Town of Franklin: March 2023 E-Newsletter

Open Space, New Hires Library Events, Arts and Culture and more!

Subscribe for News March 2023 Edition Open Space and Recreation Plan  The Town of Franklin has begun the process for the 2024-2031 update of the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). Let the town know what you want to see outlined as a priority for the OSRP update by accessing our citizen survey here. Be sure to join us at our upcoming public forum on April 25 from 6pm - 8pm at the Franklin Senior Center in the multi-purpose room. Julie Jacobson joins the Town of Franklin! Julie will serve as the part-time Special Assistant to the Town Administrator temporarily whilst we recruit and onboard a Deputy Town Administrator.  Julie most recently served as the Town Manager for the Town of Auburn for 12 years. Prior to her position in Auburn, Julie worked for the City of Worcester as the Economic Development Director and Assistant City Manager. We're excited to have her on board! Learn more about Julie's highlights in public service here. On the Menu: Arts and Culture Join us for our 2023 MetroWest Arts and Culture Symposium on March 30, 2023. This year's theme is "Uplifting the Arts: the Intersection of Culture and Economy". Our featured speaker will be the Executive Director for the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Michael Bobbitt. Doors open at 6pm, the program will begin at 6:30pm and conclude at 9pm. This program is held in partnership the Franklin Cultural Council, Franklin Cultural District, Mass Cultural Council and the Town of Franklin. Register for this free event today! The Franklin Town Council has established an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for Arts and Cultural Initiatives. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee will host 3 sessions as part of their listening tour. The purpose of these tours is to gather community input to help inform the direction of arts and culture for the next 10 - 15 years as part of the town's Master Plan Update process. Join us at one of our sessions... March 7 from 5pm - 8pm at Dean College April 28 from 9am - 11pm at the Franklin Public Library May 19 from 10am - 12pm at Escape Into Fiction Access event details here.  Department of Public Works Rock Your Rain Barrel The Spring Residential Rain Barrel Program is currently open! Residents can order directly from The Great American Rain Barrel Company. The deadline to order is May 7 and pick up will be at the DPW Admin office (257 Fisher St) on May 17 from 4 - 6pm. Order your rain barrel today! Water Smart Want to learn more about your water usage? Sign up for WaterSmart - A tool designed that allows the Department of Public Works to notify you of unusual usage or rebate opportunities. Saving you money, one drop at a time! Franklin Public Library Event Highlights! March 6 – March Madness: Battle of the Books It's year 6 of our annual contest and we're switching it up! What is Franklin's favorite book? Be sure to check back each week through April 1 to cast your vote! Which book will be our 2023 winner? Only YOU can decide! March 11 – Irish in America A musical journey celebrating the 'Irish in America', for all ages! Irish immigrants captured the heart of the nation with their mix of Irish jigs, ballads, folk songs, storytelling and humor. Get your green on, warm up your voices and enjoy the warmth, spirit and hilarity of the 'Irish in America'. Event starts at 3pm. March 17 – Get It Girls! A Women's History Celebration! Join us at 3:30pm for an afternoon of caterpillar craziness! We'll have games, crafts, and more! Fun for all ages! March 24 – The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day! Our afternoon of caterpillar craziness begins at 2:30pm! Enjoy games, crafts, and more! Library Hours The Library's hours are Monday through Thursday, 9am-8pm., Friday and Saturday, 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1:30pm - 5pm. Library Calendar of Events - March 2023 Veterans' Services Veterans' Services March 3 – Navy Reserve's 108th Birthday March 5 – Seabee's 79th Birthday March 15 – American Legion's 104th Birthday March 16 – Veterans' Council Meeting – 7pm at the Senior Center. All members of the community interested in veterans' activities are invited. March 29 – National Vietnam War Veterans' Day honors Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. Veterans Memorial Walkway The next engraved brick installation on the Veterans Memorial Walkway is scheduled to coincide with Memorial Day. An engraved brick makes a great birthday or Mother's or Father's Day gift for your special veteran or current military service member. Brick order forms are available in the Town Hall and Senior Center lobbies as well as on the Town website. The Tune It Out guitar lessons program for veterans meets on Tuesdays at 5:30pm at the Senior Center. There is no charge for lessons and no guitar experience is required! Contact Veterans' Services at 508-613-1315 or access their webpage to learn more. Passport Acceptance Facility FYI Remember - you must apply in person for your first passport, or if you were younger than 16 when you got your last passport. Visit: DS-11 Application Questions? Visit the Passport Acceptance Facility website here or call us at 508-553-4890. Ready for Vacation? Save money, avoid stress and delays by applying six months ahead of your travel date. Processing times are currently 8 -11 weeks* for routine service and expedited service 5-7 weeks (add an extra $60)*. The clock begins the day the U.S. Department of State receives your application, not the day you put it in the mail (adult renewal) or you sit with an acceptance agent to apply. The Town of Franklin offers passport services (by appointment only) for new passports or passports for a minor. We offer onsite passport photos (by appointment only). Appointments are scheduled on the following days and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8:30am – 11:45am and Wednesday 8:30am – 4:45pm. Adult passport renewal visit: Renew my Passport *Mailing times may add several weeks on to the door-to-door time it takes to receive your passport. Franklin Public Schools Redistricting Analysis Public Forums The Franklin Public School District invites Franklin residents to provide input on proposed options as part of the redistricting analysis process that was pioneered by the Franklin School Committee during the 2021- 2022 academic year. The district will host public forums on March 7 at Franklin High School Media Center from 6pm - 8pm and on March 13 virtually via Zoom from 6pm - 8pm. Both forums will present the same information. Options proposed have been workshopped by district staff, the redistricting analysis consultant Applied Geographics (AppGeo) and the Redistricting Advisory Committee, which is composed of parents/ guardians, educators, district and building based administrators as well as school committee members. All options will be presented by the district and redistricting analysis consultant, a supplementary input survey will be distributed to collect additional comments. The feedback provided during our upcoming public forums and input survey will inform the district's recommendation to the School Committee for a vote in the Spring of 2023. The decision to implement any recommendations, including potential changes to current boundaries, is a School Committee decision. You can learn more about the redistricting analysis process here. Town of Franklin Calendar Keep up with meetings, departments & committees. The schedule and links can be found on our website calendar. Keep up with all things culture in Franklin! Arts, theater, dining, live music & more! Find out what's happening in town! Visit our website! Talk Franklin: Podcast from the TA's Office Subscribe to our Town podcast and listen to bi-weekly episodes detailing town news and updates. Town of Franklin 355 East Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 520-4949   Visit our Website

