Benjamin Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west Symphony Orchestra (video)

Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west Symphony Orchestra, Saturday, January 17 @ 11am

Benjamin Franklin as Composer w/ Metro-west
Symphony Orchestra (video)

Benjamin Franklin: statesman, entrepreneur, scientist… composer?! Yes, our beloved Ben even dabbled in composing his own music. 

Join us to explore this aspect of our namesake with the help of the Metro-West Symphony Orchestra. 

Members of the Metro-west Symphony will also perform works written around the same time which influenced Franklin as a composer and musician, including a Mozart Flute Quartet and French Horn Quintet. 

Video link -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLG7Pb6CQaw

Joe Landry on "The YMCA in Franklin: The Early Years" (video)

Recorded Saturday, November 15 – The SATURDAY ‘Second Sunday Speaker Series’-- The Early Days of the Franklin Y

Yes, due to scheduling issues, November’s “Second Sunday event” will be on the ‘third Saturday.’ Everyone in Franklin and vicinity knows the familiar, glistening, and modern YMCA atop Forge Hill. But long-before the 1988 Y came into existence, the Y was a vital part of the Franklin Community that actually got its start in 1901. By 1909, the Franklin  Y was in the midst of a capital campaign and only two years later, in 1911, actually opened its own new building on Emmons St.  

YMCA and tennis court postcard

Franklin native and acclaimed presenter, Joe Landry, will be delivering a talk and slide show called "The YMCA in Franklin: The Early Years."  Joe will delve into the building (which was easy to get lost in!), the lore, the personalities and the times in which this older style Y -- aimed especially at the needs of young men -- was a vital community resource. 

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCkA3_b29To

Quattro Eroi Lodge cooking shows feature Italian recipes (video)

via Quattro Eroi Lodge 1414 Sons of Italy, Franklin MA

"A couple of years ago, the Lodge produced two cooking shows. I thought it might be interesting to post those shows here again for anyone who might have missed them. 

Here are the original posts from 2023 including the links to YouTube:

I am very happy to present the first of our 2 most recent cooking shows! This one features Lisa Oxford preparing a vegetable stew. It is both a healthy and delicious dish and relatively easy to make. 

You can watch the show on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj0UzRAnakw

I hope you enjoyed Lisa's presentation and I hope you tried the recipe. It's delicious! You might want to follow the Ciambotta with a great dessert! Our next presentation features Dora Brett making Italian Ricotta Cookies. 

They are so moist and delicious! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg1J1r2xtHQ"

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16yw8pmEV4/

Talkin’ TC Podcast on expansion of lifelong learning (video)

Talkin’ TC Podcast 

Join us for a new episode of the Talkin’ TC Podcast as we sit down with Bob Foley, Director of Post‑Secondary, Adult, and Continuing Education. We dive into the opportunities available to students and community members, the future of career pathways, and how Tri‑County is expanding access to lifelong learning.

Tune in to hear how post‑secondary and adult education programs are shaping the next generation of skilled professionals. 

Watch here:  https://youtu.be/VytLxZxgc04

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18NLUUZEBn/

School Committee gets update on Lifelong Learning (video)

The Franklin (MA) School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 PM. This was a change from prior meetings (starting at 6 PM) to enable their budget subcommittee to meet at 6 PM before the full session at 7. 

All 7 members of the Committee were present in Chambers

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/uQe3rLUq6e8?&t=87

The agenda for this session - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2201

My full set of notes taken during the meeting in one PDF -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZuJSdiqLK1QBa9NdcjVsk5KVX7AH2MX3/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• Students scheduled for the pledge got to the meeting for the incorrect 6 PM start and will be rescheduled to another meeting
• Superintendent's report
• substitute nurses being looked for
• Winter sports round up
• earmark funded for middle school library (still needs to make through the budget cycle)
• Innovation labs grant also awarded
• FHS family science night April 9 from 5 to 8 pm
• Lifelong learning update
• For Solutions, the students to teacher ratios; K - 1 to 10, others grades are 1 to 12, 1 to 13
• Footlighters program hiring for, trying to fulfill that position, complications in the hiring process had hindered the hiring to date. Still being worked
• Over 900 adults taking part, a wide variety of offerings from sports to arts, etc.
• Funding question, Lifelong learning is effectively another revolving fund, fee based and those fees can only be used within the program
• Discussion/Action Items
• A.   Student Opportunities Act Plan Vote
• B. Endorsement of Request for Statement of Interest for Development of Strategic Plan
• both passed by 7-0 votes
• Subcommittee updates
• Citizen comment - I stepped up to say thanks for the participation at the Q&A and to provide 2 future dates for their calendars
• April 18, Favorite Poem Reading at the Library 
• On May 2, the 3rd annual Jane Jacobs walk, meet at the TV studio walk about 1 mile or so, return to the studio. Discussions of housing, zoning, which are all budget related. It is a generally good discussion with insights shared

