Franklin LGBTQ Alliance: Join us March 5 at 6:30 PM

We are meeting at Franklin TV

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance In this newsletter we include an invitation to our next meeting and community events, including our next book club discussion, and include more opportunities to get involved.   Want more information or need to contact us? Visit our website here! You Are Invited To Our March Monthly Meeting!   When: March 5th  at 6:30pm   What: Join us for some origami making! (no experience needed, just come and join us for some crafting and conversation)  Where: 23 Hutchinson Street in Franklin Fundraiser Update! Thank you to everyone who supported our Pride and Popcorn and Bake Sale fundraisers! We are so appreciative of all the generous donations we received that will go towards putting on Celebrate With Pride this year. We also hope everyone enjoys their yummy popcorn and baked goods :)  FLA Events Announcing...    2025 Celebrate With Pride will be on June 27th from 12-4 on the Franklin Town Common!! (with a rain date of June 28th)    If you are a vendor, nonprofit, or food vendor looking to have a booth, please click HERE to use our exhibitor sign-up!   If you are interested in performing please email us at franklincwp@gmail.com    If you are looking to volunteer, we will be sending out volunteer sign-up forms when it gets closer to the event!   Please help us spread the word about 2025 Franklin Celebrate With Pride and we look forward to welcoming you to the common soon!  Any questions please email franklincwp@gmail.com If you are not on our email list, sign up to receive future emails with this form.  Note this newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please visit this link ->  View this email in your browser

Rausch Report: Bills, Black History, and another Blizzard

Your monthly Beacon Hill update from Senator Becca Rausch. 

View this email in your browser Dear Neighbor, Another month, another major blizzard! MassDOT snowplows with names like Flake Maye, Clearopathra, and Sleet Caroline have been out in force making roads safe to travel, as have hundreds of hardworking municipal employees and plow operators in our communities. I hope you and your families, friends, neighbors, and loved ones are safe and warm as we dig out together. It may be chilly outside, but in the Massachusetts Senate, things are heating up! We passed a slate of consumer protection measures and authorized more than $3 billion to boost public higher education. As Senate Chair of the Municipalities Committee, working in collaboration with my House colleague, we reported favorably a major bill filed by Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll to empower towns and cities. And early as it may seem, preparations for the May budget debates are already under way.    Longtime Rausch Report readers know I'm a huge supporter of civics education, and this month I joined Rhode Island electeds and education experts for a panel discussion about the success of Massachusetts Civics Project Trust Fund, funding for which I have championed for several years. Also, as we do every year, I hosted Brandeis University legislative advocacy students in the State House, where they delved into the details of bills ranging from immigration policy to reproductive health with the lawmakers and staff who filed them. Read on in this month's Rausch Report to learn more about legislation passed by the Senate, our district's Black Excellence on the Hill honoree, plans for Women's History Month, upcoming events in the district, and more. For real-time updates, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.      Yours in service,    Senator Becca Rausch    NEARING THE GOVERNOR'S DESK  Building Resilient Infrastructure to Generate Higher-Ed Transformation (BRIGHT) Act. I voted YES alongside my colleagues to pass the BRIGHT Act, a $3.28 billion bond bill to invest in our public higher education institutions and address the significant backlog of deferred maintenance on campuses. To help our students achieve success, they must have access to modern infrastructure and facilities, including modernized laboratories. These funding authorizations will also support workforce development and vocational technical training. The House passed a different version of the bill, so the differences between the two iterations must now be reconciled before the legislation goes to Governor Healey for her consideration. PASSED BY THE SENATE I voted YES along with my colleagues to pass the following bills, which are now before the House for their consideration:    Strengthening Fair Housing Protections. This bill will promote fairness in housing access by mandating anti-discrimination training for all real estate agents and strengthening state enforcement of fair housing law. Under the bill, applicants for a real estate license would attend at least four hours of classroom instruction on the Fair Housing Law. A real estate broker who violates that law twice in two years would have their license suspended for 180 days instead of 90, and information on complaints and license revocations would be published.   Car Purchase Consumer Protection. This bill strengthens the state's Lemon Law, allowing motor vehicle buyers to void a sale if the vehicle fails inspection within seven days of delivery of the car, rather than the date of purchase. The bill also increases the maximum mileage for used vehicle warranties and protects consumers from fraud by doubling the surety bond required of used car dealers. Small Business Unit Pricing Threshold. Grocery and big box stores are required to display products' unit pricing – often the "price per ounce" found in orange next to the total price. Small businesses such as bodegas are not required to have these labels if they generate less than $5 million in in-store sales each year. Recognizing the growing popularity of high-value lottery tickets and gift cards, which generate very little actual income for our small businesses, this bill excludes the sales of lottery tickets and gift cards from counting toward the annual sales volume of these small neighborhood stores.  Growing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Workforce. This legislation modernizes the pathway to becoming a CPA by removing outdated and costly requirements and updating the standards for certification to feature a balanced mix of a college degree and on-the-job work experience. Note: This newsletter was shortened for publication here - view the full set of contents -> https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-18251903 Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215                          24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

