Franklin TV: Shovels

Sooo much snow. We need ‘em. We hate ‘em.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 03/01/2026

The Shovel. A most basic tool. When you need one it’s usually in the moment when your day has taken a turn for the worst. Something heavy or disgusting needs to be scooped up and moved with a shovel. Shovels come in all shapes and sizes. There’s even a special shovel for picking up after the dog – but I digress.

My first experience with a shovel was disarmingly fun. I was a tiny tyke at the beach. Among my plastic beach toys, a pail and a small shovel – for playing in the sand. I believe it’s a deceptive ploy by a shady shovel manufacturers association – a cabal – dedicated to maximizing shovel usage and sales. Start ‘em young – so the kiddies accept shovel usage as – normal. It’s that classic approach by the tobacco industry decades ago. Doctors warned us about smoking. Now they warn us about shoveling. Shoveling is bad.

No matter where you live in the U.S. there is a need to shovel – something. In the North, you’re shoveling snow after every storm. In the South? You’re shoveling sand into bags before every storm. There’s no escape. Shovels are evil.

So – I plan to strike back.

My plan? Promote a green initiative that greatly reduces the number of shovels that the shady shovel manufacturers can sell. We hit ‘em in the pocketbook.

In the North, we need shovels in Winter to move snow. In the South, we need shovels in Summer to move sand.

I say we develop a shovel allocation/relocation system that strategically redeploys shovels where needed during every Spring and Fall. As birds fly South, we ship shovels North, and in Spring we ship shovels South. Shovel shipping is my bold retaliatory strike against evil shovel oligarchs – even if I’m digging my own grave.

Last shovel made by Ames family member
(David Ames) 1935 (Photo via Easton Historical Society) *1

I think up cool stuff like this all the time. Don’t know why more folks aren’t on

board. I guess that’s why they say genius is never recognized in it’s own time.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thanks for listening to wfpr●fm, 

and staying informed at Franklin●news. 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

*1 - for additional info on the Ames family of shovel makers -

https://www.amesfreelibrary.org/ames-shovel-company-chronology

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Boston Globe: "Somerville’s secret weapon against snow"

"After 23.2 inches of snow, what’s a senior or person with heart problems supposed to do?

Somerville has figured out an answer, with a city program that matches homeowners in need with kids looking to make a few bucks by shoveling sidewalks, steps, and driveways. 

Boston Globe: "Somerville’s secret weapon against snow"

The city lets seniors and people with disabilities request help, and pairs them with a snow-shoveler between the ages of 14 and 19. The homeowner pays the shoveler in cash, at rates the city sets in advance.

For instance, clearing a sidewalk and steps is $25. Compare that to TaskRabbit, a site many people use to hire people for short one-off jobs, which says the cost of an average snow removal task arranged through the site is $118."

Continue reading the article at the Boston Globe ->

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/01/opinion/somerville-snow-shovel-teens/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Volunteer Snow Shoveler's Needed

Neighborhood volunteers are needed to help residents aged 60 and older with snow removal. Volunteers would create a path which allows the resident, emergency response personnel, Meals on Wheels delivery people, mail carriers and other visitors to get in and out of the house safely. 

The volunteer will shovel for that same resident after each snowstorm. Teenagers welcome over the age of 12 with parental waiver completed.

Volunteers needed in the following towns:

Bellingham, Blackstone, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, E. Brookfield, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millville, Northbridge, N. Brookfield, Oxford, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster & W. Brookfield

Sign up at www.trivalleyvolunteers.org or call Joanna Braley at 508-949-6640 x-3031

Download a copy of the flyer:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZNjdl7bOGOUeuvZPNv7Wtb0oprjCZKwE/view?usp=sharing

Volunteer Snow Shoveler's Needed

SeeClickFix: Franklin update - assistance for elderly was just added

A ticket was just opened via the online app requesting assistance with shoveling at Eaton Place. 

Where is Eaton Place? 
Off Panther Way between the Pirelli Ice Arena and Franklin High School.

Any teenagers or other able bodied folks with shovels would be welcomed to dig out the cars around the elderly residence.

Franklin An issue was reported in this watch area. assistance for elderly 20 Veterans Memorial Drive franklin, MA housing complex for elderly in need of cars shoveled #snowcrew more... Add a Comment Follow this Issue Vote to Fix Copyright © SeeClickFix, Inc. All rights reserved. 746 Chapel St, 3rd Floor, New Haven CT, 06510

Narrow sidewalks downtown

Narrow sidewalks downtown

Snow Bound Walkway -

Dolores and I took our usual Sunday walk around town. Our route took us up to the Dunkin Donuts in the plaza off King St/Upper Union. We usually use the sidewalk entrance to cross the drive-thru line and enter Dunkin. This was not to be today. The walkway which also serves as a handicap access is still snow bound.


We walked into the driveway that serves Joe's American Grill as well as access to the Dunkin Donuts. There we found a beaten path, tricky to walk but a short cut to Dunkin.

Updated: The location is formally called "Silver Maple Commons".