How much is $38T? Yes, T = trillion. That's a big number and we talk about it in this episode of Making Sense of Climate (audio)

FM #1195 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1195 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate by working through a listing of article links accumulated since we had last talked. The links are included in one PDF shared below.

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 44 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1195-making-sense-of-climate-43-04-30-24

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** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

Links for our discussion in one PDF doc -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GNwjgXLcm3N3nmkjgApehEq0nITcRvz-/view?usp=drive_link

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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 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"

How much is $38T? Yes, T = trillion. That's a big number and we talk about it in this episode of Making Sense of Climate (audio)

FinCom goes line by line through General Government functions, approves Pledge doc (video)

The Finance Committee met on Monday, May 6, 2024 as scheduled. 8 of the 9 members were present, 6 in person, 2 remote (hence roll call votes). 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gUpsku8VOg

The agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_may_6.pdf

Follow along with the budget voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf

Quick recap:

• minutes of the April meeting moved to May 15 meeting for approval
• discussion on the override and pledge doc, led to approval by 8-0-1 (1 absent, Grace)  vote via roll call
• Committee then proceeded line by line through the departments, some questions raised, answered, some departments not questioned (Recreation for example touted as a 'net zero' everything they are allocated for they return in fees raised)
• discussion on net school spending, how some budget expenses are on the Town side, some on the school side, all does get rolled up into net school spending annually by DESE with reporting from Town and School. The FY 2023 net school spending report coincidentally I had downloaded in answer to a question last week. The link is provided below

My notes captured in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUBq2dVYhvNtq8VA3dREQESDo3U4awWM/view?usp=drive_link

The net school spending report for Franklin (so yes this does include charter school students) ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-flBF-M1oNTIzcOTMjc7CDmYR9QEkWt2/view?usp=drive_link

FinCom goes line by line through General Government functions, approves Pledge doc (video)

FHS baseball, softball, girls & boys tennis & lacrosse teams all post wins on Monday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Monday, May 6, 2024

Baseball = Franklin, 6 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final 

– Stoughton scored a run in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the game but the Panthers escaped further damage, leading the bases loaded, and turned that momentum into offense in the next half inning. Senior Ben Shirey drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to score courtesy runner Joey McEachern (Hunter Malkin walk) but Brian Auciello got a strikeout during the next at-bat to keep the game tied 2-2. Lukas Phillip got Franklin’s big inning started with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt from Matt Miller. Mike Davide’s bunt brought the run home as courtesy runner Brad Morin beat the throw. With two outs and the bases loaded, Franklin senior Henry Digiorgio smacked a base-clearing triple to push the lead to 6-2. The Knights loaded the bases again in the sixth but couldn’t cut into the deficit. Sean Kryzak and Mason Smith each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Franklin.

Softball = Stoughton, 1 @ Franklin, 6 – Final 

– Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – The visiting Black Knights scored a run in the top of the first inning but the Panthers plated six unanswered, including two in each of the second and fifth innings, to take a 6-1 verdict over Stoughton. Franklin had a balanced day at the dish with Katie Dowley, Sarah Boozang (run), Carly Johnson-Pellegri (RBI), Josie Drucker (RBI, run), and Marley Allen (RBI, run) each contributing a pair of hits. Maddie Bergeron (4IP, 5H, 1R, 1BB, 5K) and Sophia Sacramone (3IP, 5H, 0R, 2BB, 1K) combined to keep the Black Knights’ bats at bay. Julie Powers and Caitlin Driscoll (triple) each had two hits for Stoughton.

Boys Lacrosse = Franklin, 14 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final 

– Franklin dominated the first half to the tune of an eight-goal lead at halftime and the Panthers used a very good defensive effort to secure a 14-2 win on the road at Foxboro. The Panthers built a 2-0 lead in the first fame before getting the offense going with six goals in the second, and the defense denied Foxboro a chance to get on the scoreboard for an 8-0 edge at the break. Franklin had 11 different players score a goal in the win, including a hat trick from CJ Perro and a pair of goals from Eddie O’Brien. Zach Langevin added a goal and two helpers, and Drew Hansen, Ben Paterson, and Tom Quinn each scored a goal and had an assist. Ryan Cotter had a goal and an assist for the Warriors, Lincoln Moore (goal) and Sully Kenneally (assist) each had a point, and Adam Addeche made 11 saves in the cage.

