Franklin Matters

Saturday, July 12, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, July 12, 2025 ???

Saturday, July 12

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:00am Women's Faith Formation (St. Mary's Parish)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free) (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am Walking Group (St John's Episcopal Church)

10:30am Weekend Wiggles! (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Dog Man Party! (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm Karaoke Night (La Cantina Winery)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

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

** NO Town Meetings today **

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

What's happening today in Franklin?

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

Amber Baur Named Chair of Franklin Food Pantry Board of Directors

The Franklin Food Pantry is proud to welcome Amber Baur as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. As a dedicated volunteer and long-time supporter, Amber brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to The Pantry’s mission of combating food insecurity in the community.

Amber's leadership has been instrumental in many of The Pantry's initiatives. She played a pivotal role in ensuring The Pantry's Service Enterprise Certification, a prestigious accreditation awarded by the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement and Points of Light recognizing a nonprofit’s commitment to effectively delivering on their missions by strategically engaging volunteer time and talent.

Amber Baur

More recently, she contributed to the nonprofit’s 2024 Strategic Plan, a comprehensive effort to identify community needs and develop sustainable strategies to address them. She volunteers regularly at The Pantry, greeting and assisting clients while they shop, and serves as Captain of The Pantry's Falmouth Road Race Team.

"I am incredibly passionate about the work being done at the Franklin Food Pantry," said Amber. "It is an honor and a privilege to step into this leadership role and collaborate with such a dedicated team to combat hunger and support our neighbors who are facing food insecurity.”

Originally from California, Amber holds both an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and an MBA. She and her family have been residents of Franklin since 2007, and her son attended Franklin Public Schools.

"We're incredibly fortunate to have Amber's expertise and mission-driven leadership on our Board," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry. "Her unwavering support for clients, staff, and volunteers is evident in everything she does, and we know that she’ll continue to advance our fight against food insecurity in the community."

For the past year, Amber has been preparing for her new role by serving as Co-chair of the Board of Directors alongside Rachel Flum. Rachel, who chaired the Board from May 2023 to June 2024, and then served as Co-chair from July 2024 to June 2025, recently concluded her term. Board member Judi Perez also finished her term. Both Rachel and Judi’s dedication and hard work were essential to The Pantry’s achievements over the past few years, and they will be greatly missed.

About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referrals to more than 1,800 individuals per year. The Pantry relies on donations and grants to purchase items and pay for daily operations, and partnerships with The Greater Boston Food Bank, Spoonfuls, and local grocery stores to achieve greater buying power and lower costs.

Programs include Inside Shopping, Curbside Pickup, Emergency Food Boxes, Mobile Pantries, Home Delivery, Kids’ Snack Bags, Weekend Backpacks, Holiday Meals, and the SNAP match at Franklin Farmers Market. The Pantry is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in good standing in Massachusetts, recognized by Charity Navigator as a Four-Star Charity, and awarded GuideStar’s Platinum Transparency ranking. The Pantry is located at 341 W Central St. in Franklin, MA on Route 140. Please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.

Franklin First Newsletter - Volume 7

July 11, 2025

Franklin First Newsletter - Volume 7

2025.05.02

The Town Administration Office has launched new volume of our newsletter, Franklin First!

Click to read the latest volume of Franklin First.

Click here to sign up for notifications.

View it on website

Town of Franklin to Establish a 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee

The Town of Franklin is excited to announce the establishment of a 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee. The Committee will plan, organize, and carry out events and activities pertaining to Franklin’s 250th Anniversary celebration, which will be held throughout the Town’s semiquincentennial year, culminating with a signature event marking the Town’s 250th anniversary of March 2, 2028.

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee

“The Town Council is enthusiastic in establishing this committee in recognition of Franklin’s 250th Anniversary”, stated Town Council Chair Thomas Mercer. “The mission of the Committee is to have events throughout the year recognizing Franklin’s Past, Present and Future - engaging all Franklinites in a celebratory, collaborative, and unified manner.”

Thirteen voting members and five ex officio non-voting staff members will be appointed to the Committee. Of the thirteen voting members, one member from the Cultural District Committee, Cultural Council, Historical Commission, and Library Board of Directors will be recommended to the Town Administrator by the Chair of each committee, and one member of the Dean College organization will be recommended by the College’s President or Interim President. Eight At-Large Franklin residents will be selected through the Town’s standard volunteer application process. The terms of the committee members will end on June 30, 2029.

“The Committee will be asked to engage town boards, committees and departments for input, ideas and collaboration on the yearlong celebration and plan a rich program of events and activities”, said Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. “Due to the nature of this committee, the Town is able to establish a fund in accordance with MGL Chapter 53, Section 53i and fundraise to finance these programs. The Town anticipates hosting events and activities similar to what many other communities have done during their celebrations, such as a gala, carnival, parade, concert, fireworks, time capsule, monument, tours, a tree or other commemorative gesture, or whatever creative ideas the committee comes up with that tells Franklin's unique story.”

Franklin residents interested in serving on the Committee should apply via the Town’s Online Volunteer Application Form. The application will remain open to the community until September 15, 2025. The Town anticipates that the Committee will begin meeting this October, 2025

Body Fit Training (BFT) schedules open house July 14 from 6 to 7 PM

Body Fit Training (BFT) schedules
open house July 14 from 6 to 7 PM

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE NIGHT!

Monday 7/14 6 - 7 PM

We are opening doors to the community this Monday night for you to come in and see our beautiful new studio, meet the team, & get your questions answered!

