Franklin Matters

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Voices of Franklin: Time for Listening Sessions

A poetic expression on current events

What does it matter? Nothing will change at the listening session.

You mean then that your mind is so set, you can't go to a listening session

The budget is what it is. But the structural deficit is very real, things can, and do change when folks ask questions, or make comments at a listening session

There is no “found money”, it does not grow magically on trees, it comes from taxes and local receipts, those sources and the cost drivers are outlined at the listening sessions

Did you know the library card is a magic tool to gain free access to newspapers, and other online resources, all available without a listening session

Did you know the DPW plows the snow, fills potholes, flows water to your faucet, cares for the fields, and lights on the common, all available without a listening session

Did you know Police and Fire depts finally reached staffing levels authorized years ago, this staffing is now in jeopardy unless folks understand the details of these listening sessions

There is economic hardship among our neighbors, the Master Plan document lays out these details, those are available without a listening session

Did you know the national wealth gap lives here too, it should not be a surprise, all our neighbors need to understand the impact of these listening sessions

Did you know economic hardship is like a hidden disability, including stigma, it is not very visible at first glance, with or without a listening session

One point of view says we are “One Franklin.” I wish that were the case; if we have to say it, are we really? It is time for another listening session

Another point of view says “We need to save Franklin.” Actually, we do. However, this group goes on to disparage certain individuals, such attacks only divert us, from paying attention to the listening session

We are a commonwealth, we need to care of all our neighbors, some of them may be the most in need of the services that would be cut without understanding the listening session

So Sherlock, now what? We need to face that we are in this together. We need to make a decision. There are more sessions scheduled, we all need to absorb what is said, and not said, in the listening sessions

Steve Sherlock

Community Information Director (volunteer) for Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio.

Steve is a "quiet poet". Find more of his poetry at https://www.quietpoet.com

Guidelines for your submission

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Time for Listening Sessions

Teddy Gallagher's is getting ready for St Patrick's

We are ramping up for what looks to be our Best St. Patrick’s week ever!

Come in and enjoy.

Corned Beef a plenty!!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DGn8rdJRFP1/

Creative Corner Arts Studio: Upcoming Events & Classes

The Summer Program has new exciting themes with our new team. Registration is now open for all our summer sessions. Programs are offered Monday - Friday for Ages 6-11 from 8:30 AM - 12 PM and Teens Ages 12-16 from 1 PM - 4 PM. We will also offer Half Day Sessions in June for the FPS half days.

We are now hosting Thursday Night with the Arts at Birchwood Bakery Monthly. This is an opportunity for adult community members to tap into their creative side. Our next event will be Thursday, March 27th 5:30-8:00 PM. We will be doing acrylic paint on canvas with a local artist.

Thursday Night with the Arts

Cost is $65 which includes an up to 10 minute reading with nationally known medium Maria Saganis.

After School Creative Club Servicing both Elementary Schools in Franklin for the 2025-2026 school year. After School Art Programs with Transportation Options to and from the Franklin Elementary Schools. Registration is now open with limited enrollment.

We offer Friday Open Studio Nights for Teens ages 13-17 from 4-6 PM.

We host Birthday Parties, Corporate and Family Events in our creative space.

Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025: IRS warns taxpayers to watch out for dangerous threats

The Internal Revenue Service today (02/27/25) announced its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for 2025 with a warning for taxpayers, businesses and tax professionals to watch out for common schemes that threaten their tax and financial information.

Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025

Ranging from email schemes to misleading tax credits, many of the Dirty Dozen items peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns. In reality, these scams can occur throughout the year as fraudsters look for ways to steal money, personal information and data.

The IRS' annual Dirty Dozen campaign lists 12 scams and schemes that threaten taxpayers. While the Dirty Dozen is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency enforcement priorities, the education effort is designed to raise awareness and protect taxpayers and tax pros from common tax scams and schemes.

“Scammers are relentless, and they use the guise of tax season to try tricking taxpayers into falling into a variety of traps. These red flags can lead to everything from identity theft to being misled into claiming tax credits for which they’re not entitled,” said Terry Lemons, IRS communications senior adviser. “For more than two decades, the IRS has highlighted the Dirty Dozen through far-reaching communications and education campaigns as part of a wider effort by the agency to protect taxpayers from being scammed.”

