Voices of Franklin: Reflections upon a gift of conversations received from a friend called necessity*

*With apologies to John Tobias

During that autumn 

As the leaves started to 

Change color and fall

Creating a carpet of crunches

While the temperature remained summer like 

But without the thunder storms to 

Roll thru and break the heat

Even if momentarily 

While the drought monitors crept higher

And higher, inducing restrictions 

On outdoor water use

During that autumn

Which definitely was 

Created by the biennial election

There were multiple conversations 

And the conversations ruled

Schedules to coordinate

Times to agree upon,

Zoom info shared, then connecting

Sound check, 

Background check,

Lighting check,

Find the button and we're on

How to get at the questions

Folks wanted answers to

Without being so direct,

Abrupt, or unfriendly

We created the context,

The setting, neighbors 

Meeting neighbors

Some closer than others

Some we'd met before

Some we hadn't yet

Until there, virtually, we were

Together to get their story

Their point of view 

Recorded to share

Wind down to a close, 

Then editing, Cut this, 

Queue this, upload that, 

Send this, wait for their response

And when the recording 

Was approved, it was

Shared, some more widely than

Others, somehow that is always

The case, some candidates generated

More interest by being new

Less familiar than the

Incumbents whom folks seem

To know enough of

To not need anymore

When the recorded conversations 

Came to a close

Other conversations began

Folks following up with candidates

Candidates following up with

Each other, making the meet &

Greet circuit, making the rounds, 

To address all the questions,

Provide all the answers

On the website, the pages 

Are rich with links

To the conversations, 

Video and audio, 

Along with historical data, 

Info on what was done before

And may need to begin again

To further the conversation

And become closer neighbors

Than we were when 

The conversation started

When the biennial election is

Over, the results tallied,

Perhaps they'll be a new set

Of folks at the table

Now with the task of

Providing oversight

To our Town, our services

Which we need, some of which

Some of us

More than others

And so by necessity 

This autumn the conversations 

Continue, neighbors with neighbors 

To find the solutions

That can be possible

Steve Sherlock

Franklin resident

originally shared with the Senior Center Writers Group and posted to

https://www.quietpoet.com/2025/10/reflections-upon-gift-of-conversations.html

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Reflections upon a gift of conversations received from a friend called necessity*

Voices of Franklin: Time for Listening Sessions

A poetic expression on current events

  I

What does it matter? Nothing will change at the listening session.

You mean then that your mind is so set, you can't go to a listening session

The budget is what it is. But the structural deficit is very real, things can, and do change when folks ask questions, or make comments at a listening session

There is no “found money”, it does not grow magically on trees, it comes from taxes and local receipts, those sources and the cost drivers are outlined at the listening sessions

Did you know the library card is a magic tool to gain free access to newspapers, and other online resources, all available without a listening session

Did you know the DPW plows the snow, fills potholes, flows water to your faucet, cares for the fields, and lights on the common, all available without a listening session

Did you know Police and Fire depts finally reached staffing levels authorized years ago, this staffing is now in jeopardy unless folks understand the details of these listening sessions

  II

There is economic hardship among our neighbors, the Master Plan document lays out these details, those are available without a listening session

Did you know the national wealth gap lives here too, it should not be a surprise, all our neighbors need to understand the impact of these listening sessions

Did you know economic hardship is like a hidden disability, including stigma, it is not very visible at first glance, with or without a listening session

One point of view says we are “One Franklin.” I wish that were the case; if we have to say it, are we really? It is time for another listening session

Another point of view says “We need to save Franklin.” Actually, we do. However, this group goes on to disparage certain individuals, such attacks only divert us, from paying attention to the listening session

We are a commonwealth, we need to care of all our neighbors, some of them may be the most in need of the services that would be cut without understanding the listening session

So Sherlock, now what? We need to face that we are in this together. We need to make a decision.  There are more sessions scheduled, we all need to absorb what is said, and not said, in the listening sessions

Steve Sherlock

Community Information Director (volunteer) for Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio. 