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Franklin Health Department: Wellness Update - National Nutrition Month

It is National Nutrition Month.  

Fill your plate with 50% veggies, 25% whole grains, and 25% lean protein. 

Visit MyPlate.gov to learn more.

Franklin Health Department: Wellness Update -  National Nutrition Month

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Mar 3, 2023

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

 

9:00 am     Frank Presents: Chris Woolf

11:00 am Senior Connection: Joe Landry

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Sandhya: Cupcakes

1:00 pm     Physician Focus: Telemedicine

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 5

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Eradicating Hate

3:30 pm         Pack 92 Pinewood Derby 2022

7:00 pm     Riffing with the President: Ep 1

8:30 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Chris Woolf

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am     Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 3 01-15-19

8:30 am     It Takes A Village: Laurie Harrington

11:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Hockey: v Leominster 02-07-23

1:30 pm     All-Town Showcase: Band

3:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Xaverian 02-23-23

9:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v Attleboro 02-01-23

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am    Zoning Board of Appeals: 02-16-23
11:30 am    Open Space and Recreation Planning: 02-09-23
2:00 pm    Zoning Board of Appeals: 02-16-23

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

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

“Peonies: Love of My Life” - March 7 at 7 PM

The Franklin Garden Club, in conjunction with the Franklin Public Library, will co-sponsor a program on “Peonies: Love of My Life” on Tuesday, March 7, at 7:00 PM at the Franklin Library, 118 Main Street, Franklin, MA.  

The program, open to the public free of charge, will be presented by Christine Paxhia, an expert in growing peonies. This presentation features information on the history of peonies and how to select, install, care for and divide these beautiful and much-loved plants.  In addition, there will be a colorful photographic showcase of the many different varieties and types of peonies. Handouts will be available.

 Paxhia has been a Massachusetts Master Gardener since 2012. Her appreciation and admiration for “growing things” started as a child on woodland hikes with her mother. At the age of ten she saw her first peony; today her Milton home garden is filled with 38 varieties (and growing!). 

A member of the Milton Garden Club, Christine is a Garden Club of America Photography Judge. She is the MMGA’s Project Manager for the Fletcher Steele Garden, Milton, which is home to an impressive peony collection. Christine is a graduate of the MMGA Speakers Bureau Training Program.

“Peonies: Love of My Life” - March 7 at 7 PM

SheGrooves scheduled to perform at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - April 1

Fabulous six piece female band

SheGrooves band April 1 View this email in your browser SheGrooves April 1 - 8 PM FREE! Using our Voices for Positive Change: A Celebration of Empowered Female Musicians! SheGrooves is Boston's premiere female contemporary band. Groove-based, Neo-Soul and fierce, this group of Berklee College of Music women aims to represent modern female musicians.  This family-friendly public event will explore how women historically have used their voices for positive change within the world. SheGrooves repertoire currently includes original tunes as well as unique covers of Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, as well as jazz greats, Nancy Wilson and Dianne Reeves. We aim to inspire and empower communities to celebrate, elevate and respect the female voice. This is a FREE show thanks to grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, but please email coftix@gmail.com to reserve seats. Thanks. The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available.  Please visit http://www.circlefolk.org/  for more information. Upcoming Shows Apr 29     John Gorka

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Julie Jacobson starts as part-time Special Assistant to the Town Administrator

"We're excited to welcome Julie Jacobson to the Town of Franklin Administrative team!  

Julie will serve as the part-time Special Assistant to the Town Administrator while we recruit & onboard a Deputy Town Administrator.

Learn more about Julie here: https://buff.ly/3y04dds"

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1631030178913607681

Julie Jacobson, part-time Special Assistant to the Town Administrator