Register Now: Navigating Grief with Teens After Suicide Loss

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day offers a space for those who have lost loved ones to suicide

Supporting Teens After Suicide Loss: Film Screening and Discussion November 23 @ 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET Location Modern Theatre – Suffolk University 525 Washington St. Boston, MA 02111 International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day offers a space for those who have lost loved ones to suicide to find comfort and understanding through sharing their stories. This year, join Samaritans, Rethink The Conversation, and Coping After Suicide, for a screening of the award-winning film, Talking OutLOUD: Teens & Suicide Loss, A Conversation. Hear from Executive Producer Joanne Harpel and Coping After Suicide's national Teens Group facilitator Steven Karaiskos, who will discuss the film's impact and how to support young people coping with suicide loss. A panel of suicide loss survivors will also share their personal stories and explore the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding suicide loss. A post-event reception will be held for reflection and to connect with our community of loss survivors. This event offers a meaningful opportunity for loss survivors and those who support them to come together with a supportive community who understands the painful experience of losing a loved one to suicide. This event is suitable for ages 12 and up. Register to Attend     Watch the Trailer >>>   About Talking OutLOUD: Teens & Suicide Loss, A Conversation Nearly a million teenagers lose someone to suicide every year. Until now, there's been nothing for them in the voices of their peers. And while significant attention has been paid to the critical issue of teen suicide, the experience of teens left behind after a suicide is rarely discussed. Talking OutLOUD: Teens & Suicide Loss, A Conversation has changed that. This award-winning landmark film features five members of Coping After Suicide's Teens Group who share, with parents and family members watching, their deeply personal yet universal experiences.   This event is made possible with support from:   Losing a loved one to suicide is a painful and difficult experience. Samaritans is here to offer suicide loss survivors nonjudgmental listening and peer support. We provide in person and virtual programs to support survivors in their grieving. Get support at samaritanshope.org/gss.   Call or text 988 if you are lonely, worried about a loved one, or struggling with thoughts of suicide. We are here to listen, 24/7.  Youth under 25 can text Hey Sam at 439-726. Samaritans 41 West St., 4th Floor Boston, MA 02111

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, Nov 14, 2024

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

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p Turntable – Enjoy a fun experience with co-hosts The Vibe and Pauly G 

• Show 15 features The Beatles album experience produced by The Vibe and Pauly G called the Turntable "Extravaganza Album". It’s very difficult to select one of the 12 amazing Beatles albums for the Turntable Album Hour. This show premiers our first special album show specifically for The Fab Four.  The Extravaganza release is simple…your hosts assemble their favorite albums and hits…Prepare a Side 1 and Side 2… and take our wfpr.fm listeners on a Beatles journey.
• See the Beatles Playlist:   https://tinyurl.com/TurntablePlaylists

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Frank Presents – Notable Local Conversations

 

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

7:00 am     Fallen Heroes Pt 7

7:30 am     Veterans' Call: VA Pension

9:00 am     Sons and Daughters of Italy: Carlo Geromini

10:30 am     SAFE Coalition: Task Force

11:30 am     Cooking Thyme: Red Pepper Soup

12:00 pm     Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm     Cooking with Linda: Green Bean Casserole

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Shrimp, Tomato & Greens Pizzetta

2:00 pm     New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 3

3:00 pm     Riffing on Main Street: Michael Walker Jones

4:00 pm     Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

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

6:30 pm     Sons & Daughters of Italy: Italian Cookies

7:00 pm     Frank Presents: Christel Akouri

9:00 pm     Endless Konnections: Kevin Barthelemy

10:30 pm     The Circuit Breakers

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

7:00 am    Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2021

8:30 am    Cultural Council: BT ALC Big Band

11:00 am  FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Walpole 11-09-24

1:30 pm    FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

2:30 pm    Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

4:00 pm    FHS Varsity Volleyball v Belmont 11-06-24

8:00 pm    FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

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

8:00 am     Conservation Commission 10-30-24

12:00 pm     Police Station Building Committee 10-30-24

2:00 pm     Conservation Commission 10-30-24

6:00 pm     Police Station Bldg Committee REMOTE 812 2036 0020

6:30 pm     Master Plan Committee Final Draft Presentation (No other details)

7:00 pm     Conservation Commission REMOTE 991 7164 0664

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 in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 ???

