Reminder: Order your CharCUTErie Box before Feb 9 to help The Pantry

Order your CharCUTErie Box before Feb 9

Order your Franklin Food Pantry CharCUTErie Box from K Cooks LLC Each box includes three cheeses, three meats, fruits, veggies, and sweets.  

Cost is $30 per box, and 50% of your sale will be donated to The Pantry!  

Pickup is at The SHED craft bar & kitchen, on February 13 between 4 and 5 PM  

Stay for dinner on February 13 and The Shed will donate 10% of your check to The Pantry! Order online through February 9th or while supplies last: https://bit.ly/3BYbIaq

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1AukR1WkYm/

Scan the QR Code in the image, or go to the order form ->    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1i3tbbSz8wzzD-VnS1EYe9QNmgCGoDX_apgytciz1e0c/edit

FHS Girls Basketball Boosters asking for help to support their fund raising efforts

consider donating to the fundraiser

FHS Girls Basketball Boosters (@fhsgbbboosters) posted on Sun, Jan 26, 2025:

Please consider donating to the @fhsgvbasketball fundraiser. We rely heavily on the community to support our program. 

Use the link below or the QR code. 

https://t.co/y5l4fbEcOE

Thank you so much for taking the time to view our fundraiser

Thank you in advance for your support! https://t.co/5IRlItJioV

Senior Center event highlights for week of Jan 27 - Jan 31, 2025

Senior Center event highlights

 

"Here’s what’s happening at the #franklinseniorcenter this week. Come join us for some fun! 

*** NO CHAIR YOGA THIS WEEK ***"

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFSruCNRlQR/

For details on these highlight events, or on the regular daily schedule, please visit the Senior Center online at ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&Keywords=&startDate=&enddate=&

"rents in metro Denver declined year-over-year… The region added nearly 20,000 new apartments last year"

rents in metro Denver declined year-over-year

Jonathan Berk (@berkie1) posted Sat, Jan 25, 2025:

"For only the third time in records going back to 1990, rents in metro Denver declined year-over-year… 

The region added nearly 20,000 new apartments last year, about double the typical pace seen in recent years." https://t.co/TOe4kXmYMw

Shared from ->   https://x.com/berkie1/status/1883291581199098115?

Link to Denver Post article ->   https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/metro-denver-apartment-rents-plunge-in-fourth-quarter-as-a-blizzard-of-new-units-descend-on-market/ar-AA1xNsWh

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Monday, Jan 27, 2025

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

9 AM 12 PM and 6 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM - Frank’s Music – with Frank Falvey

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

7:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Jacob Juncker

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports

9:00 am Martin Luther King, Jr Convocation

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies

12:30 pm CookwLinda_Chicken_111224F

1:04 pm Comfort Food: Comfort Food

1:33 pm Pizzapalooza: Game Day Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

4:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Freedom Trail

5:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

7:00 pm Frank Presents: KP Sompally

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Seth Glier

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

8:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Basketball v Sharon 01-24-25

10:30 am Lifelong Music: Band & Elementary Glee

12:00 pm Lifelong Music: Strings School

1:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

3:30 pm Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 3 01-15-19

7:30 pm SAFE Coalition: Youth Sports

8:30 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey v Taunton 01-11-25

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

8:00 am Planning Board 01-13-25

2:00 pm Planning Board 01-13-25

6:00 pm  Master Plan Committee  TRAINING Fl3  872 0086 6938

7:00 pm Planning Board  CHAMBERS  948 7766 3615

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

Budget, budget, budget - oh, and the 'Master Plan' are key topics for the week beginning January 27

Looking ahead to the week beginning January 27, 2025

Yes, the FY 2026 budget and "Master Plan" takes center stage this week. 

Monday begins with a couple of key sessions: 

• School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan amd Vice Chair David McNeill hold a "State of the Schools" session at the Franklin TV studio at 7 PM. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/reminder-state-of-franklin-schools-jan.html
• The Master Plan Update committee mets at 6:00 PM to finalize their doc and presentation of the "Master Plan" to the Planning Board meeting at 7 PM the same night.  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272025-1476

The School District brings the "Superintendent Recommended Budget" forward at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 28.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-for_01254023424.html

The Town Council Capital Budget subcommittee gets their view on the capital budget approved last week by the Finance Committee  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-capital-budget-subcommittee.html

The first of six Listening Sessions begins Thursday, January 30 at the Elks Lodge. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/all-of-us-are-worthy-of-welcome-video.html

Note: only the March 8 session at the Council Chambers is scheduled to enable remote participation. All six sessions will be broadcast to Comcast, Verizon, & YouTube. 

ONLY, the March 8 session will include Zoom to enable a question or comment. If you want to ask a question, make a comment, or suggestion, you need to be there for the other 5 sessions.

https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Looking back at the week that was 

(January 20 - 26, 2025)

The Town of Franklin updated its webpage (breaking all prior links). If you set up an account, you can enable more notifications for specific topics (i.e meeting agendas, etc.) than previously. I did so and they are working well.

The School Committe and the Town Council both met at the same time on Wednesday, Jan 22. While Chris broadcast and recorded the Council meeting, I was upstairs in the training room recording the audio for the School's budget workshop. 