State Rep Jeff Roy: What's happening in the district - February 2026

͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

View this email in your browser Panthers Visit the State House Rep. Roy welcomed the Division 1 State Championship Volleyball team from Franklin High to the State House in January. A first for Franklin, and all of Hockomock, in D1 girls, Franklin High School secured their first-ever Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 Girls Volleyball State Championship on November 15, 2025, defeating the three-time defending champion Newton North Tigers 3-2. The No. 5 seed Panthers finished their historic season with a 23-2 record. The team is led by head coach Chris Ridolfi. Congratulations Franklin. Jefferson Elementary Recognized for Excellence Rep. Roy was thrilled to join Franklin Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Elizabeth Murray, the former Assistant Principal at Jefferson Elementary and now a Math Specialist at the Washington Street School at the State House. They were there to accept the nomination of Jefferson elementary as a Blue Ribbon School, awards by the Department of Education for exceptional academic achievement. A total of 63 Schools of Recognition were identified throughout the state accountability system for demonstrating high achievement, significant improvement, and/or high growth. Jefferson Elementary was one of six Massachusetts schools to earn a National Blue Ribbon nomination before the US Department of Education discontinued the award in August. This is a tremendous honor and recognition of the great work being done for Franklin education. Congratulations to everyone who made this happen. This Newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please visit - https://mailchi.mp/61c62947a52f/march-2021-newsletter-10614778 State Rep Jeff Roy  State House Room 7 Boston, MA 02133

Franklin School Committee Newsletter Feb 6, 2026

Franklin School Committee Newsletter Feb 6, 2026

The February School Committee Newsletter is available now. 

Check out what the School Committee covered in the first 3 meetings of the year.

Read the entire newsletter:  https://aptg.co/MKSgXK

 

Franklin Art Association: Musings from the FAA President

Musings from the President: 

Hello Friends and Members, 

Art doesn’t have to shout to be powerful. 

Choosing to make art is a quiet kind of rebellion. It’s a way of saying I’m still paying attention — to beauty, to feeling and to one another. Every sketch, stroke, movement, or experiment pushes back against the idea that everything must be efficient and profitable. 

Franklin Art Association: Musings from the FAA President

At the Franklin Art Association, we believe art is both a joy and a civic act. It builds connection, invites curiosity, and reminds us that imagination is a renewable resource. 

Making something, anything, together is how we practice hope. 

So keep creating. 

With gratitude and optimism, 

Nicole Horsman 

Franklin Art Association

To review a full copy of the FAA Newsletter ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RehP0P9gtKDvl6jekDCG1HfM60-gDhEg/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin Library News & Events for February 2026 (part 3 of 3)

Weekly / Monthly Events for Teens

D&D Club, Mondays @ 4pm
Registration Required
Kids ages 10-17 are invited to join us for a weekly Dungeons and Dragons Club! Dungeons and Dragons, also known as D&D, is one of the most complex tabletop games in history. The library will supply dice, rulebooks, and blank character sheets! We will be using the 5th edition books and rules. Other Table Top systems are welcome!

