This Franklin Food Pantry conversation covers how community involvement makes this a success (audio)

FM #1039 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1039 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Suzanne Gendreau, Franklin Food Pantry board member and Building Campaign Committee Chair along with Donna O’Neill, Food Pantry volunteer and ambassador extraordinaire. We had our conversation in the new location of the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s. 

We talk about the happy news that the Food Pantry has their own home, finally. While they are appreciative of the space Rockland Trust has let them use for many years, their needs had outgrown the space. 

We spend much of the time sharing stories about the community involvement that is what makes the Food Pantry a successful operation assisting our neighbors.

Disclosure: during the conversation you will hear about my background with the Food Pantry and that I have committed to this capital campaign.

The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Suzanne and Donna. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1039-franklin-food-pantry-building-campaign-3-07-24-23

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The Franklin Food Pantry is here for you. If you need us, we are here with not only food, but useful programs and resources for individuals, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity. If you can support us, we thank you - visit franklinfoodpantry.org to explore volunteering, donating funds, donating food, or supporting our Capital Campaign to keep the lights on and the programs, from food elves to weekend backpack stuffing. It truly takes a village to keep our food pantry running and supporting the increasing demand, supporting our Franklin neighbors.

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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 www.franklin.news or www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Franklin Food Pantry Launches Building Campaign (audio)

State Rep Jeff Roy FY 2024 budget wins for Franklin

Via the Franklin Food Pantry: 

"A huge thank you to State Rep Jeff Roy for his continued support and advocacy for The Pantry. We are so grateful!"

State Rep Jeff Roy FY 2024 budget wins for Franklin

Shared from -> https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02yXaeAtChJCF93bc9Y9JYXsTsoFmeK3pomWgh9RAtKFTuu2pYZxguLoXH5re963Gyl&id=100064488767698&mibextid=Nif5oz

Davis Thayer Reuse Cmte hears & discusses multiple options (video)

The Davis Thayer Reuse Committee met on Tuesday, Aug 15, 2023 as scheduled and heard/discussed many ideas for possible reuse of the former school building. Police station, community arts center, housing, and recreation headquarters were among the key items mentioned. Splitting the land into 2 parcels was suggested. Another was to building a new municipal building in addition to the police station and sell off the current municipal building was a new idea.

Multiple parties apparently being invited to the next meeting proposed for Sep 19 at 7 PM. Police Chief, arts and recreation, and housing trust representatives among the key participants suggested to provide insights to the discussion.

Arrangements being finalized for movers to clear the facility to enable open houses for the community (and committee) to view the building, Open houses likely to be scheduled in October. 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/HRdzWScNZCA

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nQU6e9arZuu33HTFtMjnY_eVf084AKBU/view?usp=drive_link

Facilities Director Mike D'Angelo (center) and the consultants

Economic Development Subcommittee considers updates to a revised sidewalk snow removal bylaw (video)

Three of the four Economic Development Subcommittee members met on Wednesday as scheduled before the full Town Council meeting to hear about possible revisions to a sidewalk snow removal bylaw.

Chair Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo, Patrick Sheridan, Glenn Jones (absent)

Brief recap

• The previous bylaw was repealed as unenforceable in 2017
• The sidewalks covered by the Town in their snow removal plan have not been updated in years
• Small sections were discussed and proposed to add tot he Town removal coverage (along 140 near the Westerly Apts., the East/West Streets neighborhood, the Alpine/Milliken neighborhood)
• Discussion on the parameters for clearing, when to have completed, etc. were reviewed, also the need to marketing and education to build a cultural of "we can do this" and take care of the neighbors who are unable to do so.
• The Town staff will work on the revisions as discussed, basic text of the prior bylaw is a good start to work with, add the map (new areas), etc.
• Motion to adjourn

Franklin TV video of the session is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/v0pTxjdGlIo

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting canbe found in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12loCjrT1sEa9Gfc9Y4gSrauJJohznz_q/view?usp=drive_link

taken in 2017 on a walk Sunday morning, approx. 12 hours after the storm ended

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, Aug 17, 2023

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

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p   A Priest, A Minister and a Rabbi

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p   Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey and Jim Derick

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm   Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents

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

8:00 am Veterans' Call: PACT Act

9:00 am     ArtWeek: John Christoforo

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: New Facility

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:30 pm Drink Responsibly: Flat Breads

1:00 pm     Physician Focus: Alzheimer's

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Deep Dish

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 7

3:00 pm Joe Landry: Shoe Stores

4:30 pm     Frank Presents: Caron Grupposo

5:30 pm     Riffing on Main Street: Pauline Spender

6:30 pm     Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 2

7:00 pm     Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 1 - Tweed funk

8:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: James Johnston

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

7:00 am     Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

8:30 am     Public School Concert: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-14-19

10:30 am U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

1:00 pm     Public School Event: FHS Summer Music 2021

2:30 pm     FHS Track and Field: v North Attleboro 05-09-23

7:00 pm     FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse: v Bishop Feehan 04-18-23

9:00 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission: 08-10-23

12:00 pm Master Plan Committee: 07-26-23

2:00 pm Conservation Commission: 08-10-23

7:30 pm         Zoning Board of Appeals: LIVE, Remote  993 4066 2877

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin Cultural District: Concerts on the Common, Farmers Market, books sale, thrift shop, and plenty of music options

Wednesday, August 16

11:00am - Franklin Q&A (hybrid event) (Franklin Senior Center)

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)

