Thursday, March 6, 2025

Gary Premo talks about the growth and expansion of the MECC (audio)

FM #1395 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1395 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Gary Premo, Executive Director of the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC). We had our conversation at the MECC on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.  

  • Gary provides his background
  • Operations at the MECC
  • What to expect when you call 911
  • Growth and possible expansion


The meeting runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Gary on emergency dispatch operations.

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1395-metacometemergency-comms-center-02-26-25/


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Metacomet Emergency Communication Center home page 

https://www.meccdispatch.org/ 


Member communities -> https://www.meccdispatch.org/home/pages/visit-our-member-communities 


Facebook page -> https://www.facebook.com/meccdispatch 


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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 out. 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"


Gary Premo talks about the growth and expansion of the MECC (audio)
Gary Premo talks about the growth and expansion of the MECC (audio)

FHS #1 seed boys basketball team plays #8 seed Bridgewater-Raynham today at 6 PM

FHS #1 seed boys basketball team plays #8 seed Bridgewater-Raynham today at 6 PM
FHS #1 seed boys basketball team


Boys Basketball
Division 1

#8 Bridgewater-Raynham @ #1 Franklin, 6:00


You can watch the live stream via Franklin TV -> https://bit.ly/FTV-Schools


Tickets must be purchased via GoFan



Franklin Town Council gets update on the FY 2026 deficit, primed with a brief performance by an FHS student quartet (video)

The Town Council met as scheduled Wednesday, March 5 for an entertaining and eye opening long session. They closed out after 3 hours and 40 minutes covering a variety of topics, budget, budget, budget being the key but including some breaking news items with potential positive budget affects too.


Quick recap
  • Police officer Steven Dejoie sworn in replacing Officer Lawrence who had retired a couple of months ago
  • A string quartet of FHS strudents played a brief piece as part of a recognition of their music achievements which also resulted in a formal proclamation of their accomplishments. Many other students recognized were in the audiance as well
  • Dan Sherman provided the annual update on the town progress towards funding their OPEB liability. We are in good stead, better off than mnay other MA communities. We will do better once the Norfolk Retirement liability is paid off (2035ish) and that aminut of funding can be shifted to the OPEB liability to advance the payoff schedule
  • FY 2026 - Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the preview of the budget, some updates had been previewed most recently on Tuesday at the Senior Center with the Joint BUdget Listening Session. More was expanded upon here. The documents will be posted to the Town budget page today. We are in a $3.8M deficit and coming up with that (an an amount close to it) is likely h only way to maintain "level service". What we have is what will stay, if we want increases or expansions to such services, we need to get by this one first before considerning more. "we need a win" someone said in the course of the discussion
  • Approval for easement granted to DCR for access to SNETT extension, also a commitment from them for $1M to help prepare it when the trail does beome ours (will take time with Federal process)
  • From TA Report - another first in that the Town is first in usng opiod funding for the Art Pharmacy program, more to come on this exciting opportunity for health with an economic development aspect for local arts/culture organizations
The agenda doc ->

The budget preview presentation ->

My notes captured during the session



string quartet of FHS strudents
string quartet of FHS strudents


350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting - March 6 at 7 PM

Our 350 Mass Greater Franklin node meeting will be held THURSDAY, March 6, 7:00-9:00 pm.

This will be both in-person and by Zoom, with the in-person meeting taking place at First Universalist Society in Franklin at 262 Chestnut Street at 7:00 pm. Bring your friends!
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting - March 6 at 7 PM
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting - March 6 at 7 PM


Meeting Zoom link:

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274    Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

Topics for the node meeting include:

1. Rep. Jeff Roy's move from TUE Chair to close advisor to House Speaker Ron Mariano. The new TUE House Co-Chair is state Representative Mark Cusack, a Braintree Democrat who last chaired the revenue committee.

2. The next few steps in advocating for a Franklin Opt-in Specialized Stretch Code.

3. Sign up for Friday's ZeroCarbonMA webinar today:

ZeroCarbonMA will be holding a presentation on the Opt-in Specialized Code this Friday March 7, from 12:30-1:30 PM.  The Opt-in Specialized Code was introduced in Massachusetts in late December 2022 as part of a mandated update to our State building codes.  Since then, an astounding 30% of the MA population – 48 communities – have adopted this building code with overwhelmingly positive votes in Town Meetings and City Councils.  Come learn how you can help lead your community to adopt this important building code, protecting your community from significant future costs and current health risks, as well as aligning with State and local climate goals.   