Continue reading about the "Dirty Dozen" at the IRS page ->

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-tax-scams-for-2025-irs-warns-taxpayers-to-watch-out-for-dangerous-threats

Life’s Journey: The Relationships We Build along The Way - March 2

Please join the First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) on March 2, 2025 for an inspirational service of music led by the band, “Critical Mass”. Centered around the theme that we are all on a journey, the band will explore, through spoken word and song, “How we start on a journey at birth, gather friends and family, enter into or end relationships, assemble our chosen families and, most importantly, how all of these people join to support us on our personal journey.”

“Critical Mass” is comprised of members and friends of FUSF who have been playing together for over twenty years. This service will include songs by James Taylor, Josh Radin and the Traveling Willburys, among others. We hope that you will join “Critical Mass” and FUSF on March 2nd. Singing along is encouraged!

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday, March 2, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a brand new schedule for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves.

It ia available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following:

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

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday

Saturday, March 1, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, March 1, 2025 ???

Saturday, March 1

"Look Up" Gallery (during open hours) (Franklin Public Library)

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:30am Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm Saturday Sessions with George (Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions)

2:00pm Choreographers’ Concert (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

6:30pm SAFE Cafe After Dark - Free Concert w/ Chad Hollister & Primo (SAFE Coalition)

8:00pm The Rowboat (live music) (Jimmy D's Bar and Grill)

** 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

Joint Statement: School District Budget Challenges

Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.)

Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC)

Massachusetts Association of School Business Oﬃcials (MASBO)

(M.A.S.S.) (MASC) (MASBO)

February 28, 2025

A disturbing trend has emerged in school districts throughout Massachusetts. As School Committees, Superintendents, and School Business Oﬃcials grapple with budget proposals for the 2025-26 school year, more and more districts are projecting signiﬁcant budget deﬁcits. The simple reality is that in many communities, expenses are increasing at much higher rates than the revenue available to support them.

At budget hearings and community meetings across the Commonwealth, residents are presented with proposed strategies to close the ﬁscal gaps, none of which is ideal, including staﬀ layoﬀs, reduction or elimination of programs and services, and even school closures. District leaders try to reassure their constituents that they have proposed these solutions only after exhausting all other options. Many have advocated with municipal leaders for additional revenue, but cities and towns themselves are often facing economic challenges to deliver critical services.

Some communities will pursue a Proposition 2½ override to avoid cuts through increased taxes, but voters are not always willing to pay higher tax bills, particularly if their own household budgets are already strained. Even a successful override is often a temporary solution that does not address the long-term structural deﬁcits facing school districts.

Although the ﬁnancial situation in each school district is unique, we see a consistent pattern of ﬁscal pressures across a broad range of communities – whether large or small, urban, suburban, or rural. Several major expenses are increasing dramatically year after year, including out-of-district special education tuition, transportation, health insurance, utilities, and other signiﬁcant line items.

At the same time, the revenue available to most school districts remains relatively ﬂat. State funding has increased overall in recent years, but not enough to oﬀset the rapidly rising expenses. Local communities – especially those without a sizable commercial sector – rely heavily on residential taxes, which cannot increase by more than 2.5% without an override. These shortfalls are compounded by the loss of federal funding that supported pandemic recovery investments, forcing districts to choose between eliminating those interventions or redirecting other revenue to sustain them.

When faced with painful consequences – especially the loss of talented employees or vital programs for students and families – it is understandable for residents to express their anger, frustration, and fear, and to demand answers about the causes of this predicament. We urge the people of Massachusetts to know the facts and understand the statewide context before placing blame on the individuals who lead our school districts.

School Committees, Superintendents, and School Business Oﬃcials have a tremendous responsibility to manage public funds with the utmost care and with the best interest of students at the forefront. However, they are ultimately constrained by the resources available to them, particularly as the needs and costs to operate school districts continue to escalate well beyond the means of our communities.

Shared from -> https://www.massupt.org/2025/02/28/joint_statement_budgets_2-28-25/

Franklin Porchfest returns Saturday, June 7 from noon t 6 PM

We are excited to announce the return of Franklin PorchFest in 2025. PorchFest is an outdoor music event that will be held on Saturday, June 7th from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a rain date of Sunday, June 8th.

Musicians and bands of all genres will be performing on porches and patios throughout the district. This walkable event is also the perfect opportunity to check out our local shops and restaurants.

Franklin Porchfest returns Saturday, June

If you have a band or are a performer and would be interested in performing at Franklin PorchFest, click the tab up top “band” or “Porch” and register for the event. All the information you need to register is on our website Franklin PorchFest.