Girls Lacrosse = Foxboro, 7 @ Franklin, 11 – Final 

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap: 

"When the Franklin girls lacrosse team put its Hockomock League win streak on the line against rival King Philip just under two weeks ago, the Panthers had a sweat out a double-overtime win.

Facing their other big Hock hurdle this season, the Panthers played from in front the whole way.

Franklin scored the first four goals of the game and never trailed in an 11-7 win over Davenport division leading Foxboro to extend its league win streak to 119 straight games.

“It was a huge boost to start strong,” said Franklin head coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “In the past, we’ve started slow and we’ve been really hard at practice on scoring. The girls really applied what we’ve been trying to work on in practice and really focusing on the details. They did a good job cleaning up our shots and our passing selection. They did awesome right from the start of the first quarter.”

– Continue reading the recap (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/fast-start-helps-franklin-girls-lacrosse-fend-off-foxboro/

For the photo gallery of this game -> 

https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2023-2024/Spring-2024/Franklin-Foxboro-Girls-Lacrosse-05-06-24

Boys Tennis = Stoughton, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final 

– With a sweep in singles action and one more win in doubles, Franklin took down visiting Stoughton by a verdict of 4-1. Senior Jay Gorgas didn’t drop a game in an impressive 6-0, 6-0 first singles win, senior Ahan Shetty emerged from a third set super tiebreak with a 6-4, 2-6, 10-1 win, and junior Dan Reis added a third singles victory by taking a 6-2, 6-1 decision at third singles. The Panthers’ second doubles team of junior Gabe Terry and freshman AJ Trull rolled in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Stoughton’s all-senior first doubles duo of Thomas Chaw and Anthony Maylack earned a 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 win.

Girls Tennis = Franklin, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final

"Panthers with a 5-0 win at Stoughton today!!

Chloe Essam won her 3rd match in a row while Brooke Taylor improved to 9-1.  

Isabelle Simino was impressive in her match.

Dubs

Brooke Daniels & Sydney Tolonen 

Lexi Winkler & Smruthie Paladugu 

Franklin is now 10-0  "

https://twitter.com/fhs_gvtennis/status/1787625024553181644

For other results around the Hockomock League (subscription required) 

https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-05-06-24/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Get your tickets now for the Nick Strong Foundation event scheduled for The Shed - May 21

Please join the Franklin lacrosse community for a fun night of great food, friends and most importantly, support for the Nick Strong Foundation at Franklin’s most popular gathering spot- The Shed!  

This will be an adult-only (ages 21+) event and with your $50 per ticket contribution you’ll receive shared appetizers and craft kitchen fare, one drink ticket and entry to a trivia contest complete with great prizes. 

All proceeds will go directly to the Nick Strong Foundation to fund the 2024 Nick Gaspar Award and towards the foundation’s efforts to fund pediatric cancer research and support pediatric cancer patients and their families.  

Please use the attached Venmo QR code to register! 

(If you don't have a QR reader follow this link -> https://www.paypal.com/qrcodes/venmocs/c614d743-52eb-4ed8-bfd0-3b619e40ff3f?created=1712579348.5624971   or click on the image )  

Don’t delay-  tickets are limited!!!

Thanks for your continued support, and we can’t wait to see you!

 

Get your tickets now for the Nick Strong Foundation event scheduled for The Shed - May 21

Nick Strong Foundation to directly fund groundbreaking research for germ cell tumors.

We are beyond excited to announce groundbreaking research, being conducted by the Jackson Laboratories, that could potentially find treatments for germ cell tumors. Pediatric oncologist Dr. Ching Lau is a professor at the lab, which is a nonprofit biomedical institution committed to basic research discoveries that will change the landscape of cancer detection and care. Dr. Lau and his lab team have developed a first of its kind assay that can accurately diagnose germ cell tumors using spinal fluid obtained from a less invasive procedure such as a spinal tap.  The Nick Strong Foundation has decided to directly fund these tests that cost about $2,000 per test.  They have about 50 samples ready to test and our goal is to fund these samples and keep going from there! We are honored to be a part of this research in Nick’s memory.

Proceeds from your participation in our upcoming events (The Shed event, our first Golf Tournament) will go directly towards this funding -  THANK YOU!!!