Wednesday, November 13

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library)
• Food Pantry Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's all day today

9:15am Moms Only Stroll (Cochituate Rail Trail Natick Terminus)

1pm Writer's Group (Franklin Senior Center) 

5pm Weekly Trivia Night (GlenPharmer Distillery) 

6pm Community Game Night (Franklin Public Library)

6pm Moms Only Stroll (Southern New England Trunkline Trail, Grove St) 

7pm My Favorite Year (Dean College Main Stage Theatre)

**  Town Meetings today   **

School Comm. Contractual Negotiations (executive session)

Event Date:  Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 5:30pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/negotiationa_agenda_-_11_13_24.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting  (Council Chambers & broadcast)

Event Date:  Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 5:45pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/november_13_2024_edc_agenda.pdf

Town Council Meeting (Council Chambers & broadcast)

Event Date:  Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_13_2024_tc_agenda.pdf

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

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:

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

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

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Franklin Garden Club to Sell Decorated Holiday Wreaths and Arrangements

The Franklin Garden Club will sell decorated holiday wreaths, swags, patio and cemetery boxes, and sleds and skates on Saturday, December 7, from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM at Daddario’s Hardware Store, 528 West Central Street, Franklin, MA.  

In addition, holiday fresh floral arrangements will be sold on Instagram and Facebook beginning December 17. The Franklin Garden Club Instagram handle is @franklingardenclubma. The sales will benefit several different club activities.  Payment for all purchases can be made with cash, check, or credit card. 

The fresh wreaths and swags will be decorated in a variety of colors and styles and will include eye-catching bows and other ornamentation. Many will include a variety of greens, as will the patio and cemetery boxes.  Pricing for all items will range from $25 - $40.

Decorated Holiday Wreaths and Arrangements

Club Co-Presidents Pat Donnelly and Mary Anne Dean stated, “We are very excited to offer area residents the opportunity to purchase beautiful holiday wreaths and arrangements created by members of the Franklin Garden Club. This will help those who may not have the time to decorate their own wreaths or make arrangements, while also assisting the Club." 

All proceeds will benefit Garden Club activities, including the Club scholarship, pine tree seedling program for elementary school students, some of the Franklin Common and library plantings, and education programs open to the public. The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.  

This Chalkboard Chat recaps the Joint Budget meeting & the need to begin discussions now (audio)

FM #1313 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1313 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Vice-Chair Dave McNeill. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion via the Zoom conference bridge on Thursday, November 7, 2024. We recapped the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting of Oct 23, 2024. 

 

We cover 

• The budget work continues with Joint Budget revelation of $3.7M shortfall

• Reorganization provides minimal savings, mostly in Facilities on Town side

• Level service means no additions to current budget which was significantly cut and added fees due to the failed override

• Ultimately the Subcommittee came together that there is a significant hole for FY 2026

• Town to add their wish list to go along with the Tier 2, 3, & 4 cuts as presented in June

• School to bring updated figures forward months earlier than normal

• Subcommittee to work through the wish list to get to the needs, review priorities

• Town Council committed to discuss an override question (yes or no) at a February 2025 meeting; assuming yes, then also to set date, and choose an amount

• No reason not to begin discussions with community around the minimum shortfall and how to handle it

The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1313-chalkboard-chat-recaps-the-joint-budget-subcmte-mtg-11-07-24/

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Contact info for Dave McNeill ->  mcneilld@franklinps.net   