Steve is a "quiet poet". Find more of his poetry at  https://www.quietpoet.com

Guidelines for your submission

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Time for Listening Sessions

Call for Water

  I

When thirsty, your body signals a call for water

A turn of the faucet, or a flush of the toilet, starts a call for water

The signal may require a long walk, to the well, or stream,

To return with a full yellow container to answer the call for water

The faucet at the sink will start the flow through the pipes

in the house, the street, pump, or water tower to answer the call for water

When the hot water faucet is turned, the water flows under pressure,

with a diversion through heating coils, to answer the call for water

When the toilet is flushed, the water flows carrying the refuse liquid

and, or solid, before refilling the device in the call for water

The refuse, liquid and solid, moves through gravity flow pipes

to get processed before returning to the stream to answer the call for water

  II

Science tells us human males are about 60% water, females about 55%,

which shows why we need to respond to the call for water

The earth's surface is about 70% water but 97% of that is salt water

requiring treatment before answering the call for water

We have to take care of the 3% fresh water, use it as needed,

conserve it to help with the call for water

Science can help determine a good economic process

for conversion of salt water to better answer the call for water

We need to foster those scientific efforts, and trust the science,

as it evolves to provide a solution to the call for water

There are those among us near and far, who need shorter walks,

or better access, to answer the call for water

So Sherlock, are you all wet yet? Or will you help Frank,

and Lynn when they initiate their call for water?

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originally shared at quietpoet.com/

https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/12/call-for-water.html

During 2021, I was able to record a three-part series on the Franklin water system. My conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent has aged well. Some of the numbers may change but the overall process we review doesn't change much.

The three-part audio series can be found here ->

• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-588-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-589-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/08/fm-590-franklin-ma-dpw-water-series.html

three-part series on the Franklin water system

During 2023, I was able to record a three-part series on the sewer side of the business. Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent, joined me again as we talked about the flushing side of the side handling our waste water.

• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_02109748944.html
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/07/all-about-town-of-franklin-sewer_0306615856.html

Construction of the Beaver Street Interceptor. The houses in background are West Central Street, Panther Way area.

Starting with poetic inspiration responding to the IPCC report, we end with how to be involved locally in Making Sense of Climate #26 (audio)

FM #969 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 969 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, April 6, 2023.  

In this episode we covered the following topics: 

• Steve & Ted exchange greetings

• Steve reads a recent poem he wrote partly in response to the IPCC report

• Healy appoints new DPU

• Oil hides behind whales to oppose wind

• How to be involved locally 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

Our recording runs about 49 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted 

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-969-making-sense-of-climate-25-04-06-23

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Links to articles referenced

Link to the Jorie Graham article that got me to read my own poem

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/05/jorie-graham-poet-to-2040-book/673493/

Steve’s poem “This Branch” https://www.quietpoet.com/2023/03/this-branch.html 

What does IPCC mean for MA?  https://blog.greenenergyconsumers.org/blog/the-latest-ipcc-report-what-it-means-for-massachusetts-rhode-island     

Healy appoints new DPU

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/17/science/with-new-commissioners-healey-aims-reshape-an-agency-seen-critical-climate-reforms/  

Oil uses astroturf groups to oppose wind https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/05/metro/whale-tales/ 

“Ministry for the Future” book link  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future 

Howard Miles links

https://massclimateaction.podbean.com/e/day-lighting-a-river-is-good-for-the-city-and-the-soul-the-climate-minute/

https://massclimateaction.podbean.com/e/urban-hiking-on-the-frontiers-of-climate-change-the-climate-minute/

https://www.bostontrails.org/about.html

Justin Bean link

https://www.justincbean.com/

Grid impact of Green hydrogen

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/634abba43f1e2f4dfd5e07dc/t/6400f4e00845db41f84ddc36/1677784292826/GridImpactofGreenHydrogen+-+3-6-2023.pdf

rewilding

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27032023/rewilding-animals-carbon-storage/

See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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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

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!

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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"

IPCC report cover screen grab