Talking with JM Celi about the next stage in the "Unlife of Lisa Cooper" (audio & video)

FM #1607 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1607 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with local author J.M. Celi. We had our conversation via Zoom to record the video & audio on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. 

Our conversation lets you find out more about Jamie and his third independently published work “The Unlife of Lisa Cooper: Vengeance." 

This is the second in the planned series of the vampire, Siobhan McSweeny or Lisa Cooper.  

We talk about Jamie’s writing process, the road through multiple reviews and edits to publication. He has some other works out for possible publication. He is working on the outline for the 3rd in the Lisa series. There may be other works covering specific decade time periods in Boston. 

The recording runs about 39 minutes so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQAW9ZvaJhc

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1607-author-jm-celi-12-09-25/

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

J.M. Celi’s author web site -> https://www.jmceli.com/

“The Unlife of Lisa Cooper: Conviction", “The Vampires of 1863” and “The Unlife of Lisa Cooper: Vengeance"  can be found in most bookstores. 

Prior audio recordings

• Vampires of 1863 - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/talking-boston-vampires-and-writing.html

• Unlife of Lisa Cooper -  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/author-jm-celi-wrote-book-he-couldnt.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"

Finance Committee gets the answer on how much it would take to fully fund Technology (add $1.5M/year) (video)

The Finance Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025. All 9 members participated; 8 in Council Chambers, 1 remotely.

Technology Director Tim Rapoza was the key presenter and outlined the technology requirements for licenses, hardware, and software which enable the Town and Schools to deliver the services they do.

Franklin TV video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeAQEXjI0D8

Agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12102025-2039 

The presentation doc will be shared when available. In the meantime, pictures of the slides presented are captured in one album ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/ThWM9bemHaA48xk69

My notes can be found in one PDF ->    https://drive.google.com/file/d/10VfXGVVfuS1pge0RwuA3VxKgYAoZKuCx/view?usp=drive_link

the common practice for handling most technology requests

Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel (video)

Aging Boldfully is a new show on Franklin TV's All Access channel hosted by Susan Rohrbach. Jenn Goebel was Susan's guest for this new show.

The show description: 

"Aging Boldfully is about living your next chapter outside of your comfort zone—fully embracing the uniqueness of you.

For many of us, the idea of aging doesn’t appear on our radar until we approach our 60s, when retirement begins to loom. During this time, our attention often narrows to one critical goal: ensuring financial independence. While that focus is important, it can distract us from an equally vital question: What am I going to do with the rest of my life? 

Each of our journeys is unique. Rather than clinging to the tired concept of “retirement,” we have the chance to rethink and redesign this new chapter. What will life look like now that we are the CEO of our own story? 

Aging Boldfully will explore the themes that matter most as we step into this phase—purpose, relevance, resilience, physical health, mental well-being, intentional living, and mindfulness. It will showcase members of our community who are finding meaning, living with purpose, and overcoming obstacles—real examples of what it means to age not just gracefully, but boldfully."

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

Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel (video)

School Committee recognizes the Championship volleyball team, approves the capital budget, hears about Student Services (video)

The Franklin, MA School Committee met as scheduled for their own session in December on Tuesday, Dec 9 at 6:00 PM. All 7 members were present in Council Chambers.

Franklin TV Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/tUGB-NrTDqg?si=hP1E7xxxxg-vJwVa&t=13 

Agenda for this session ->     https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12092025-2043 

My notes captured during the session -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XXqbmtnXdasgYqiM9utZ2WPhLMQ1S3Gq/view?usp=drive_link 

Superintendent’s Report -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6159058/December_9__2025_Superintendent_s_Report_to_School_Committee.pdf 

School District Capital Request ->

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6159047/Franklin_Public_Schools_FY26_Capital_Request.pdf

Special Education Presentation to SchCmte ->  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6159049/Special_Education_School_Committee_Presentation_December_9__2025.pdf

Franklin (MA) Enrollment snapshot (as of October 1, 2025)

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/6155704/Franklin_Enrollment_Snapshot%282%29.pdf

Full School Committee & Supt Giguere with the FHS volleyball team

The State D1 Champion FHS volleyball team showcases their jackets

Video for the Town Council meeting of Dec 3, 2025 now available (video)

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zByUmQbYP08

Note: There remains 7 minutes 40 seconds of blank screen with audio before the video kicks in.