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

• Agenda for Oct 23, 2024 session -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/jbsc_agenda_revised_oct_23_2024.pdf   

• Franklin TV video of session -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWmbJdKWrAY

• wfpr.fm audio of the session ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/10/joint-budget-subcmte-meeting-oct-23-24.html 

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

• 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"

This Chalkboard Chat recaps the Joint Budget meeting & the need to begin discussions now (audio)

School Committee keeps leadership, gets update on Middle Schools, and redistricting progress (video)

The Franklin School Committee met on Tuesday, Nov 12 at 7 PM as scheduled. 6 members were present in Council Chambers, one participated remotely (Gallagher)

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZaZ-akfth8

Agenda for this session ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/fps_meeting_1.pdf

Quick recap:

• School committee voted to continue their leadership team. Griffin was nominated as well as Callaghan for Chair but Callaghan prevailed with a 5-2 (Griffin, Gallagher) vote. McNeill continues as Vice-Chair by a 7-0 vote. Both votes via roll call
• Announcement of MASS student awards for Ella Mahoney and Noah Gorgas
• Middle school presentation & update; If we had more money we could have more clubs and reach more students and their interests Hopeful with the single school next year to be able to do more for the whole population of middle schoolers, more flexibility and opportunities
• Update on the district reorganization From Colin & Lucas
• 29 of the 54 possible students for the DT exemption committed to do so, Staff placement being worked, All dependent upon the budget
• Pond St facility (former Kennedy school) would be the site for an expansion for the ECDC not a replacement of, ECDC was purpose built and will remain, but expanding capacity by using space at Pond St is what is being planned
• Clarification on ECDC expansion, it would be done in phases, the focus is to provide the education space for ECDC population, which is growing, and we won't be able to utilize the Middle school space we have used at Horace Mann
• Key stat 97% of the K-5 teachers got their first choice. There is the plus one for 2nd at North and down one on South so it is budget neutral not a $75K cost as might have been in worst case
• Consideration for moving staff and furniture with the teachers where possible, Capital planning underway, don't know enough details yet but as they rise up, they will be shared

Entered executive session not to return to open meeting

Middle school slides (to be posted to web Weds/Thur)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mJFrSfDhaJYbojfh8

Redistricting update slides (to be posted to web Weds/Thur)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ADsFSJtAkHctX7Rq8

My notes captured in one PDF file ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r6Fpd_A-8cBzKBLdigphSMvcxcy53mfo/view?usp=drive_link

MASS student awards for Ella Mahoney and Noah Gorgas

Rise Up scheduled for this Saturday, Nov 16 at 10 AM

Hi all,

Rise Up is this Saturday and I'm excited to see you!

Date: November 16

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: Franklin United Methodist Church, 82 West Central Street, Franklin (Parking and ramp/door on the left side)

Agenda: 

In addition to open social time, we will also have:

- free clothes shopping from the Church's Community Closet that will be brought down and made accessible (donated new or used clothing)

- crafting a wreath for "A Wreath of Franklin" event hosted by Franklin Cultural Council (Note: If you have any medical supplies that could help create our wreath, such as tape, tubing, caps, coban, etc, please bring it with you, as our wreath will be made from medical supplies with a wheelchair wheel as the circle. I have a wheel.)

You are welcome to participate in all of it, or pick and choose what you would like to do.

See you in a few days!

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This one-hour social meet-up is intended to be a safe space for:

• individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
• community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
• support persons to meet other support persons

For additional information about this event, please visit ->  https://alirheaume.com/rise-up

Navigating life with disability? Check out the Rise Up group meeting Saturday at 10 AM to see if it is for you

Attention Middle and High School Students: Join Pantry Elves and Help Raise Funds for the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food and household necessities, invites middle and high school students to volunteer for the Pantry Elves campaign!  