School Committee budget workshop recap & audio (exclusive) ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/school-committee-gets-preview-in.html

Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the meeting ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/tom-mercer-condenses-jan-22-2025-town.html

Town Council video & audio links ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/town-council-meeting-of-jan-22-2025.html

Budget, budget, budget - oh, and the 'Master Plan' are key topics for the week beginning January 27

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For all the meetings and cultural eventss, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
• Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> 

https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, January 26, 2025 ???

Sunday, January 26

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library) 
• Last days to buy Music Booster calendar raffle for February

9:00am Fallen Heroes: William 0. Martello (Veterans Walkway, Town Common)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free) 

1:30pm Vera Meyer performs on Ben Franklin’s glass armonica (Dean college, Marvin Chapel)

2:00pm Family Concert Series: Discover the World of Classical Music (THE BLACK BOX)

2:30pm Chess Group (Franklin Public Library)

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

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

Fallen Hero Recognition: William O. Martello - Jan 26, 2025 - 9 AM

Memorial event today (1/26/25) at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor William O. Martello.   

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  may be available for that veteran.  This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

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Fallen Hero: Ensign William O. Martello, U.S. Navy

Ensign William Olindo Martello, U.S. Navy, was born on April 14, 1920, son of Theresa and Olindo Martelli. Willam was raised by Theresa and her second husband, Nicholas Martello, at 17 Howard Street with his four sisters and one brother. “Willie” attended the Franklin Schools and graduated from Franklin High School in 1937. William went on to Boston University where he graduated with honors with an A.B. degree and was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa.  

William Martello was a student, artist and musician as well as a fighting man. “Willie” was an accomplished concert pianist and was rated as one of the most promising young pianists in New England. Prior to his naval service “Lindy” traveled on the Grace cruise line to South American as an onboard pianist.  

William O. Martello enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves on April 17, 1942 and later began his active naval service on April 8, 1943. William O. Martello attended Columbia’s naval officers training program and was commissioned an ensign upon completion of the program on July 28, 1943. He served as second in command aboard an invasion craft off the coast of the Anzio beachhead below Rome. Survivors of Ensign Martello’s landing craft, which had struck a mine in the waters off Anzio, reported that Ensign Martello had refused to heed the order to abandon ship, had fitted out a life raft with provisions, and when last seen, just as the ship turned over and went down, was hurling life belts into the sea for his crewmen swimming in the water.  

A month before his death Ensign William O. Martello wrote to his mother the following lines in a letter to her: 

“As for the war, we had to adjust ourselves to the personal problems it brought, and if a guy can’t take it, then his life is a failure. That is why I am not even afraid of death. If I did one thing that indicated cowardness, the rest of my life would be miserable.” 

Ensign William O. Martello, U.S. Navy, was lost at sea off Anzio on January 26, 1944 at the age of 23.

Fallen Hero: Ensign Martello

For the full published series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

Photo album of the Fallen Hero pillars along the Veterans Walkway

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oRGdmq9krLNEBnjJ7

You can find all the videos for 2024 in one playlist -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo3eJGInVXU&list=PLbAODFjFPJ0zOqXRuHZ5-_LPf6UwmBNSA

Franklin, MA: Capital Budget Subcommittee - Agenda for Meeting Jan 29, at 7 PM

Capital Budget Subcommittee 

Meeting Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 7:00 PM

1. FY25 Capital Plan & Subcommittee recommendations 

a. Town Administrator Memo  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4098/2025-01-29-CBSC-Agenda---1a-FY25-Capital

b. FY25 Department Summary Requests & Capital Plans  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4117/1b---Capital---Dept-Requests-and-5-Year-Plans

c. Quotes  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4116/1c-Quotes

2. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-1526

The capital budget proposal on the agenda for the Capital Budget Subcommittee Wednesday

The Finance Committee reviewed this capital budget among the items on its agenda at their Jan 15 meeting. The recap, audio and video links are available here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/finance-committee-approves-recommended_0799398139.html

Town Council meeting of Jan 22, 2025 available for audio replay (audio)

FM #1362  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1362 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, January 22, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers. 

Quick recap:

• APPOINTMENTS - Police Station Building Committee - Andrew Woodward

• PUBLIC HEARING - rescheduled to Feb 5; New Common Victualler Section 12 Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License and Approval of Karan Goswami as the Manager - Kaushik Restaurants Inc. d/b/a Mirchi Indian Cuisine

• PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION on Maple Hill and Schmidt Farm Update - Breeka Li Goodlander, Conservation Director

• 2 Zoning Bylaw Amendments for Signs, first reading and approved to move to second reading

• 2 Zoning Bylaw Amendments for their second reading, and receiving unanimous final approval

• Grant of Underground Gas Distribution System Easement for work by Eversource at the Pump Station near the Recreation Dept.

• Approval of a donation for the Senior Center

• TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

• Emergency housing potentially ended by year end (if not sooner)

• New website, agenda issue for Jamie, kins to be worked out

• Senior Center heating issue, funding planned for ‘permanent’ fix

Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs about 2 hours and 10 minutes.  Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1362-town-council-mtg-01-22-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/whUEjE1HPjY?&t=149 

The agenda doc -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01222025-1501 

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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

• 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

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"

Town Council meeting video available for replay - Jan 22, 2025 (video)

FHS girls hockey fall to Medfield 1-2 on Saturday (video)

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Saturday, January 25, 2025

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 1 vs. Medfield, 2 – Final

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

West Springfield Tournament (Franklin), 10:00AM 

- no results available at this time

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required) 

https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-25-25/

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