My notes, recap and audio of the session Dec 3 can be found 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/town-council-approves-single-rate-but.html

USA Facts video series - well worth binging !! (video)

The 6 part series by Steve Ballmer and USAFacts is worth binging. Each episode is between 6 and 10 minutes.

• What is Poverty? Ep 1 of Just the Facts: Do you Qualify? -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsUeoe2GJdk
• What is Medicaid and How Many Americans Use It? Ep 2 of Just the Facts: Do you Qualify? -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd93Z-resrE
• What is Subsidized Housing? | Episode 3 of Just the Facts: Do you Qualify? ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfhwCPLCkpw
• How Do SNAP Benefits Impact Food Insecurity? | Episode 4 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify? -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snHiT4f_wa4
• How Does the Government Help Low-Income Students? | Episode 5 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?  -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti6Motk5Dhc
• What Cash Assistance does the Government provide? | Episode 6 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify? -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYmUfktljQE

USA Facts video series - well worth binging !!

It is recommended to start with episode 1

You can also go directly to the USAFacts page and try their interactive version which is still in beta test.  https://usafacts.org/just-the-facts/

Why share these? The terminology and principles also apply here in Franklin.

Affordable being a key term. In the discussions I have at the Senior Center (and elsewhere), I always qualify "affordable" as Capital A - that defined by the Federal and State process, or little "a" - the affordable that can be covered by what is in our wallet or income reach.

LiveARTS String Quartet concert at Franklin Historical Museum (video)

This video shares the Free Concert performance of the LiveARTS String Quartet at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, November 16, 2025. 

There is an intermission and at the end of the performance, the quartet does come back for a brief encore.

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6vwYXZj_5s

LiveARTS String Quartet concert at Franklin Historical Museum (video)

Freshly made pizza for the kiddos !!!

Freshly made pizza for the kiddos !!!

via Franklin Public Schools

"Click the link to check this video to see how we make our freshly made pizzas

https://youtube.com/shorts/zudZkXVzfs8?feature=share

We recently purchased a new conveyor oven at the Franklin Middle School to match the one we have at the HS.

We use this oven to make our freshly made pizzas daily."

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/share/14R4YYQ2tLh/

Erin shares a middle school reading update (video & audio)

FM #1598 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1598 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Erin O’Leary, FMS Reading Specialist. We recorded this conversation virtually on Friday, November 14, 2025. 

We cover the following in our conversation

• Success of the middle school program “Meet Me in the Middle.” 

• Virtual visiting author series though The Unlikely Story bookstore

• Culling the middle school library collection, Amazon wish list TBD

• “Content in context”

The recording runs about 30 minutes

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1598-fps-middle-school-reading-update-11-14-25/

Video link -> https://youtu.be/bNKJKKVqkvU?

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

Erin O’Leary email address -> olearye@franklinps.net 

Meet Me in the Middle info page ->  https://www.franklinps.net/o/hmms/article/2230185 

Instagram posts referenced:

• Library ready to open -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DRLNrqSCXoy/

• Book trailers -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DQKcERxEnXi/ 

Middle School reading wish list -> https://bookshop.org/wishlists/79f98bd86f715dae8789b3296edd63ebd92ef1ea

Tom Asacker -> https://tomasacker.com/   his book “Sandbox Wisdom” is the source of the “content in context” story that you heard

https://www.amazon.com/Sandbox-Wisdom-Tom-Asacker/dp/1497554977//humanfactormarke 

Erin shares a middle school reading update (video & audio)

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

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"

Mitzi & I talk about the Library December 2025 event highlights (video or audio)

FM #1596 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1596 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, November 26, 2025.

 

We talk about 

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

• Closed on Sundays due to budget reduction

• Closing early Weds, Dec 24 and all day on Thursday, Dec 25 for Christmas

• Closing early Weds, Dec 31 and all day on Thursday, Jan 1 for New Years

• Book sale weekend December 12 & 13

• Library events for December 2025

• 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 14 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Video link -> https://youtu.be/Yaoze4TZtVE

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1596-franklin-public-library-december-2025-highlights-11-26-25/

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

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 

December newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7735  

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

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"