- Irish Step Dancers at 1 PM
- Pix with Santa from 2-4 PM
- Ice cream soda station for the kids
- Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s for the adults
Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl168lLvbO8/
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Teddy Gallagher's: Kids Christmas Party - Dec 11 |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl168lLvbO8/
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Teddy Gallagher's: Kids Christmas Party - Dec 11 |
FM #811 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 811 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. One board member was in the 3rd floor training room along with Health Dept staff. The other two members participated remotely. All votes were via roll call.
The meeting runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting June 1, 2022.
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Agenda document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_06012022_3.pdf
My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yMfZYjMA6weyYUsAn_0ExswMcKcDhM19/view?usp=sharing
--------------
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal |
Sad news on the small and local business front, the Alumni Restaurant will not be reopening and is being put up for sale. The owner's note to the patrons shared here.
On the other hand, there is an opportunity for someone who would like to operate a restaurant!
Shared from Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/204307558091/posts/10160476432138092/
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Alumni Restaurant not to reopen |
FM #771 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 771 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge.
Conversation around the following topics:
ISO Class-1 Announcement, Franklin Fire Department
LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. License Modification: Change of Location - Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits
b. License Modification: Alteration of Premises - 3 Restaurant
c. New Section 12 Restaurant Common Victualer All Alcohol License and Approval of Veronika Matunin as the Manager - Birchwood Bakery
More restaurants operating now than pre-pandemic, so fortunate
PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS
· Presentation: ARPA Update - Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
Legislation
· Storm water fee – final approval
· Passport photo fee
Community Needs Discussion Forums (Franklin Senior Center) Tuesday April 12th at 6pm
Outlook for Council agenda
The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie as we “Talk Franklin”. Audio file -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Fire-Department-Accolades--Restaurant-Revitalization-and-New-Legislation-e1h31v3/a-a7o97t4
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Town of Franklin meeting calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
ARPA accounted for -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/pages/pandemic-related-stimulus-funds
Town budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget
--------------
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
FM #769 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 769 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Quick recap:
Fire department achieves ISO Class 1 rating, only one of 9 in MA and one of 15 in New England to do so. Contact your insurance company. Whether a business or residence, there could be a savings with this higher rating on insurance policies. Doc on Fire Department web page to send to company to support the potential savings.
2 new hires for Fire Dept sworn in. These are experienced firefighters coming from other areas to backfill open positions with the Fire Dept.
Three alcohol license approvals were voted on. One to approve the move of Pour Richards, one to approve the permanent set up of outdoor dining at 3 Restaurant, and one to approve a license for the Birchwood Bakery & Café downtown. As a sign of how well Franklin has survived the pandemic, we now have more restaurant liquor licenses post pandemic than we did pre-pandemic.
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided an update on ARPA funds and how they would be allocated. Council approved the allocation which will now be submitted to the County for disbursement of the funds. Some of the $10M allocated to Franklin (approx. $2M) comes directly to the Town, some (approx. $6M) comes through the County.
The second approval for the storm water utility fee was approved. The fee will first appear in July 2023 (FY 2024). There is time to confirm your impervious coverage area (see the town storm water page) and order a rain barrel to help with mitigation of storm water and save on the potential fee.
Passport photo fee was approved so the Town when processing your passport application can now provide a ‘one-stop’ shop service. The photo fee is $10 per photo. The fee for the passport is set at the Federal level.
The recording runs under two hours (1:58). The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of April 6, 2022. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-769-town-council-meeting-04-06-22
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Agenda document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/april_6_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf
My notes from the meeting -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/14KnmcHPUOPMAUQ7TgXS8YMvDbUHTxTGa/view?usp=sharing
Photos from the meeting can be found in one album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zr6wAJwNbr61Yhob6
--------------
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 www.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"
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Firefighter Michael Eaton getting pinned by his daughter |
FM #716 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 716 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Board of Health (BoH) meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2022. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room with 1 BoH member remote and at least one public attendee participating remotely virtually via the Zoom conference bridge.
Links to the meeting agenda and my notes are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting of Feb 2, 2022.
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Meeting agenda
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/boh_agenda_02022022_1.pdf
My notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/recap-board-of-health-conducts-regular.html
--------------
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Board of Health conducts regular business, listens to resident comments on masking |
"A huge thank you to Billy Costa & @DiningPlaybook for coming to Franklin to highlight @glenpharmer distillery, the incredible vision of the Downing family and this one-of-kind local business."Billy's Brews: GlenPharmer Distillery https://t.co/HkKQVZ3vzw
Billy's Brews: GlenPharmer Distillery |
Billy Costa checks out Franklin, MA to GlenPharmer Distillery! A beautiful family-owned distillery. This time it’s not a Billy’s Brews, its a Billy’s BOOZE.
FM #660 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 660 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing Communication Specialist Lily Rivera. We had our conversation in person in Jamie’s office in the Franklin Municipal Building.
We talk about:
The Strong Towns event at THE BLACK BOX
Finance Committee
Budget adjustments
Overall budget cycle, tax rate hearing coming to close, but capital budget for FY 2023 underway
Town Council
Swearing in, re-org
Open meeting law, Ethics, records review
Meeting conduct reminders
Critical Conversations – Nov 18
Substance abuse and mental health panel and breakout sessions
Links to the key references are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Lily.
Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/96623c72-eadb-4095-b468-70bd35dab55e--------------
Finance Committee meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-11-10_finance_committee_agenda_1.pdf
My meeting notes & meeting audio -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/fm-655-finance-committee-mtg-111021.html
Town Council Agenda (98 page PDF agenda and docs released for this meeting)
The Worcester Regional Research Bureau restaurant license report referenced during our conversation -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/191cph8dOCd8DJnmB8xQg1rpwkfwRhqz8/view?usp=sharing
--------------
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
![]() |
Talk Franklin: Strong Towns, FY 2022 budget adjustments, Critical Conversations and restaurant alcohol licenses (audio) |
" ‘An extinction level event.’ Federal bailout funds split struggling restaurant industry"
"For 16 months, while scrambling to stay afloat, the restaurant industry has begged the federal government for money to help recover from the pandemic. But the $28.6 billion Restaurant Relief Fund didn’t play out as they’d intended. The funds became mired in legal challenges, and then ran out far too quickly, leaving more than 200,000 applicants — nearly two in every three restaurants that applied — in the lurch.
Now, food service workers say, it’s splitting the industry in two: the haves, and the have-nots.
“Imagine you live on a street and all the houses burn down, and the government says, ‘You’re going to be okay and we’re going to help you rebuild,’ ” said chef Steve “Nookie” Postal of Commonwealth in Cambridge, which didn’t receive any funds. “And then the government turns around and says, ‘We’re just going to give it to 30 percent of the houses on your block.’ They can rebuild their house. You’re [out of luck].”
"ANXIETY IS HIGH among tenants, landlords, and housing advocates as the midnight Saturday expiration date for the federal eviction moratorium looms, but what the end of the tenant protection will actually mean is uncertain.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed a nationwide moratorium on evictions 11 months ago. The state had earlier put in place its own stricter ban. The state measure, which precluded landlords from filing nearly all eviction actions, expired in October, but the federal ban remained in place until now."