed most recently on Tuesday at the Senior Center with the Joint BUdget Listening Session. More was expanded upon here. The documents will be posted to the Town budget page today. We are in a $3.8M deficit and coming up with that (or an amount close to it) is likely the only way to maintain "level service". What we have is what will stay, if we want increases or expansions to such services, we need to get by this one first before considering more. "we need a win" someone said in the course of the discussion

Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes. 

Part 1

Part 2

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

Franklin TV video ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAHS9BRE4cA&t=100 

The agenda doc ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052025-1608 

The budget preview presentation ->

https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4620/2025-03-05-Budget-Update---Town-Coucil-Version-PDF 

My notes captured during the session

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TELQ8ylitbI6RxGjNDCll4poFZsu2ONg/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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. 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"

primed with a performance by FHS student quartet

Historic Happenings at the Franklin Historical Museum for March 2025

Sunday, March 9 -- Second Sunday Speaker Series:  

Historical Commission Chair, Alan Earls, will lead a presentation and discussion about the 100+ year story of Clark Cutler, McDermott, the very successful local maker of (mostly) non-woven textiles at the Franklin Historical Museum. Originally founded in 1911 to manufacture horse blankets, Clark Cutler became a pioneering supplier of “grass” for the newly popular amusement, Miniature Golf, developed patented vibration reduction material still used in industrial processes today, and became a key supplier to the global auto industry. If you or a family member worked at the company, please bring your stories! Museum is open from1-4, program starts at 1:15. FREE

Sunday, March 16 -- “Third Sunday” Music at the Museum program => POSTPONED   to SUN MAR. 30

Franklin Historical Museum

Our March Third Sunday "Music at the Museum" program has been POSTPONED to March 30. The program offers a deep (but accessible!) dive into 12-tone or serial composition -- a very influential aspect of "modern" music that emerged in Vienna about a century ago and was widely championed by composer Arnold Schoenberg.  Over time, the technique increased greatly in popularity and eventually became widely influential on Mid 20th-century and later composers. Many important composers who had originally actively opposed the technique, such as Aaron Copland and Igor Stravinsky, eventually adopted it in their music and its influence even appears at times in popular music. Historical Commission Member and Music Educator Randy LaRosa will lead the discussion of the mysteries and pleasures of this musical philosophy that continues to challenge and inspire creatives. Museum open 1-4, program starts at 1:15. FREE

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM (except as noted above) and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM. 

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.    Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.    

Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Life’s Journey: The Relationships We Build along The Way - March 2

Life’s Journey: The Relationships We Build along The Way - March 2

Please join the First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) on March 2, 2025 for an inspirational service of music led by the band, “Critical Mass”.  Centered around the theme that we are all on a journey, the band will explore, through spoken word and song, “How we start on a journey at birth, gather friends and family, enter into or end relationships, assemble our chosen families and, most importantly, how all of these people join to support us on our personal journey.” 

  

“Critical Mass” is comprised of members and friends of FUSF who have been playing together for over twenty years. This service will include songs by James Taylor, Josh Radin and the Traveling Willburys, among others.  We hope that you will join “Critical Mass” and FUSF on March 2nd.  Singing along is encouraged!

Mental Health: Diane Plouffe & Jamie Barrett (video)

Dr Anne Bergen: 

"Welcome to Mental Health, the crisis of our time. 

My name is Anne Bergen. I am the host of this series of programs brought to you by Franklin TV whose mission is really to bring important topics relevant to the community out so we can inform the residents aware of issues that are very very important. 

The issue we have to address is mental health."

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF0EhkQQZD8

Mental Health: Diane Plouffe & Jamie Barrett (video)

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Feb 28, 2025

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

Time/Day			Friday
7:00 AM	12:00 Noon	5:00 PM	Jazz
8:00 AM	1:00 PM	6:00 PM	FM News - Sherlock
9:00 AM	2:00 PM	7:00 PM	Talking Blues - Derick/Remissong
10:00 AM	3:00 PM	8:00 PM	Talking Blues - Derick/Remissong
11:00 AM	4:00 PM	9:00 PM	"The Vibe"

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events 

• This segment features Part 2 of 2 of the Talk Franklin episode on hot topics around development here in Franklin.    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/jamie-leads-group-on-5-hot-topics-in.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong. 2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM - “The Vibe” show plays music for everyone searching for some enjoyment, some dance, a happy or thinking mood, and most importantly, having fun.  Tune in to wfpr.fm and listen to “DJ Vibe” spin music across many genres and join this new vibing experience

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday