Listen in as Mitzi and I preview the Library's April events, and maybe an April fools trick plays in there! (audio)

FM #1160 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1160 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Monday, March 18, 2024.

 

We talk about 

• Reviewed the regular open hours, and month ending holiday times

• Library events for April 2024

• Special events

• Kiddos, or “littles”

• Family

• Adults

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 32 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1160-franklin-public-library-april-2024-event-highlights-03-18-24

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Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net 

Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library 

Library Calendar of Events ->  http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/F/FRANKLIN/ekp.cfm 

Stellarium - open source sky viewing software https://stellarium.org/

Eclipse viewers -> https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters 

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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!

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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"

one of the Library's April events we cover

Senator Becca Rausch recognizes Roberta Trahan for Women's History Month

Senator Becca Rausch (@BeccaRauschMA) posted Tue, Mar 19, 2024:

Today's local leader shout-out goes to Roberta Trahan of @TOFranklinMA. 

A dedicated nurse of 47 years, Roberta is a pillar of the community, having served on the School Committee, serving as VP of @FranklinDowntwn and supporting many groups. 

Thank you, Roberta!
#mapoli #WHM2024 https://t.co/ecfJPz6Wai

Editor's Note: I am quite pleased to share this recognition. I have had the privilege of working with her on a number of causes and events over the years and she is a pleasure to work with. I understand she doesn't like the spot light but the work she has done and continues to do is making a difference! Sorry Roberta, "just reporting on the facts"....

Senator Becca Rausch recognizes Roberta Trahan for Women's History Month

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/BeccaRauschMA/status/1770161731932709365

@FranklinCulture   @FranklinFoodPan  @FranklinPSNews

Franklin High School Jazz Band Competes in Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education Finals

Superintendent Lucas Giguere, Principal Joshua Hanna and Assistant Principal Michael Walsh are excited to share that Franklin High School's jazz band competed in the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education (MAJE) finals at Norwood High School on Saturday, March 16. 

Franklin High School's Jazz Band of 30 students played three songs; Tito Puente's "Ran Kan Kan," Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," and "Better Get Hit in Your Soul." The band played alongside 19 other bands from Massachusetts and performed for a panel of college professors and professional performing jazz artists for medal awards. They received a Superior Gold Medal for their performance and will advance to the Gold Medal Showcase on May 5 at the Hatch Memorial Shell at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston.

Prior to the state final, the Franklin High School Jazz Band performed in the Central District Festival at Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough on March 6.  The group won a Superior Gold Medal and was one of three bands to advance to the finals.

"The band has had an incredible run in this concert series, and the Franklin School District couldn't be more proud," Superintendent Lucas Giguere said. "Their success is a testament to their work ethic and passion for music. I thank Band Director Leighanne Rudsit for her devotion to ensuring these students can share such achievements."

From left to right: Franklin High School Jazz Band members Weylan O'Connell, Aidan Padula, and Anton Sackley at Algonquin Regional High School in Northboro.   (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin High School Jazz Band students at Algonquin Regional High School in Northboro. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin High School Jazz Band students at Algonquin Regional High School in Northboro. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Franklin Police Department’s 2024 Leadership Camp

***LEADERSHIP CAMP***

2024 Leadership Camp

Registration is open for the Franklin Police Department’s 2024 Leadership Camp. Camp will run from July 15-19 for children entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Campers learn about the many aspects of law enforcement and work together to develop leadership skills and responsibility. Officers and kids have an amazing time working and learning together every year and we would like your family to be a part of it.

Follow the link in the QR code to sign up and we will see you there.

Please direct any questions or concerns you have about the camp to Officer Ayer of the Community Service Unit at aayer@franklinma.gov.

More information and the sign up can be found at: https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/pages/franklin-police-leadership-camp

Bringing the stars Indoors - Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 PM

Explore the stars in comfort without the light pollution and travel! This presentation will explore Stellarium; an open source project showing a realistic sky in 3 dimensions. 

We’ll be distributing glasses for the solar eclipse at this event!

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/bulletins/bringing-stars-indoors 

Stellarium - open source sky viewing software https://stellarium.org/

Be safe with the proper Eclipse viewers -> https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters 

Bringing the stars Indoors - Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 PM

Reminder: Join the Cosmic Pizza Party on April 4

Join us on April 4 for a Cosmic Pizza Party!

All Ages Welcome

Did you know Earth Day is on April 22? 

Did you also know that Franklin is deciding to celebrate Earth during the entire month of April? If not, now you do! 

Come join us on April 4 for our Earth month kickoff with a COSMIC CELEBRATION to learn about the centennial solar eclipse, other celestial bodies, and how Earth kicks it with the stars. We'll be making box pinhole projectors to safely view the solar eclipse on April 8. 

RSVP by March 28 to bgoodlander@franklinma.gov. 

Join us on April 4 for a Cosmic Pizza Party!

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/join-us-april-4-cosmic-pizza-party

Town of Franklin: IFB - Fales Street Waterline Improvements

IFB - Fales Street Waterline Improvements

In accordance with MGL c. 30 section 39m, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain  the services of a construction firm for the purposes of constructing approximately 850 feet of  waterline improvements along Fales Street within the Town of Franklin. 

Additional Information:  Fales Street Waterline Improvements

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/ifb-fales-street-waterline-improvements

Town of Franklin: IFB - Fales Street Waterline Improvements

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Mar 21, 2024

• 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 6, Verizon 26) = Thursday

7:00 am Franklin Fallen Heroes

8:00 am Veterans' Call: Dave Hencke

9:00 am Jim Johnston: Ben Franklin and Martin Luther King, Jr.

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Grillin'

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Valentine Cards

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 1

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 5

3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: Katherine Kennedy

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

5:00 pm Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

6:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 2 - Paul Kelly

8:00 pm Frank Presents: Brian Cousins

9:30 pm Franklin Art Association: Dave Kaphammer

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = Thursday

7:00 am Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 1 01-28-19

8:30 am FHS Pops Night 2023

10:00 am Varsity Basketball State Finals 03-17-24

12:00 pm ArtWeek: Art + Music

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

2:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

5:00 pm Public School Event: Remington Winter Music 2022

6:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

7:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Basketball v Andover 02-29-24

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = Thursday

8:00 am Conservation Commission 03-07-24

12:00 pm Master Plan Committee 03-06-24

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 03-07-24

7:00 pm  Conservation Commission  LIVE, Chambers  980 1888 8245

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: silent movie, Master Plan Open House, Ballet Franklin and more as #artshappenhere

Wednesday, March 20

5:30pm Femita Ayanbeku (Dean College)

Thursday, March 21

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

6:30pm Bringing the stars Indoors (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm Community Coffee Conversations: One Franklin (Birchwood Bakery)

Saturday, March 23

10:00am Easter Bunny (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Grieving Hearts Workshop (Franklin High School)

11:00am Beyond the Palmer Method – Learn about calligraphy (Franklin Historical Museum)

11:00am Master Plan Open House (Dean College)

1:00pm Kids Paint Party (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm `Cinema 80’ Feature Films "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"  (Franklin Historical Museum)

7:00pm Ballet Franklin presents Cinderella (THE BLACK BOX)

Sunday, March 24

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Ballet Franklin presents Cinderella (THE BLACK BOX)

3:00pm LiveARTS Concert: Romanul Duo (First Universalist Society of Franklin - FUSF)

5:30pm Ballet Franklin presents Cinderella (THE BLACK BOX)

Tuesday, March 26

2:30pm Rainbow Café (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm Trivia Night (Raillery Public House)

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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)

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

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!

LOVEfranklin // EA Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE (rev.20240319)

Dear friends, community members, and all who #LOVEfranklin,

I want to start by offering my apologies for being so long in updating you on the Franklin Interfaith Council's efforts to support the families placed at the EA Shelter in Franklin. The population at the shelter is relatively stable and most services and supports put in place by the state are operating pretty smooth. Work permits are being issued and families are becoming more integrated into the community we all love so much. Regular meetings of stakeholders, convened both by the Town of Franklin and by the Franklin Interfaith Council, have ceased and are meeting only as needed.

As I have mentioned in past posts, our support is evolving. Due to changing needs, and the challenge of securing volunteers, we have discontinued the After-School Program. Many thanks are due Rev. Kathy McAdams and her team of volunteers for rapidly getting this program off the ground and filling an important need at the shelter. For those individuals looking to volunteer in a similar way, we encourage you to consider volunteering with the ESL classes and other outreach being offered through the Franklin Public Library.

As we move from winter into spring, and as most of the families are receiving supplemental income, the mass distribution of emergency clothing will be evolving. The need for clothing persists beyond the shelter. The effort facilitated by the Franklin Interfaith Council will be continuing but under the umbrella of the Franklin United Methodist Church. This new ministry is tentatively being called the Community Closet @FranklinUMC. Regular hours are being established for all community members, not only those living at the EA Shelter, to come and pick out the clothing they need, free of charge. As we make this transition, I am looking for volunteers to help sort and fold donations. We are no longer looking for donations of winter items, but would welcome spring/summer clothing. If you'd like to signup to help with the sorting, click the dates/links below:

• Friday, March 22, 10-11:30a
• Tuesday, March 26, 10-11:30a
• Tuesday, April 2, 10-11:30a
• Tuesday, April 9, 10-11:30a
• Tuesday, April 23, 10-11:30a
• Tuesday, April 30, 10-11:30a

As we evolve into this new community ministry, the Franklin United Methodist Church (FranklinUMC) will continue looking for volunteers to help. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at jacob@franklinumc.org. You will be able to find updates and opportunities to volunteer with this effort at franklinumc.org.

