Storm alert and safety prep via Franklin Police Dept.

via Franklin Police Dept

"We’re fine. Everything is fine. Things are going great… 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT – WINTER STORM WARNING 

A significant winter storm is expected to impact our area beginning Sunday night and continuing into Monday. Conditions may deteriorate quickly, and residents are urged to prepare now.

Storm alert and safety prep via Franklin Police Dept.

What to Expect:

• Heavy snow developing Sunday night

• Strong, gusty winds

• Possible blizzard conditions

• Periods of whiteout visibility

• Dangerous to near-impossible travel

• Potential power outages due to heavy, wet snow and strong winds

Storm Timeline:

• Sunday (Daytime): Mostly cloudy; storm developing late
• Sunday Evening/Night: Snow becomes heavy; winds increasing
• Monday: Snow continues with strong winds; blizzard conditions possible before gradually tapering

What You Can Do Now:

 • Charge all electronic devices

 • Prepare for possible power outages

 • Avoid unnecessary travel Sunday night into Monday

 • Check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable residents

 • Remove vehicles from roadways to allow plows to operate safely

Parking ban information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

Please plan ahead, stay informed, and prioritize safety."

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1KXeHvNBHT/

Franklin Police Update on motor vehicle stop on Monday, Feb 9

1.     On Monday, February 9, 2026, at approximately 11:43 AM, Franklin Police Officers responded to a business on East Central Street for a report of an erratic motor vehicle operator. It was reported that the operator of a sedan entered a business on East Central Street, caused a disturbance, and then left in the vehicle. As he left the business, he struck several vehicles in the parking lot. Shortly after being dispatched, a Franklin Police Officer located the sedan on East Central Street and conducted a motor vehicle stop. The vehicle and operator were known to the Franklin Police Department. The driver was identified as a 59-year-old Franklin resident.

Franklin Police Update on motor vehicle stop on Monday, Feb 9

2.     After initially stopping, the operator placed the vehicle in drive and led Officers on a short, low-speed pursuit down King Street. The operator continued toward the Interstate 495 ramps, where he briefly stopped again. Officers attempted to issue verbal commands for the operator to exit the vehicle; however, the operator accelerated at a high rate of speed and entered Interstate 495 South. Due to the excessive speeds and unsafe driving conditions, Officers terminated the pursuit and notified the Massachusetts State Police.

3.     Approximately 20 minutes later, the Metacomet Emergency Communications Center (MECC) notified Officers that the sedan was involved in a serious motor vehicle crash with a pickup truck in Mansfield. The crash resulted in the pickup truck operator being ejected from their vehicle. The pickup truck operator was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. The operator of the sedan was also transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Additional information regarding the crash can be found on the Mansfield Police Department’s Facebook page. Criminal charges related to the crash are expected to be filed by the Mansfield Police Department upon completion of their investigation.

4.     At this time, the Franklin Police Department intends to seek criminal complaints through the Wrentham District Court against the operator of the sedan for the following charges:

• · Leaving the Scene of an Accident
• · Failure to Stop for Police
• · Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• · Speeding
• · Marked Lanes Violation
• · Red Light Violation
• · Disorderly Conduct

Shared from -  https://www.facebook.com/share/1WSJ97YTPm/

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, January 15, 2026 ???

Thursday, January 15

• Senior Center closed all day

8:30am State & Town Officials Office Hour - CANCELED (Senior Center Closed today)

10:00am Traffic Advisory (St. Mary's Parish & Town Common area)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (First Universalist Society Franklin)

7:00pm BEN 4 Franklin Mtg (Franklin TV and Radio)

Senior Center closed all day

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, January 15 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01152026-2088 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, January 15th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/545?fileID=7509 

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 ???