6:00pm - Charcuterie Workshop (ticketed event) (La Cantina Winery)

Thursday, August 17

8:30am - Town Council Office Hours (Franklin Senior Center)

6:00pm - Paul Hansen (live music)  (La Cantina Winery)

Friday, August 18

1:00pm - Book Sale ($1/book) (Franklin Public Library)

Franklin Farmers Market

2:00pm - Franklin Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

2:00pm - Thrift Threads thrift shop (Franklin Federated Church)

3:00pm - Hogwash BBQ (food truck) (Franklin Town Common)

3:30pm - Bus-14 (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

6:00pm - Jamie Barrett (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

6:00pm - Tyler Zajac (live music)  (La Cantina Winery)

6:00pm - The Reminiscents (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

8:00pm - Movie Night: "The Incredibles" (Franklin Town Common)

Saturday, August 19

9:00am - Book sale ($1/book) (Franklin Public Library)

Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen

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

12:00pm - Pangea Cuisines (food truck)  (67 Degrees Brewery)

1:00pm - Bag sale (books at $5/bag) (Franklin Public Library)

3:00pm - Franklin TV - Block Party & Open Board Meeting

4:00pm - Moxie (live music)  (La Cantina Winery)

5:00pm - Michael Rivelis (live music) (Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen)

La Cantina Winery

Sunday, August 20

7:30am - All you can eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

10:00am - FUSF Service "Trees: Bridges to Spirit" (First Universalist Society of Franklin)

1:00pm - Cornhole Tournament (Franklin Odd Fellows fundraiser at Bellingham Sportsmans Club)

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

2:00pm - The Fourtet (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

Monday, August 21

6:00pm - A Silent Voice (movie night) (Franklin Public Library)

Tuesday, August 22

11:00am - Books to Go (Horace Mann Middle School)

2:30pm - Rainbow Café  (Franklin Senior Center)

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Franklin Art Association Art Gallery

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:   https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

Lifelong Community Learning – Join Us This Fall!

Registration is now open for Fall 2023 at Lifelong Community Learning. We welcome residents of Franklin and surrounding towns to sample our wide variety of classes. We have something for everyone!

Our 35 Fall classes include options in Arts and Crafts, Lifestyle and Culture, Exercise and Wellness, Team Sports, Workshops and Special Events, and Kids’ Corner.

In addition to returning favorites like Country Line Dancing, Watercolor or Acrylic Painting, Men's Basketball, Badminton, Yoga, and Kids’ Cooking, we have some new classes this fall including:

● Two new Kids’ Corner classes for students in grades 2-5: Business Sharks, where kids design the business of their dreams and pitch it to a panel of judges, and Expert Architects, in which students design and build out of Legos the next great building of the 21st century. Classes start September 12 and 14 and run 8 weeks.

● Sound Bath Meditation One-Night Workshop: On October 2nd, participants will lie down and listen to resonant sounds, while their minds clear and stress melts away.

● Women of a certain age can receive makeup guidance and practical techniques during our Mature Makeup One-Night Workshop on October 12th.

● One of the hottest trends in entertaining is coming to Franklin on November 16th with this Charcuterie Board One-Night Workshop. Bring home your own individual board after learning about ingredients and presentation.

Classes begin as early as August 28th (online sign language course), September 5th (La Blast fitness), September 7th (ladies light hiking), September 11th (adult painting, badminton, volleyball, and kids’ yoga). We have many other classes starting throughout the fall months. Don’t miss out!

Visit Lifelong Community Learning for full course details and to register.

Lifelong Community Learning – Join Us This Fall!

Franklin Art Association welcomes new members to September meeting - Sep 6

“The Franklin Art Association welcomes new members”

The Franklin Art Association will have their first meeting of the season on Wednesday, September 6, at 6:30 PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin.  Programs are free and open to the public.  

This month’s program will feature artist Sue Pratt Sheridan, who will demonstrate the use of many different types of mediums with a slide presentation of artwork, including oils, watercolors, pastels, charcoal and mixed media.  The unique qualities of each medium will be discussed, questions answered and encouragement given to explore new ways to create art!  Sue holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UMass Amherst, and has been a practicing artist for most of her life.

Established in 1971, the Franklin Art Association has members from throughout MetroWest MA and RI.  They are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a wide variety of fine art mediums and photography, while providing ongoing educational opportunities through live demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

The association gallery is located at the Escape into Fiction Bookstore at 12 Main Street, Franklin.  The FAA is supported by the Franklin Cultural Council and the Franklin Cultural District.  www.franklinart.org, Instagram and Facebook.

Franklin Art Association

Talk Franklin with Jamie & Amy recaps the Joint Budget Mtg and other topics (audio)

FM #1038 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1038 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Thursday, August 10, 2023.  

Topics for this session

Joint Budget Subcommittee recap, OneFranklin

Davis Thayer Reuse Committee meeting

Town Council meeting, override do’s & don’ts

Municipal Aggregation contract renewal at $.15/kwh

The recording runs about 42 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie & Amy on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Audio file -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Budget-Engagement--Community-Savings-e285vq5

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Town FY 2024 budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 

Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Davis Thayer Reuse Committee agenda & links ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2023-08-15_davis-thayer_reuse_agenda_.pdf 

Town Council agenda for 08/16/23 meeting ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_aug_16_2023.pdf  

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

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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

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"

Talk Franklin with Jamie & Amy recaps the Joint Budget Mtg and other topics (audio)