Visit the Nick Strong Foundation online -> https://nickstrongfoundation.com/ 

Matt Zajac scheduled to perform live at La Cantina Winery Weds, May 8

See you Wednesday, May8th from 7:00 - 9:30 PM

Matt Zajac scheduled to perform live at La Cantina Winery Weds, May 8

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C6oUZutO4Kd/

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #2 of 3 - Public Safety & Public Works - May 8

Finance Committee Meeting 

Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 7:00 PM 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments

3. FY25 Town Administrator Operating Budget Hearing continued...

FY25 Town Administrator Budget Materials website

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials

Follow along with the voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf

a. Public Safety:

i. 210 Police Department

ii. 220 Fire Department

iii. 225 Regional Dispatch

iv. 240 Inspection Department

v. 292 Animal Control

b. Department of Public Works (DPW):

i. Departments: 422 Public Works

ii. Enterprise Funds:

1. 450 Water

2. 440 Sewer

3. 434 Solid Waste

4. 460 Stormwater

4. Adjourn

Agenda doc contains remote participation info ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-05-08_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #2 of 3 - Public Safety & Public Works - May 8

Beaver Street Interceptor: construction and detour update

Beaver Street Interceptor 

Beaver Street Interceptor: construction and detour update

 

 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE WEEK OF MAY 6:

The dead end section of Old West Central serving Ledgewood Condominiums and Franklin Crossing will continue to be closed at Tri-County Drive.  Those residents should continue to follow the posted signs for directions on exiting and entering. 

Starting on Thursday May 9th, construction work will move onto Rt. 140 in front of the Dunkin Donuts, expect lane closures and traffic delays due to active roadwork.

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

Beaver Street Interceptor: construction and detour update

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 below as work progresses.


BEAVER STREET INTERCEPTOR HOTLINE: 508-553-5526
(PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AND WE WILL RETURN YOUR CALL)
EMAIL: BSI-info@franklinma.gov

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/beaver-street-interceptor

Quite a variety of programs to register for at Fairmont Fruit Farm

SOOO many fun programs and workshops happening at the farm this month! Still plenty of time to register for them all!

Also don’t miss our Popup vendors this weekend: @edwardscoffeecompany @bstseafood and possibly a few more! ☕️🐠🐟

Quite a variety of programs

Yoga:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yoga-nights-at-the-farm-tickets-886222243587?aff=oddtdtcreator

Goat yoga:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/875283304927?aff=oddtdtcreator

combo pots: 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/combo-pots-spring-workshop-tickets-880229408857?aff=oddtdtcreator

gnome homes 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gnome-homes-spring-workshop-tickets-880791469997?aff=oddtdtcreator

Charcuterie boards 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diy-charcuterie-boards-tickets-880794649507?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sourdough Starter:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sourdough-starter-workshop-tickets-893749748557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C6obzNaL1Pk/

HMEA IncredABLE Day scheduled for Sunday, June 23

Join us for HMEA’s IncredABLE Day on June 23! This day is for EVERYONE - regardless of age or ability.

Get ready for:
🌟 Delicious food
🌟 Fun games
🌟 A 1-mile community walk
🌟 Exciting raffles
🌟 And so much more!

Admission is free, but we ask that you register in advance. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Register now with the link -> https://www.hmea.org/incredableday/

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C6oS00bxTAe/

HMEA IncredABLE Day scheduled for Sunday, June 23

Teens who discovered new way to prove Pythagoras’s theorem uncover even more proofs | US news | The Guardian

"Two college freshmen who, during their final year of high school, found a new way to prove Pythagoras’s theorem by using trigonometry – which mathematicians for generations thought was impossible – have since uncovered multiple more such proofs, they revealed in a national interview on Sunday.

“We found five, and then we found a general format that could potentially produce at least five additional proofs,” Calcea Johnson said on CBS’s 60 Minutes, a little more than a year after she and Ne’Kiya Jackson collaborated on an accomplishment that earned them international recognition.

Nonetheless, in comments that stunned their interviewer, Bill Whitaker, the two graduates of St Mary’s Academy in New Orleans denied seeing themselves as math geniuses and dismissed any interest in pursuing careers in mathematics." 

