Lifelong Learning Summer Programs - Registration Opens Feb 2 at 11 AM

Lifelong Learning Summer Programs -
Registration Opens Feb 2 at 11 AM

"Mark your calendar! Lifelong Learning Summer Programs will be open for registration Monday February 2nd at 11 AM.

Go to bit.ly/3OhFVUS for more information."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DUEhV5zE_eH/

Welcome back Franklin! This list can catch you up on what you might have missed this summer of 2025 !!!

Welcome back to Franklin, MA. You may have been away for some, or all of the summer, or newly arrived. This recaps what you might have missed during the summer and what might be on the agenda for the remainder of the year.

Week of July 14

The only meeting broadcast or recorded by Franklin TV was the Conservation Commission - July 10, 2025

Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuhuJNjwcrk  

The Memorial Day breakfast was published to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04CztHlxZKE 

The Memorial Day parade and ceremonies was published to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79er1B_Cpd0 

And from the archives of Franklin TV, the video of Poetry Day at the Senior Center held Oct 25, 2017 was published to YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4LPTfBJ_vk 

Week of July 21

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in the 3rd Floor Training room. 3 members were present and participated in the first agenda item. Once that was complete, the 4th member, Cobi Frongillo joined them for the remainder of the session. He had recused himself from the Crossing Neighborhood District discussion to avoid a conflict of interest. His father's business is located in that potential district. Franklin TV video replay is available -> https://www.youtube.com/live/6hKdQIw9rpQ 

Franklin Matters recap -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/economic-development-subcmte-spends-3.html  

Two musical performances were recorded at the Franklin TV Studio and now available for replay via YouTube:

• Chad Hollister & Premo which includes a conversation with Jim Derick, Chad & Premo between songs => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXY5gQTcnpw 

• Electric Youth 2025 which includes a conversation with Raye Lynn Mercer and the group ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH0YtOwSaok 

Week of July 28

The major meeting of the week was the single July meeting for the Town Council. It was a lengthy one consuming almost 5 hours. The recap, video and audio of the meeting is available.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/town-council-spends-almost-5-hours_26.html  

The Town Council Quarterbacking session for the July meeting is available 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/4-hour-plus-town-council-meeting-try.html 

There are two worthy interviews to share:

Chris Flynn talks about his Horace Mann project. He has developed a script for a 4-part video series on the life of Horace that he is ready to film and is looking for actors to fulfill the roles in Horace's life. Listen here ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/actor-chris-could-use-your-help-in-this.html 

Amy Adams talks about her "Healing with HeART" projects, the newest of them opens on the Natick Town Common. She creates a "wind phone" following the lead of a Japanese gentleman initially although there are hundreds if not thousands of "wind phones" around the world. Listen here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/amy-adams-talks-about-wind-phone.html 

Week of August  4

The Planning Board met on Monday, July 28, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/esjFezYI2ls   

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aomZAxoWXRw 

Franklin artist Amy Adams revealed her ‘wind phone’ in Natick on Sunday, the video of her remarks is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXkf_qo7Tiw&    

Week of August  11

The Police Station Building Committee met on Wednesday, August 6 at 5 PM to tour the existing station facility. Additional opportunities for the community will be announced for Sept/Oct time frames. There is also work underway to create a video walk through of the facility for those who might not be able to participate in person. A recap of the tour is found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-committee-tours.html  

The Commission on Disability met on Thursday, August 7 beginning at 4 PM. Mary O'Neill, was taken by surprise with the gathering of more than the Commission members and with the presentations of proclamations by State Rep Jeff Roy and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. Among the many things Mary is known for it is her inspiration and persistence that produced the "Kindness Matters" signs seen around town. A recap of the meeting including some photos https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/mary-oneill-and-randy-jay-surprised.html   

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, August 7. The Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4kHhc-j_KE 