The Franklin Interfaith Council is continuing to look for ways of supporting our new community members. As new opportunities arise, we will do our best to keep you updated. We have several things "in the works" so "stay tuned" for those announcements.

Thank you all for the many ways in which you have supported our work over these last (almost) six months. The work we have done together in support of the families at the EA shelter has been nothing short of miraculous and life-transforming. Personally, I am humbled by your generosity and compassion and immensely proud of you and this community for the ways in which we sought, and continue to seek, to welcome these new members of our community. Thank you, from the deepest part of my heart, for the many ways you have and will continue to #LOVEfranklin.

Peace.

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker

President, Franklin Interfaith Council

Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church

To sign up for one of the volunteer options, follow this link ->

https://franklininterfaith.org/lovefranklin-ea-shelter-humanitarian-aid-update-rev-20240319/

LOVEfranklin // EA Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE (rev.20240319)

School Committee gets the details on the multiple budget scenarios facing them for a vote in April (video)

The School Committee met as scheduled for their regular session on Tuesday, March 19 which extended to just after 10 PM as they dwelt on their FY 2025 budget proposal which included a public hearing.

School Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Business Manager Dr Bob Dutch presented their overview assisted by Asst Superintendents Dr Tina Rogers and Paula Marano.

The Franklin TV video recording is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YXw4dnXUqk

Quick recap: 

FY25 Budget Open Hearing 

(presentation doc not posted but the full budget book is available ->    https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fy25_complete_budget_book.pdf)

2 quick points from School Committee member Paul Griffith during the Q&A for the presentation, I paraphrased here but go listen to what he said:

• Great clarification questions from Cmte member Griffith Go back and listen (via the YouTube link) for his points on the class size as well as the support services (i.e. personnel titles) some legally required if not morally to provide the proper education for each student

• If we are looking at the bare minimum of level services across the Town and schools, given the Town expected revenue, it is not whether there should be an override, it really should be a discussion on how much of an override we can afford (great point!)

Discussion/Action Items

A. Student Opportunity Act Plan Approval

B. Policy First Reading

C. Policy Second Reading/Adoption

D. ACCEPT Collaborative Agreement

all these items passed by a 7-0 vote

My notes captured via Twitter were collected in a single PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1dD9wIUOeE_0ZS76jJsRgnKgtkScxAE/view?usp=drive_link

Photos of the slides shown can be found in one album ->

https://photos.app.goo.gl/raH5wfZR6pU7yths6

School Committee gets the details on the multiple budget scenarios facing them for a vote in April (video)

Honoring Our Franklin Veterans Who Died In Service to Our Country

The Town of Franklin has one of the most beautiful Veteran’s Memorial areas in the state.  If you haven’t been there recently, it is worth a visit.  There are monuments for all wars centered in front of the WWI “Doughboy” monument.  At the rear of the monument area is the Veterans’ Memorial Walkway which currently honors 1866 veterans who have served America.

Perhaps the most moving part of the Memorial area are the 45 granite posts which line the Veterans’ Walkway. Each one of these posts is dedicated to a Franklin veteran who gave his life, defending our freedom. These columns are beautifully done, marked with bronze plaques and a flag. During the holidays, each is also decorated with a beautiful wreath.

Over the past few months, Franklin’s Veterans’ organizations, the Edward L. Grant American Legion Post 75, and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 3402, under the auspices of the Town’s Veterans Council, have developed a program to further honor those who died for our nation, to ensure they are remembered, and their stories are kept alive.

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history we may have on that veteran. This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

This event will happen 45 times during the coming year.  Some months, like January, only one ceremony will be held. Other months will have multiple ceremonies, such as February with 4 and June with 7.   On March 10, April 9, July 18, and September 21, there will be dual ceremonies as we lost two veterans on the same day.

Families of the veterans, if known, will be invited to attend the ceremony.

The public is invited to attend these ceremonies to honor those who gave their lives.

Franklin’s military organizations support numerous veterans’ activities  and encourage all veterans in town to join them.

The current schedule (note as additional info is gathered and confirmed this schedule may be updated)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/114IR6REsc-Ts_GLlfmgynjyD5IS595RA/view?usp=drive_link

 Honoring Our Franklin Veterans Who Died In Service to Our Country