Continue reading the article online -> 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/06/pythagoras-theorem-proof-new-orleans-teens

Link to video on 60 Minutes ->    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/high-school-students-pythagorean-theorem-trigonometry-proof-60-minutes/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7d&linkId=419385763

Teens who discovered new way to prove Pythagoras’s theorem uncover even more proofs | US news | The Guardian

Let’s talk about spam texts and emails

Let's talk about spam texts and emails By Andrew Rayo Another day, another round of spam texts and emails trying to sell you things. At best, spam is annoying. At worst, it's pushing scams or trying to install malware on your device. If you're tired of getting spam, there are some ways to help. Read more -> https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/04/lets-talk-about-spam-texts-and-emails?

Let’s talk about spam texts and emails

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Tuesday, May 7, 2024

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM  Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines
2 hours. An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era

11:00 AM 2 PM and 8:00 PM SAFE Radio– Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder 

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY

7:30 am Joe Landry: Funeral Homes

9:00 am Menthal Health: Donna Grady

10:00 am Frank Presents: Jamie Barrett

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Chicken Marsala

1:00 pm Pizzapalooza: Deep Dish

1:30 pm Town of Franklin Fallen Heroes Pt 2

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 5

3:30 pm Riffing on Main Street: Michael Walker Jones

4:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

5:30 pm Strawberry Stroll 2022

6:00 pm Senior Connection: Joe Landry

7:00 pm FPAC: Broadway in Franklin 2022

8:30 pm Endless Konnections: Natasha Ward Pt 2

9:30 pm Pack 92 Pinewood Derby 2022

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-13-19

9:00 am Public School Event: Horace Mann Winter Music 2021

11:30 am Rec Basketball: 6th - 8th Grade Girls Championship

1:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

2:00 pm Menthal Health: Donna Grady

5:30 pm All-Town Showcase 2024: Band

7:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse v North Attleboro 04-23-24

9:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Lacrosse v Notre Dame Academy 05-02-24

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

8:00 am School Committee 04-30-24

1:00 pm Economic Development 05-01-24

2:00 pm School Committee 04-30-24

7:00 pm Town Council-School Committee_042424

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

What's happening May 6, 2024?

Monday, May 6

7:00 pm    Planning Board  3rd floor Trng Room

• Agenda doc (includes remote participation info) 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_6_2024.pdf

7:00pm    Finance Cmte: Budget Hearing #1 of 3 - General Gov't

• Agenda doc (includes remote participation info) 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_may_6.pdf

What's happening this weekend in Franklin? 

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

Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

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 

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 Town Clerk provides Important Information for Special Election, June 11, 2024

May 3, 2024

From the Office of the Town Clerk, Nancy Danello, CMC

Re: Important information regarding the Special Election, June 11, 2024

With the formal approval of our Town Council members by Resolution 24- 21 for the purpose of a Special Election to be held on June 11, 2024 at the Franklin High School from 6 AM to 8 PM.

The question reads:

Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional 6.8 million dollars in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the operating budget for which monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024?

"The above question will be the only question on the ballot, it is a Yes or No question."

Immediately after receiving ballots, the Town Clerk's Office will be hosting in-person early voting during normal business hours which are Mon., Tues., Thurs. from 8 AM to 4 PM, Wednesday, 8 AM to 6 PM and Friday from 8 AM to 1 PM. 

There will also be one (1) weekend day which is scheduled for Saturday, June 1st from 9 AM to 4 PM in the Clerk's Office Only.

For Voters who have requested a vote by mail ballot for the State Election (11/5) by completing the card sent by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, you will also be receiving a ballot for this Special Election. We have a total of 5,000 requests so far. 

If you are unsure that your request was received please contact my office at 508-520-4900 or townclerk@franklinma.gov and we will be happy to assist you. If you would like to receive a Vote-by-Mail application please contact my office or click on the following link: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/languages/vote-by-maiI-applications.htm

Dates of Importance:

• Early Voting will commence as soon as the ballots arrive (I will notify the Voters once they are received) 
• Tabulator Testing: May 29th at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers
• Last Day to Register to vote: June 1 from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Town Clerk's Office or online at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/
• Special Election June 11, 2024 from 6 AM to 8 PM @ FHS -  All mail in ballots must be received in the Clerk's Office by 8:00 PM in order to be counted.