Photo album of the slides presented for Lifelong Learning

https://photos.app.goo.gl/adaJ3sZeYK5ih5t28

There is no fooling around with what's happening at the Library in April 2026 (video & audio)

FM #1697 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1697 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion virtually on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

 

We talk about 

• Reviewed the regular open hours, book sale and holiday scheduling for the month

• Closed on Sundays due to budget reduction

• Closed all day on Monday, April 20 for Patriot’s Day

• Library events for April 2026

• In calendar order rather than by category this time around

Registration for those events required should be done through the Town website, Library page. There are nefarious folks trying to convince folks otherwise via Facebook. Be safe, use the official Town and Library pages.

The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended.

The recording runs about 19 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uk0vR3tdKg

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1697-franklin-public-library-apr-2026-event-highlights-03-17-26/

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Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net 

Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/233/Franklin-Public-Library 

Library event calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events 

April 2026 newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/109 

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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"

School Committee gets insights the recipes and kitchens on food service (audio in 2 parts)

FM #1694-95 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1694-95 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM. All 7 members of the committee were present in the virtual session conducted via Zoom. 

Superintendent Lucas Giguere, Asst Supt Tina Rogers, Asst Supt Paula Marano, School Business Administrator Jana Melotti participated. Colin Boisvert and Aaron Lenart, RD presented on the Food Services operations. 

The audio is shared in 2 parts

• Part 1 1694 - the beginning and end of meeting (48 minutes)

• Part 2 1695 - just the Food Services update and discussion (1 hour 20 minutes)

Quick recap:

• Recognition for Chloe Bowser, FHS sophomore, selected as one of 12 essays for the commissioning for the USS Massachusetts March 28, plaque on the sub, for Chloe and Franklin

• Presentation on Food Services, self sufficient with fee based services, able to utilize almost $1M over 3 years for capital upgrades of ovens, refrigerators, etc. to support the food preparation and delivery operations

• Grants also used to cover specific food program and in one case the start up costs for the new District Chef

• pictures of the presentation slides in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/KKTXdScdVsxVK6mg7

• Consent agenda approved

• March 18 Town Council meeting includes a presentation from DESE on Chapter 70 funding, School Committee also scheduled for a public meeting to enable participation that night

Part 1 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1694-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-03-10-26-p1-of-2/

Part 2 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1695-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-03-10-26-p2-of-2/

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Mentioned during the presentation was a fish display at
Parmenter School last year (May 2025) (which I was able to attend)

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/CBHC618gXFE?&t=230 

The agenda can be found - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102026-2175  

My notes via Bluesky thread in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xZdhJ_TR0vgcoX-NAP_06FKpj1LndhMW/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 recaps the School Committee meeting of March 10, 2026 (video & audio)

FM #1690 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1690 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chair Paul Griffith.  We had our discussion via Zoom on Thursday, March 12, 2026. We condense and get into the explanations behind the key items from the recent School Committee meeting March 10, 2026.

Our conversation covered the following topics:

• Recognition of Chloe Bowser, essay contest winner (1 of 12) for the USS Massachusetts commissioning ceremony March 28, 2026

• Food Services presentation 

• Joint Budget subcommittee April 16

• Combined Town Council & School Committee meeting March 18

• A presentation/discussion by Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) on Chapter 70 and hold harmless

Our conversation runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n5r5NlMmfI

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1690-chalkboard-chat-03-12-26/

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School Committee page (with contact info) - https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-committee 

School Committee subcommittee assignments - 

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/CBHC618gXFE?&t=230 

The agenda can be found - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102026-2175  

My notes via Bluesky thread in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xZdhJ_TR0vgcoX-NAP_06FKpj1LndhMW/view?usp=drive_link 

The March 10, 2026 meeting recap and video can be found  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/school-committee-gets-insights-recipes.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

• 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"