TAG who you’re bringing!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL-YjQAuXk7/

For more info about Body Fit Training visit their web page -> https://www.bodyfittraining.com/location/franklin-village

Sign up to get your first session free -> https://lp.bodyfittraining.com/try?location=franklin-village&offer_id=first-class-free-try

Franklin Liquors is asking for your support for the 2025 MetroWest Community's Choice Awards

Once again asking for your support and votes. My family business Franklin Liquors is nominated for best Liquor Store and best Wine Store.

Franklin Liquors is asking for your support for
the 2025 MetroWest Community's Choice Awards

Please vote daily

Thank you

Mark Lenzi

Vote online -> https://metrowestdailynews.gannettcontests.com/2025-MetroWest-Communitys-Choice-Awards/gallery/

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

Beaver St. Interceptor Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday (7/14) through Friday (7/18)

The construction crew will be working off the road on Fisher Street adjacent to the MBTA Tracks. Limited to no traffic impacts are expected.

NO WORK on Beaver Street - On either side of the MBTA tracks Beaver Street will have steel plates to allow for traffic to pass over. Please use caution when traveling in this area.

Beaver St. Interceptor Project

At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with construction of the exterior building structure and internal building component installation.

Please reference the interactive map and posted signs for details and updates.

We appreciate the public's continued support and understanding and will continue to communicate regularly via social media, our dedicated email list, and the construction map as work progresses.

Shared from -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Hold the date for the next Franklin "Celebrate with Pride" - June 27, 2026

Hold the date for the next Franklin
"Celebrate with Pride" - June 27, 2026

Yes, mark the calendar for the next "Celebrate with Pride" event in Franklin = June 27, 2026 (June 28, rain date)

T-shirts from this year are still available -> https://givebutter.com/cwp2025tee

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DL8Or8bvb6O/

BEEP BEEP! The SAFE Coalition Mobile Outreach Van HAS ARRIVED!

BEEP BEEP!

BEEP BEEP! The SAFE Coalition
Mobile Outreach Van HAS ARRIVED!

The @safecoalition Mobile Outreach Van HAS ARRIVED!

❤️🙌🏻 WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO @vendetti_motors and @xpressionprints for making this purchase and wrap as easy (and exciting) as possible!

✨Stay tuned for up-to-date programming we will be using this van for..and if you see us in the road, we love to wave!

Thank you too to our amazing supporters of this program! @bankbluestone

Bingham Trust

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

SOFTBALL HITTING & FIELDING CLINIC - July 21-23 at Next9Up

SOFTBALL HITTING & FIELDING
CLINIC - July 21-23 at Next9Up

Learn from Boston University Standout Libby Walsh the secrets for strong hitting and fielding at this 3-day clinic this month!

Players will develop and sharpen their fundamental infield skills including: fielding ground balls, double play work, catch play, and footwork; as well as boosting agility and learning position strategies.

Players will also work on their hitting mechanics, BP, and reaction training.

For softball players 12-16 for all abilities, get your skills set!

Reserve your spot now - limited players accepted!

9 am - 12 pm

Head to https://www.next9up.com/july25-hitting-fielding

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DL8xw6_RnSN/

Help the people affected by flooding in Texas — not a scammer

Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

Help the people affected by flooding in Texas — not a scammer

By BCP Staff

In response to the devastating flash flooding in central Texas, many are looking for ways to get and give help. And scammers are looking to prey on people's generosity.

So how can you make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday, July 12, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a brand new schedule 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:

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday

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

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday

Friday, July 11, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, July 11, 2025 ???

Friday, July 11

Library & Senior Center events

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

2:00pm Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

3:00pm Mike Tarrara (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

5:30pm Jennifer Tefft (live music) (Cliff House Maine)

5:30pm The Reminisants (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

7:00pm Jamie Barrett (live music) (Pepperoncini's)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

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

** NO Town Meetings today **

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

What's happening today in Franklin?

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

What vendors and activities are at the Farmer's Market today - July 11, 2025 ??

What vendors and activities are at the
Farmer's Market today - July 11, 2025 ??

We are glad you asked.

Thanks to the good folks operating the Franklin Farmer's Market, we have the answers to share.

For additional info, you can also check the Farmers Market page -> https://www.franklinfarmersmarketma.com/

"The case for new cities"

via Congressman Jake Auchincloss & Jonathan Gruber:

"It has become a truism that America can’t build anymore. Housing, infrastructure, and all nature of public goods are nearly impossible to build and irrationally expensive when we do so. The facts are stunning for such a diverse and dynamic economy. California is annually building 100,000 fewer homes than it needs to address affordability. A mile of subway costs two to seven times as much in American cities as in major European cities. One Chinese shipbuilder constructed more shipping tonnage in one year than America has since World War II. Georgia’s new nuclear power plant was seven years late and $17 billion over budget. And the list goes on.

"The case for new cities"
The solution seems straightforward: Cut the regulations that hold back builders. Over the decades, litigation and legislation have snowballed the number of veto points between the conception and execution of projects. Advocates on both the right and the left have argued against this vetocracy, cogently summarized in recent books like Abundance and Why Nothing Works.

That solution isn’t working fast or fully enough. Get-stuff-doners have been snipping away at the vetocracy for decades, with more frustration than success. In Massachusetts, for example, years of YIMBY effort culminated in the MBTA Communities Act, which compels higher-density zoning on sites near transit. Even the most optimistic projections, though, expect it to deliver no more than 40,000 units over the next decade for a state that needs a quarter million.

These efforts deserve more support, but taken alone they won’t unlock enough building. This decade needs to deliver seven million units of housing and five Hoover Dams’ worth of nuclear power for America. We need radically new ideas."