“Summer of the Butt” & Free Workouts - Planet Fitness Survey and Offerings

According to a new survey from Planet Fitness, New Englanders would willingly give up iced coffee for their ideal summer booty.

Planet Fitness is officially declaring 2026 the “Summer of the Butt” as new survey data reveals Americans are more focused than ever on their glute goals, self-confidence, and summer body.
 
Key New England findings:

• 66% of New Englanders would give something up for the entire summer in exchange for their ideal summer booty; 46% would even give up iced coffee for perfect glutes
• 51% of New Englanders admit they’ve noticed someone’s butt before their face
• 56% of New Englanders feel more confident when they think their butt looks good
• 49% of New Englanders report that summer makes them more aware of their butt

Planet Fitness's annual High School Summer Pass program officially kicked-off yesterday – please see the full press release HERE for additional details. 

Teens ages 14-19 can visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to register for the program, with free club access now through August 31.

Franklin Health Department Launches Women’s Health & Preventive Care Survey

Franklin Health Department Launches
Women’s Health & Preventive Care Survey

The Franklin Health Department has launched a community survey for women in Franklin to better understand access to and use of preventive women’s health services.

The survey will help identify community needs, barriers to care, and opportunities to strengthen local health resources and programs for women.

Women who live in Franklin are encouraged to participate and share their feedback. Responses will help guide future public health initiatives and improve services available within the community.

The Franklin Women’s Health & Preventive Care Survey is available online at: https://forms.gle/XdFCca2n4Uy5JCLk9

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 ???

Tuesday, May 26

• Curbside trash/recycling pickup schedule delayed one day due to holiday; what was Monday will be picked up Tuesday

12:00pm Community Closet (Franklin United Methodist Church)

6:30pm FREE 2026 Wellness Speaking Series (Franklin YMCA)

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/DocumentCenter/View/9195/May-2026-Newsletter?bidId=

***   Town Meetings today   ***

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, May 26 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05262026-2335 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05262026-2332 

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, May 26 Time: 8:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05262026-2330 

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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

Reminder: Women’s Health Expo - Wednesday, May 20

Friendly reminder! The Franklin Health Department’s Women’s Health Expo is happening this Wednesday, May 20, from 2–5 PM at New England Chapel (300 E. Central Street).

Stop by for health screenings, educational resources, local vendors, wellness information, and more — all focused on supporting women’s health and well-being. 

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute mobile mammography van will also be on-site from 7:00 AM–3:15 PM. 

We encourage residents to attend, explore available resources, and take time to prioritize their health and wellness!

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, March 12, 2026 ???

Thursday, March 12

• FHS Class of 2026 - fundraiser at (Santa Fe Burrito Grill)   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/fhs-class-of-2026-fundraiser-santa-fe.html
• Franklin Youth Hockey fundraiser at (Papa Gino's)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/franklin-youth-hockey-fundraising-via.html

5:00pm Franklin Downtown Partnership Networking Event (Sachs Jewelry)

6:00pm Marc Cohen: "A Dance with the Cosmos" book signing (Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen)

6:15pm FREE 2026 Wellness Speaking Series (Hockomock Area YMCA, Foxboro)

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

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

***  Town Meetings today   ***

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, March 12 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03122026-2188

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, March 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/571?fileID=8589

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03122026-2170

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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

Wellness Speaker Series at Hockomock Y - Foxboro - March 12

Wellness Speaker Series at
Hockomock Y - Foxboro - March 12

"Join us for our first FREE 2026 Wellness Speaking Series on March 12 from 6:15–7:00 PM at the Foxboro YMCA in the Community Room!

Register at the Member Service Desk to save your spot. Non-members are welcome — bring a friend! 

Register - https://bit.ly/3MzexEe"

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVnowQnlgF8/

Have you tried the Box Breathing Technique ?? great advice via SAFE Coalition !!!

Each week, a SAFE Licensed Clinical Social Worker answers questions about mental health, substance use recovery, wellness, and more.

Check out this week’s Q&A!

Q: What are some strategies for managing stress at work or school?

A: Some strategies can help calm our bodies (box breathing) while other strategies are more helpful for calming our minds (writing down to-do lists).

Box breathing can help you refocus. For 5 seconds each: inhale, hold, and then exhale. Repeat.

When feeling overwhelmed by your workload, try physically writing down a to-do list. This tool will help you see what needs prioritized, and then you can break those tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.

Be sure to cross them off your list after you tackle them!

Have you tried the Box Breathing Technique ??   great advice via SAFE Coalition  !!!

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Submit questions and view past answers at: https://www.safecoalitionma.org/ask-safe

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVg8kxnFLvF/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio introduced a brand new schedule early in 2025 for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves. 

It is available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following:

 

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM   Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock 

Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 2 PM)  

• This segment shares my conversation with Taryn Barlow and her work for The Well Brain ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/taryn-barlow-cognitive-health-coach.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone  All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points.    (repeats Saturday at 1 PM)  

• This segment features Kim & Mark celebrating their 300th Episode With Len Presutti -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode.html

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

Taryn Barlow, Cognitive Health Coach™, talks about her road to The Well Brain (audio)

FM #1526 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1526 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Taryn Barlow, Cognitive Health Coach™ working at The Well Brain. We had our conversation virtually via the Zoom platform on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. 

Discussion items: 

• 

  Taryn Barlow, Cognitive Health Coach™

  Taryn’s background and road to the “well brain”

• Development of the “Cognitive Health Coach™”

• Process of delivering via H.O.P.E.

The conversation runs about 40 minutes. Let’s listen in 

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1526-taryn-barlow-the-well-brain-09-24-25/

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

Taryn Barlow -> Cognitive Health Coach™ | The Wellbrain

Phone -> 774-498-9234

emailAddress -> thewellbrainslp@gmail.com 

Website ->  https://thewellbrainslp.com/

LinkedIn profile -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-barlow-994917208/ 

Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/taryn_thewellbrain/ 

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

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. 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"

Future topic, with expansion on use of the puzzle pieces, getting Ian Kabat together, he designed the logo with that puzzle in mind, introduced it in 2014 so it has been some years and has aged well

Senate President Spilka's 55+ Health & Wellness Fair spots are filling up!

Register today!

Senate President Spilka's 55+ Health & Wellness Fair spots are filling up!   Dear friends —   If you have yet to register for this year's 55+ Health and Wellness Fair, there's still time!  This year's event will be on October 18, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham.  Please RSVP to join us on October 18. If you've already registered, we look forward to seeing you there! Visit karenspilka.com/fair2025 to learn more about the exciting day we have planned, and I can't wait to see you there.  Sincerely,   Karen E. Spilka  Senate President    karenspilka.com

Senate President Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House Room 332 | Boston, MA 02133 US