Join Pantry Elves

Since 2005, hundreds of students have participated in this holiday-inspired campaign, which has evolved into one of The Pantry's largest fundraising events of the year. The annual campaign has been instrumental in raising funds to fight food insecurity during the holiday season and throughout the year.  

This year, Pantry Elves will fundraise electronically from their friends and family members and will not canvass neighborhoods. Donations, which will be used to purchase fresh produce, dairy, meats and proteins, and household necessities, will be sent directly to The Pantry.  

Pantry Elves registration is open through December 2, 2024, and volunteers will receive 12 hours of community service.

To register, visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/pantryelves, or contact Jen Johnson, Development Associate Franklin Food Pantry, at jjohnson@franklinfoodpantry.org. 

Can you help with finding a new home for the Pinewood Derby?

"Cub Scout Pack 92 is in search of a location to host their Pinewood Derby this year. 

We are looking for a wide open, heated, indoor space that can accommodate our 45 ft. track and seating for 80-90 people.   

Our target date is Sunday February 9 2025.  If you know of any locations around town or surrounding towns that might be a good fit please reach out to franklinpack92@gmail.com."

Find more info about Cub Scout Pack 92 -> https://franklinpack92.org/

Can you help with finding a new home for the Pinewood Derby?

Master Plan Update: Implementation Program: Strategies and Actions - Traffic, Community Services, & Housing

Over the next couple of days, sections of the Master Plan Update "final draft" will be shared to prepare for the Public Hearing scheduled for Thursday, Nov 14. 

The presentation and hearing will begin at 6:30 PM in the 3rd Floor Training Room of the Municipal Building. Franklin TV is scheduled to broadcast the event (and record for future viewing).

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Key Issues and Opportunities

This document outlines the major challenges currently faced by the Town of Franklin. These key issues, along with potential opportunities, are instrumental in understanding and shaping the Town’s Master Plan update. Additionally, they contribute to the formulation of the town’s vision, goals, and strategies for the next ten to twenty years.

PDF for this section:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BZ_xY4ypsvRl1esW3dmJe5zrMajEgCer/view?usp=drive_link

Implementation Program: Strategies and Actions

Master Plan Strategies are intended to inform decision-making and ensure that community development aligns with the goals of the master plan. These strategies are crafted through an assessment of current conditions, emerging trends, and future projections for the community. Once established, these strategies serve as a framework for decisions related to land use, zoning regulations, transportation infrastructure, and various elements of community development.

Master Plan Action Items represent specific tasks required to achieve the goals and objectives detailed in the master plan. They are individual steps necessary to implement the guiding strategies and achieve the desired outcomes.

Given the complex table structure of the detailed implementation plans, I have broken out each section in a single PDF for easier reading by topic.

Traffic

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B7fN-FnlbtB8rooBt4QkfWdpOIY-h1gX/view?usp=drive_link

Community Services

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BFiwFUTZ9C9_ldaav7OajhJBg4t7g5FW/view?usp=drive_link

Housing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BJRdd-8ttKp_O-pKHlZcGEIk4kycjzGI/view?usp=drive_link

The last 3 sections will be shared tomorrow

The full Master Plan Update final draft report can be found on the Town page ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/franklin_master_plan_final_draft_report-nov2024.pdf

Master Plan Update: Implementation Program: Strategies and Actions - Traffic, Community Services, & Housing

Request for Qualifications - General Contractor and Subcontractor Prequalification for Fisher Street Water Treatment Plant Upgrade

The Town of Franklin, through the Purchasing Department, invites sealed responses for: General Contractor & Subcontractor Prequalification for the Fisher Street Water Treatment Plant Upgrades

Additional Information:  Request for Qualifications for General Contractor and Subcontractor Prequalification for the Fisher Street Water Treatment Plant Upgrades.

Read more -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/request-qualifications-general-contractor-and-subcontractor-prequalification-fisher

Request for Qualifications - General Contractor and Subcontractor Prequalification for Fisher Street Water Treatment Plant Upgrade