• Registration for this club is for the September to December season of Dungeons and Dragons Club.
  If missing a session please email: mgousie@minlib.net as soon as possible.
• Dungeon Masters must be at least 12 years old and have experience with Dungeon and Dragons.
• Dungeon Masters are signing up to lead a table for ALL 16 meetings between September 8th and December 29th.
• Dungeon Masters are required to choose a premade adventure. Homebrew additions to the adventure are allowed.
• Players and Dungeon Masters are required to be respectful, kind, and attentive to each other.
• Groups of Players with a Dungeon Master are welcome to share our space!
• If you have any questions please email: mgousie@minlib.net

  

  Franklin Library News & Events
  for February 2026 (part 3 of 3)

Teen Advisory Board, 2nd Wednesday of the Month @ 6:30pm
Join us each month for Teen Advisory Board. The Teen Advisory Board is a GREAT opportunity to get involved here at the library! You'll help plan events and programs, create displays and decorate the teen space, and help drive decisions around the kinds of materials we bring to the YA collection, all while eating snacks and getting volunteer hours. It's a win-win-win! No registration required.

Game Bytes, Wednesdays @ 4pm
Bring a snack and join us for two hours of casual co-op and solo play. Bring your own device or play on the big screen! No registration required.

Special Events for Teens

Interactive Movie! Thursday, February 5 @ 1pm
Families - join us for a special Interactive movie screening! Enjoy popcorn and some fun surprises. No registration required.

The Bad Apples Present: Date Night Concert,  Wednesday, February 11 @ 6:30pm
Join us at the library for an awesome weeknight concert with the Bad Apples! Featuring your favorite love songs, you're sure to fall in love with the library after this evening. No registration required.

Teen Paint Party, Tuesday, February 17 @ 6pm
Registration Required
Join Miss Lily and create your very own step-by-step painting of some sweet candy hearts! For ages 12+. All materials provided. 

Lunar New Year Celebration, Thursday, February 19 @ 1pm
It's the year of the horse! Come celebrate at the library with crafts, games, snacks and more. No registration required.

Events for Adults

English Conversation Group, Tuesdays @ 6:30pm
Looking for a casual, low-stress place to practice your English language skills? Join us on Tuesday evenings for a friendly group chat with your fellow English learners. Please note: this group is meant for folks who have a basic grasp of English and are looking for conversational practice, not very beginners. A tutor will be present to answer questions and help keep the conversation flowing, but the focus will not be on formal instruction. No registration required.

Table Top, Alternating Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 6pm
Registration Required (see below). No Experience Necessary.
It's time to dust off your dice, grab a source book and role play your way through hijinks and horrors! Table Top is a monthly game of tabletop role playing games for adults! Email mgousie@minlib.net to sign up and/or get more info.

Knitting Group, Fridays, 10am – 12pm
Love to knit or crochet? Join our group of local fiber artists who will be meeting in the Friends of the Franklin Library Community Room! All skill levels are welcome. No registration required.

Watercolors Workshop Monday, February 9 & 23 @ 6pm
Registration Required
Relax with a Monday watercolor class with local artist Sharon Carloni. For adults 18 and over.

The Bad Apples Present: Date Night Concert,  Wednesday, February 11 @ 6:30pm
Join us at the library for an awesome weeknight concert with the Bad Apples! Featuring your favorite love songs, you're sure to fall in love with the library after this evening. No registration required.

Craftalong for Adults, Saturday, February 14 @ 2pm
Registration Required
Get crafty at the library! Adults of all ages and craft ability levels are welcome to join us for this new program. One Saturday each month, we'll complete a new DIY, creative craft. All supplies provided. Because adults deserve arts & crafts fun, too! This month: Hand Made Cards.

Chocolate Tasting, Saturday, February 14 @ 3pm
Registration Required
New England, and Massachusetts in particular, has been a candy crown jewel since colonial times. Come taste various chocolate types from across the commonwealth as we explore the various types and treats!

Painting for Adults! Saturday, February 28 @ 1pm
Registration Required
Are you feeling creative? Join Miss Lily and create a step-by-step painting of a box of chocolates! All materials provided.

Putin's War: His Motives, Claims, and Lies, Saturday, February 28 @ 3pm
Dmitri Yakovlev wholeheartedly supports Ukraine in their fight for freedom and argues that the conflict soon may become the whole world's problem. Explore the history, consequences, and quandaries of the Russia Ukraine conflict. No registration required.

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