School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting Jan 12, 2026 (audio)

FM #1629 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1629 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee meeting held on Monday, January 12, 2026. The meeting was conducted via remote only. 

Al Charles (Chair), and members Stephen Karunakaran and Nadia Mausolf participated. Operations Director Colin Boisvert also participated, representing the Central Office. 

• Discussion around Mission Statement / 2026 Goals

• Potential 2026 Engagements & Activity Brainstorming

• Discussion around newsletter planning

The recording runs about 55 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Relations Subcommittee meeting of January 12, 2026.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1629-schcmte-community-relations-subcmte-mtg-01-12-26/

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School Committee: Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting Jan 12, 2026 (audio)

School Committee Subcommittee assignments

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

Subcommittee agenda

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01122026-2082 

Unable to locate my notes for this session (odd, and a first)

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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/

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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Smile Days at the Children’s Museum of Franklin

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online. Friends,   Today was one of those *"pause and smile"* days – we welcomed Visitor 25,000 through our doors! 🎉   That number represents 25,000 friends who have found joy, belonging, connection and discovery in this space – and all in less than FOUR months since opening day.    When families choose CMF as a place to spend time together, we see a powerful reminder of this space becoming all we dreamed it would be: a welcoming hub for families across our region where learning feels joyful, play is purposeful, and every visitor is celebrated for exactly who they are.   With huge smiles, Children's Museum of Franklin Children's Museum of Franklin is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization made possible by the community, for the community. Thank you for supporting enrichment for children and families. Here's what else is happening: Members & non-members: Snag your spot ahead of time to guarantee entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 19. Pre-Register The newsletter was shortened for publication here. You can full the full set on content online.

Franklin First Newsletter - Volume 13

January 12, 2026 Franklin First Newsletter - Volume 13 Please enjoy this 2025 year-end edition of the Franklin First Newsletter!  Note, due to staffing shortages, the Town Administration Dept. has not been able to release Franklin First since September 19th.  We expect a Communications Director to be on staff in February and we look forward to resuming a regular newsletter cycle and putting out more content in 2026! Click to read the latest volume of Franklin First. Click here to sign up for notifications. View it on website

   

Or view the PDF version of the newsletter here -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VhXAtBIjNbt5XeyXwboL8WupWpwcI6lV/view?usp=drive_link

Senior Center January 2026 newsletter and audio insights to special events

January 2026 newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7918/January-2026-Newsletter?bidId= 

We get an inside view on all the special events for January 2026 at the Franklin Senior Center (audio)

Audio link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/we-get-inside-view-on-all-special.html

Senior Center January 2026 newsletter and audio insights to special events

Franklin Public Library - January 2026 newsletter

January 2026 newsletter -> 

Ben Franklin playing his glass armonica

https://www.franklinma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=90  

Mitzi & I review the special events scheduled at the Library for January 2026 (audio)

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1616-franklin-public-library-jan-2026-highlights-12-18-25/

Senate President Karen Spilka: A Holiday Greeting and End of Year Recap

Updates from Beacon Hill & MetroWest Happy Holidays! Pictured: Me with my District Liaisons, Jess and Momina (L to R) at our office holiday party. Dear Friends,    I hope this letter finds you in good spirits this holiday season. Since I last updated you, there's been a lot happening in our community and on Beacon Hill and I'm looking forward to bringing you up to speed on all the great highlights from this year. I'm truly proud of the work we've done in the Senate this year and I'm thankful to my colleagues and our staff for making it possible. The 194th Legislative Session is far from over, but there's plenty of accomplishments to share from this first year alone. We launched the Senate's Response 2025 Initiative to combat actions of the of the federal government that would have a significant negative impact on Massachusetts and its residents. Some actions under this initiative include: The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which would establish some of the strongest consumer data protections in the nation. The Shield Act 2.0 to strengthen protections for those seeking or providing reproductive and gender affirming care. Protecting federal employees from residential eviction or foreclosure during any federal shutdown. Protecting freedom of thought in Massachusetts schools and public libraries and safeguarding open access to books and other educational materials in the wake of widespread politically motivated books bans. I'm also proud of the work we've done in the Senate to remove the greatest distraction device ever created' from classrooms. In late July, the Senate passed An Act to promote student learning and mental health, requiring all public-school districts to adopt cell phone-free school policies by fall 2026. The Senate has also passed several timely bills including: Chapter 90 legislation to support our state's infrastructure including roads and bridges. An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, in response to a rise in attacks. An Act modernizing the Commonwealth's Cannabis laws, which would reform oversight of the maturing cannabis industry. Bills that would increase access to menstrual products and require the disclosure of ingredients. As always, if my office can be of assistance to you or your family, please don't hesitate to reach out at karen.spilka@masenate.gov or call 617-722-1500.   karenspilka.com Want more frequent updates? Follow us on social

Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House Room 332 | Boston, MA 02133 US

Newsletter was removed for publication here. The web link to the remaining content can be found -> https://karenspilka.com/updates/2025/12/23/2025-senate-year-in-review

The new Franklin School Committee newsletter is here Dec 18, 2025

Good Morning!

State champs celebrated, FY27 budget previewed, and key school updates. See what the School Committee covered.

Read the entire Newsletter here: https://5il.co/3t10h

The new Franklin School Committee newsletter is here Dec 18, 2025

Chasity & Jillian share the exciting events in December at the Senior Center (audio)

FM #1590 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1590 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Chasity Cheng, Deputy Director and Jillian Rochat from the Franklin Senior Center. We had our discussion in the Franklin Radio Studio on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

 

We talk about 

• All the key event highlights for December

• Key teasers for January

The show notes include links to the Senior Center page, the calendar of events, and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter. 

The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1590-franklin-senior-center-december-2025-highlights-11-19-25/

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December 2025 newsletter

Franklin Senior Center page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/583/Franklin-Senior-Center-Council-on-Aging 

December 2025 newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7657/December-2025-Newsletter?bidId= 

The newsletter archive page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/585/Connection-Newsletter 

Senior Center calendar view (just FSC events) -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false 

Subscribe to the newsletter -> by calling 508-520-4945

 

My Active Center -> https://myactivecenter.com/ 

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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 it!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"