Download a PDF of this info as reference or to share ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hHY6WNYveV8CwmiFsUBNqoV5UrWWDHJ6/view?usp=drive_link

For the record, the ballot question for the roads dedicated override in 2014 was worded as:

"Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $1,500,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding a stabilization fund as provided in GL Chapter 40 Section 5 B, said funds to be expended solely for roadway, and related drainage work for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and sixteen?"

The only successful override to date was on May 2007 and the wording was as follows: 

"Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $2,700,000.00 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of the operating budget which monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, two thousand and seven?"

The text of all the override or debt exclusion votes can be found in one spreadsheet thanks to the info provided by our Town Clerk

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdDVWaFU0N2ZsTEE2TUVuWHk5NURvQWc#gid=0

Franklin Food Pantry Thanks Volunteers with Celebratory Luncheon

President’s Volunteer Service Award Presented to 28 Individuals for Exemplary Service

The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food assistance and essential service programs, held a volunteer luncheon to recognize and celebrate pantry volunteers who collectively gave more than 10,000 hours in 2023 to help end food insecurity. 

Held on April 24, 2024, the event took place during National Volunteer Appreciation Month and included special guests Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, and Franklin Town Board Members Cobi Frongillo and Mel Hamblen. 

Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen (R) presents David Bascom (L) with the 2023 President’s Volunteer Service Award at the Franklin Food Pantry’s annual volunteer lunch

New England Chapel of Franklin donated space for the luncheon, East Central Starbucks and Twist Bakery donated refreshments and food, and Shaw’s Supermarkets and The Chateau provided items at a discounted cost.

The celebration included presentation of the 2023 President’s Volunteer Service Award to 28 volunteers whose service positively impacts the Franklin Community and inspires others to act. 

• The Gold Award, for 500+ volunteer hours in a calendar year, was presented to Amber Baur and Community Garden volunteers. 
• The Silver Award, for 250 to 499 volunteer hours, was presented to Diane Daddario, Suzanne Gendreau, Joseph O’Koren, Kym Pruitt, and Maureen Sabolinski. 
• The Bronze Award, for 100 to 174 volunteer hours, was presented to Dominic Agostino, David Bascom, Chris Bond, Colleen Bond, Teresa Burr, Vicki Coates, Erika Cummings, David Custer, Mary Anne Dean, Kim DeCrescenzo, Robert Doyle, Angela Draper, Rachel Flum, Karen Guiliano, Richard Guiliano, Pat Llewellyn, Carol Malachowski, Donna O’Neill, Scott Pond, Nancy Schoen, and Roberta Trahan.

“Frankin Food Pantry volunteers are extraordinary individuals who have dedicated their time, effort, and compassion to serve our community,” said Tina Powderly, Executive Director Franklin Food Pantry. “Their commitment alleviates hunger and plants the seeds of empowerment, dignity, and resilience within our community.”  

Franklin Food Pantry Volunteer and Board of Director's Chairperson Rachel Flum (L) with Franklin Food Pantry Executive Director Tina Powderly (R) at the annual volunteer luncheon

Each week, more than 100 individuals volunteer at The Pantry, which strives to make the volunteer experience both welcoming and rewarding. The Pantry recently conducted a volunteer survey with 99 percent of respondents stating they enjoyed working with other volunteers, felt appreciated, found staff helpful, and are very satisfied with their volunteer experience. In 2022 and 2023, The Pantry was voted as Best Place to Volunteer by Myfm 101.3’s Quest for the Best contest.

For more information, or to submit a volunteer application, please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.

About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referral programs to more than 1,300 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 In-person Shopping, Curbside Pick-up, Emergency Food Bags, Mobile Pantries, Home Delivery, Kids’ Snack Bags, Weekend Backpacks, Holiday Meal Kits, 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.

Photos by: Lynn Ann Falvey and David Marshak, Stony Brook Camera Club 

Franklin Music Boosters: Pops Night is Wednesday, May 8

"Pops Night is Wednesday, May 8, at 7:00 PM! 

Join us at the FHS auditorium for a concert featuring high school and 8th grade musicians playing together!

A Givebutter campaign has been set up if you wish to donate electronically -> https://t.co/tudwLNhkGe"

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/MusicBoostersFr/status/1786854375140307302

Franklin Music Boosters: Pops Night is Wednesday, May 8