Week of August  18

The Finance Committee met on Monday and voted to recommend Model B to the Town Council. We all should spend some time with this meeting for the 5 Year fiscal forecast. There is more discussion here. The Town Council  took up the budget adjustment and also decided on Model B, but spent little or no time discussing the forecast. Franklin TV is working on producing the video of this FinCom meeting.  The audio and transcript is already ready for your review  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/finance-committee-aug-11-2025.html  

video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIWsqxNQsQ 

The School Committee met on Tuesday to get an update on Summer Learning and the work preparing the schools for implementing redistricting this September. You can watch or listen to the meeting. You can also get the Chalkboard Chat condensed version of the meeting in conversation with Chair Dave Callaghan

Video link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/school-committee-catches-up-on-summer.html  

Chalkboard Chat -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/dave-condenses-school-committee-meeting.html 

The Town Council met on Wednesday with a full and varied agenda. The key decision aside from the Model B mentioned above, was the vote to not accept the private donation to fund the health and wellness nurse for the Senior Center. The good from the decision was the action to find a way to restore the position and to develop a Town policy for such circumstances in the future. The School has a policy the Town does not. 

You can watch the video of the 3 hour session -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/town-council-responds-to-budget.html  

You can get the condensed version in conversation with Chair Tom Mercer https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/town-council-chair-tom-mercer-condenses.html  

Other shareworthy news of note:

The Franklin Food Pantry received a new refrigerated truck via donation from BJs and donated their existing truck to the Natick Service Council. A real helpful collaborative effort of neighbors helping neighbors  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/one-truck-arrives-one-truck-leaves.html 

Week of August  25

The only meeting broadcast by Franklin TV in the short week of meetings was the Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpuG9wRB0mg  

While there was only one meeting broadcast, a couple of videos ended up getting finished for publication recently.

• More Perfect Union: Teachers Unions (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqlylccC5cc  

• Veterans' Call: Tom Marcone (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mnumAQnzvI  

• Frank Presents: Cliff Winters (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNnK8vGKu4 

The individual video links can be found on Franklin Matters Weekly or use the Bit.ly link to go directly to the Franklin TV All Access page -> bit.ly / FTV - AllAccess -> https://bit.ly/FTV-AllAccess 

Quick highlights as we look ahead

3 tours of the current Police Station 911 Panther Way are scheduled for residents to view the existing conditions

The Biennial Election is scheduled for Nov 3, 2025. The "Election collection" will gather all the info on the issues and candidates as time marches to election day

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html 

Key Cultural events

• Farmers Market continues on the Town Common Fridays through October
• Franklin Downtown Partnership Harvest Festival - Saturday, Sep 27
• Turkey Trot - Thursday, Nov 27
• Wreath of Franklin - Saturday, Dec 13

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx     

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar    

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html     

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html  

Welcome back Franklin, this list can catch you up on
what you might have missed this summer of 2025 !!!

Summer is not done yet at the Library

Check out the events today and this week!!

Summer is not done yet at the Library

Check out the events today and this week!!

Check out the Library event calendar for additional details ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

Dave condenses the School Committee meeting of Aug 12 in this Chalkboard Chat (audio)

FM #1494 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1494 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion via Zoom on Thursday, August 14, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap both the School Committee meeting of August  12, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Summer Learning Review - Paula Marano & Patty Gay, updates on lifelong learning, as well as extended school - 

• link to album which captured the slides shared found https://photos.app.goo.gl/WwFUYqSSqCrzx6gH8 

• Summer Move Update - Colin Boisvert - great detail, well organized, there is a whole lot happening across the redistricting move efforts, getting rooms and building ready, signs completed (shared here earlier), transportation updates due next week via bus routes, bus stops, additional drop off, pick up info also scheduled from principals. 

• Photo album of the slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/JRbK3Ez1K9yxjCAX9  

• 2024 Annual Report Draft Review - discussed verbally, no doc shared, feedback due back to Supt Giguere soon

• Engagement, budget, candidates

The recording runs about 26 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1494-chalkboard-chat-08-14-25/

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net   

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RElB5OknJg 

Meeting agenda doc ->

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851 

Meeting packet folder contains the docs released before and after the meeting ->

https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/august-12%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/842818 

My notes in one PDF doc ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsjvTsjM0u3b3Qs_pJUcNlGr8falxQ03/view?usp=drive_link

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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!

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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"

Dave condenses the School Committee meeting of Aug 12 in this Chalkboard Chat (audio)