Franklin PorchFest is made possible with investment funds granted from the Mass Cultural Council through the Franklin Cultural District Committee and the Town of Franklin.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Franklin.PorchFest.Info

Economic Development Subcmte recommends adding shared kitchen definition for Council review (audio)

FM #1390 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1390 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 in Council Chambers. All 4 members of the subcommittee participated in Chambers (Hamblen, Sheridan, Frongillo & Chandler).

Quick recap

The meeting started and then restarted to get to the correct Zoom link so a few minutes were repeated for some on the video recording and net new for others on the proper Zoom link. This audio recording only includes from the restart
The shared kitchen definition and addition to the use tables for commercial (not residential) zones was discussed, clarified, and then moved to bring to the Town Council by a 4-0 vote
The naming of the Crossing Neighborhood District and the minor additions was agreed to in concept but after discussion determined that it is an opportunity to do more with than "just renaming". Especially with the Master Plan approved, some of those items can be considered for implementation here

Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0

The recording of the meeting runs about 58 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1390-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-02-26-25/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aC6kDo1DtM&t=408

The agenda doc -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/economic-development-to-review-proposed.html

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CkUfWVxVbGsGOp9bj8Ew6yDP8BiZDsvy/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
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"

map displaying the proposed Crossing Neighborhood District changes

Happy Birthday Franklin! Let's celebrate on Sunday, March 2, 2025

A lot of important things happened 247 years ago including the discovery of Molybdenum and oxygen, the birth of Abe Lincoln’s father, and, of course, the establishment of the Town of Franklin. Join the Franklin Historical Museum to celebrate our town’s “birth date” when it was officially incorporated as a municipal entity on March 2, 1778!

Happy Birthday Franklin

The big event is a trivia contest focused mostly on Franklin facts... The grand prize is a $50 gift certificate to the Rome Restaurant plus 5 runner-up prizes. If you are one of dozens of residents with a Mar. 2 birthday, be sure to join us for ‘bonus points.’ Our trivia MC will be Commissioner Will Lee!

And of course we will have a birthday cake, coffee, water and soda...

Join us at the Franklin Historical Museum, from 1-4 on Sunday, Mar. 2.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (except as noted above) and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.

Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

The next Joint Budget Listening Session scheduled for the Senior Center Tuesday, March 4 at 9:30 AM

The Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Tour stops at the Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 to begin at 9:30 AM.

The Joint Budget Subcommittee is composed of members of the Town Council (4), School Committee (3), and Finance Committee (3).

Joint Budget Listening Session

The listening session will be broadcast and recorded for replay. It will not enable remote partication to ask a question or make a comment.

You need to be at the Senior Center to do so. You can view the session via Comcast or Verizon subscribers and also to YouTube.

The agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042025-1558

The agenda packet includes:

a. Town Administrator FY26 Budget Update #4 Memorandum - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4201/Town-Administrator-FY26-Budget-Update-4-Memorandum-

b. Updated FY26 Budget Model (1/30/25) - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4191/02b-FY26-Budget-Control-Sheet---Control-Summary

c. Estimated Override Matrix - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4190/02c-Override-Tax-Rate-Impact-Calculationxlsx---Sheet1

d. Board of Assessors Request Letter https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4189/02d-Board-of-Assessors-Support-for-Administrative-Assistant

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:30 AM https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042025-1558

Kimberly Akimbo comes to Boston with FSPA Broadway Faculty Members

This cast features FSPA Broadway Faculty Members Emily Koch @embkoch as Debra and Jim Hogan @jimhogan220 as Buddy

"A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), KIMBERLY AKIMBO is the winner of 5 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL. It features Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone.

Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure."

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

Tickets available -> https://www.emersoncolonialtheatre.com/events/kimberly-akimbo/

Veterans Coffee scheduled for March 5 at the VFW Post 3402

March 5 at the VFW Post 3402

"Due to the Senior Center closure, our monthly Veterans Coffee Social will be held this month only (March) at the VFW Post 3402, 1034 Pond St, Franklin, MA"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eie4S96Vq/

Mental Health: Diane Plouffe & Jamie Barrett (video)

Dr Anne Bergen:

"Welcome to Mental Health, the crisis of our time.

My name is Anne Bergen. I am the host of this series of programs brought to you by Franklin TV whose mission is really to bring important topics relevant to the community out so we can inform the residents aware of issues that are very very important.