Panelists include Lisa Cunningham, ZeroCarbonMA, Cindy Arens, Sustainable Lexington Chair, Alexander Gard-Murray, Executive Director Passive House MA, and Mark Sandeen, Lexington Select Board member.  We plan to have plenty of time for a Q and A at the end of the presentation.  We also welcome members from communities who have already passed this legislation to attend and contribute to the discussion.   

Please register in advance for this ZeroCarbonMA meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4Qfi8ZpmTOi3vItaJu5q5w

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  

Hoping to see you this Thursday at 7 PM, in person or by Zoom.

With gratitude,
Carolyn and Steve 

Derdiarian


Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Part 1 Jan 16, 2025 (video)

Jay Horrigan and Steve Dubzinski of the MIAA talk with 3 athletes of the month in this session, part 1 of 2


Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Part 1 Jan 16, 2025 (video)
Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Part 1 Jan 16, 2025 (video)


Dine out at Hot Table on March 18 to help the Music Boosters

Dine out at Hot Table on March 18 to help the Music Boosters
Dine out at Hot Table on March 18 
"Join us for a night of dining out at Hot Table on March 18th and support Franklin Music!  
When you order between 4 and 9 pm, 35% will be donated to the Franklin Music Boosters.  
Bring this flyer with you when ordering or use code GIVE35 when ordering online. "

Shared from -> https://t.co/IVlABK4Ak4



Chunky Knit Blanket Workshop 3/20


Chunky Blanket One-Night Workshop

Learn to hand-knit a blanket within just a few hours! Come to this therapeutic, meditative, and fun workshop.

For information and to register, visit:

Community Learning Workshops and Special Events

Instagram  Facebook  X

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street Room 137 | Franklin, MA 02038 US


Constant Contact

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, March 6, 2025

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

Time/DayThursday
7:00 AM12:00 Noon5:00 PMJazz
8:00 AM1:00 PM6:00 PMFM Gov - Sherlock
9:00 AM2:00 PM7:00 PMTurntable Hr 1 - Vibe/PaulyG
10:00 AM3:00 PM8:00 PMTurntable Hr 2- Vibe/PaulyG
11:00 AM4:00 PM9:00 PMMusic
 

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events 

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM - first hour
10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - second hour

Turntable – "Enjoy a fun experience with co-hosts The Vibe and Pauly G sharing personal discussions about a featured rock n roll vinyl record (1st hour) and the best, all music Vibe Playlist (2nd hour)"  

The Turntable Show features the Rolling Stones "Tattoo You" record released August 24, 1981.  The Stones branded the World's Greatest Rock n Roll Band produced one of their top selling albums ranked No. 34 on Rolling Stone magazine's 1989 list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.  The Vibe Playlist hour delivers a ready-to-play set of top studio and live cuts mixed for your next rock'n experience.



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
Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, March 6, 2025

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

7:30 am Veterans' Call: Steve Crouteau
10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Woody Geissman
11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Red Pepper Soup
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Tai Salad
12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Monkey Bread
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 1
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer '19 Show 2
3:00 pm Riffin' on Main Street: Pauline Spender
4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith
5:00 pm Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture
6:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta
7:00 pm Care For Ukraine
9:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Freedom Trail

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

7:00 am FHS Jazz Cafe 2024
8:30 am Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22
10:00 am FHS Varsity Swimming v Attleboro 01-12-24
2:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies
4:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey v Arlington 02-25-25
5:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith
6:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Canton 02-05-25
9:00 pm Franklin Footlighters: Footloose

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 02-06-25
12:00 pm Economic Development 02-26-25
2:00 pm Conservation Commission 02-06-25
7:00 pm Conservation Commission  CHAMBERS  977 1771 8507


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
Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 ???

Wednesday, March 5
  • "Look Up" Gallery (during Franklin Public Library open hours )
12:00pm Community Conversations (THE BLACK BOX)

For additional details on the Library & Senior Center calendar check the interactive version on the Town page -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false
For additional details on the Library & Senior Center calendar check the interactive version on the Town page -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false



**   Town Meetings today   **

Community Conversation at THE BLACK BOX

March 5, 2025, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

no agenda at this time


Town Council Meeting

March 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052025-1608 



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Why are there multiple calendars?
What's happening today in Franklin?
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

Fallen Hero Recognition schedule for March 2025

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.
  • March 10 – Marshall E. Rollins - WWII
  • March 10 – John A. Schur - WWII
  • March 18 – Elton E. Ekstrom - WWII
  • March 30 – W. Franklin Lynch - WWI

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

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

Fallen Hero Recognition schedule for March 2025
Fallen Hero Recognition schedule for March 2025