Wednesday, January 14

Early dismissal for Schools (not the normal early dismissal schedule)

Senior Center closes at noon

11:00 AM to 7 PM Traffic Advisory (St. Mary's Parish & Town Common area)

1:00pm Writer's Group (Franklin TV and Radio)

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 14 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01142026-2089 

-----------

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Traffic alert for St Mary's/Town Common area on Wednesday & Thursday

Be aware:

"Uxbridge Police Officer Stephen A. LaPorta will be laid to rest Thursday after he was killed when he was struck by a tractor-trailer while assisting a driver at the site of a crash last week, officials said.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at St. Mary Parish in Franklin followed by a private burial, State Police said in a statement. A wake is scheduled for Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. also at St. Mary Parish, according to State Police."

What does this means for Franklin?

• 

  Traffic alert for St Mary's/Town Common
  area on Wednesday & Thursday

  Franklin Public Schools have early dismissal on Wednesday

• Franklin Senior Center closes at noon on Wednesday, AND all day Thursday.

• Traffic will be stopped from using the Town Common area in front of St Mary's Church

Continue the Globe article -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/11/metro/uxbridge-police-officer-funeral/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan condense the Sep 30 meeting in this Chalkboard Chat (audio)

FM #1530 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1530 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 Friday, October 3, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of September 30, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Supt Report: continue to make adjustments to the traffic, 

• Transportation website has an update for the school arrivals/Dismissals  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6062062/Start_of_School_Traffic_Information.pdf

• New page FEF legacy program, online form to accept donations ... 

• Additional info being added as the program gets fleshed out   https://www.franklinps.net/page/the-fef-legacy-program 

• Student Clubs & Activities Approval 

• Procedural vote on account cleanup for inactive clubs, more next time for an update on current or new clubs. Amt of about $250 or so... https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6059572/Discussion_Action_A_-_Student_Clubs-Activities.pdf   Will be transferred to use of other clubs.  Vote on motion, passes 7-0

• Adjourning to executive session not to return to open meeting, Moved, passes 7-0

The recording runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1530-chalkboard-chat-10-03-25/

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

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

Chalkboard Chat (audio)

Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39AoKQewDIA  

The Agenda doc -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6059542/SCAGENDA_9-30-25.pdf  

The packet folder also contains other docs released before or after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/september-30%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/855018  

My notes captured during the meeting -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NAnlr9uiozVLd9MK1ROfdltU9uOqsUwe/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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!

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

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

New traffic pattern at FHS begins with school in September 2025

via Franklin Police Dept:

"Hey you. Do you attend, work, or drive through the Franklin High School? If you answered yes, read this.

There is a new traffic pattern at the Franklin High School for the upcoming school year. There will no longer be a direct exit to Panther Way coming from the teacher parking lot, you’ll have to exit through Oak Street and then back to Panther Way.

There will be a new one-way loop starting from the far entrance on Oak Street and continung back towards Oak Street. This new traffic pattern will eliminate the congestion and any wrong-way driving during school pickup.

New signs and directions will be in place for the first week of school. If you have any questions, please refer to the picture below!

New traffic pattern at FHS begins with school in September 2025

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1T1MmqDDnw/

Traffic signal work scheduled for Friday, August 15 at the triangle downtown

Traffic signal work scheduled for Friday, August 15 at the triangle downtown

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1UziBTKjnT/

This Chalkboard Chat condenses the May 13 School Cmte Mtg (audio)

FM #1454 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1454 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 virtually on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the School Committee meeting of May 13, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Theatre group recognition

• Traffic study and mitigations 

• Horace Mann campus naming discussion

• Superintendent evaluation

• Override discussion, vote on or before June 3; any questions, please reach out to find out

The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1454-chalkboard-chat-05-21-25/

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

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

Franklin TV video for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/TPngAPt1WHs?&t=110  

The meeting agenda can be found ->   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05132025-1735 

Documents released for this agenda after the meeting can be found -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/may-13%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/799886  

Traffic presentation -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5645253/Traffic.pptx.pdf 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffAYwvHayzSws0D2bV8xmM0Fsn6c71za/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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!

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

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

This Chalkboard Chat condenses the May 13 School Cmte Mtg (audio)