Franklin Matters

Friday, March 7, 2025

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, March 7, 2025

wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

Time/Day			Friday
7:00 AM	12:00 Noon	5:00 PM	Jazz
8:00 AM	1:00 PM	6:00 PM	FM News - Sherlock
9:00 AM	2:00 PM	7:00 PM	Talking Blues - Derick/Remissong
10:00 AM	3:00 PM	8:00 PM	Talking Blues - Derick/Remissong
11:00 AM	4:00 PM	9:00 PM	"The Vibe"

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

This segment features the Town Council meeting of Feb 26, 2025 conducted in less than an hour (so they could go toexecutive session for negotiation strategy) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/town-council-effectively-conducts.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong. 2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM - “The Vibe” show plays music for everyone searching for some enjoyment, some dance, a happy or thinking mood, and most importantly, having fun. Tune in to wfpr.fm and listen to “DJ Vibe” spin music across many genres and join this new vibing experience

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, March 7, 2025

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

7:00 am Franklin Library Association: Role of the Library in American Democracy

8:30 am Care For Ukraine

10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Pauline Spender

11:00 am Senior Connection: Spaghetti Bolognese

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 Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

7:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Freedom Trail

8:30 pm Veterans' Call: Steve Crouteau

9:30 pm Critical Conversations: Social Media

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2022

8:30 am Mental Health: Diane Plouffe & Jamie Barrett

9:30 am All-Town Showcase 2024: Chorus and Orchestra

11:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Canton 02-05-25

1:00 pm Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22

2:30 pm Track and Field: v King Philip 05-07-21

6:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

8:30 pm Franklin Footlighters: Footloose

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 01-30-25

12:00 pm Town Administrator's Review 02-27-25

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 01-30-25

6:00 pm Town Administrator's Review 02-27-25

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

Thursday, March 6, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, March 6, 2025 ???

Thursday, March 6

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

8:30am General Mtg - Franklin Downtown Partnership (Dean College)

5:00pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (First Universalist Society Franklin)

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 **

Conservation Commission Meeting

March 6, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/299?fileID=4146

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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

Kickstarter for Franklin, MA Creative Corner Art Studio

Creative Art Corner is owned and operated by Amy, a single mom who recognized the need for after-school care options that provide creative opportunities for working families. Her vision for the studio is to offer a safe space where children and young adults can express their emotions through art, promoting emotional healing through creative expression.

Kickstarter for Franklin, MA Creative Corner Art Studio

In light of recent cuts to extracurricular activities, including the arts, in Franklin public schools due to funding issues, this initiative becomes even more crucial. The current campaign aims to raise funds for a move to a larger location in downtown Franklin, allowing the program to expand and serve the community even better.

Funds are needed not only for the relocation but also for purchasing a new kiln, hiring staff for future events such as art exhibitions, creating dedicated space to showcase local young artists, and ensuring there are enough materials and equipment for students to create.

This new space will enable future community events, such as public art exhibits, open studio sessions, and collaborations with Dean College and its student community.

Help fund this kickstarter campaign -> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/creativeartscorner/franklin-ma-creative-art-corner-art-exhibit

14th Annual FBRTC 5K: Saturday May 17, 2025 - Registration is OPEN

Please join us for the 14th Annual FBRTC 5K Road Race

Hosted by TVFR & FBRTC

Date: Saturday May 17, 2025 Start Time: 9am

Location: Grove Street SNETT Trailhead – Parking at Waters Corporation, 210 Grove

St., Franklin, MA. 02038

Entry Info:

18 yrs & Under: $25.00 pre-registration / $30.00 day-of
19 yrs - 69 yrs: $30.00 pre-registration / $35.00 day-of
70 yrs and Above: Free

Awards:

5K Awards will be First Place Overall M/F.
Age Group Awards: Top 3 M/F: 14 & Under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Event Details:

Race start time: 9:00 AM. Registration opens at 7:30 AM.

Course Details: Out-and-back 5k on hard-packed dirt trail. Course map available soon!

Amenities:

1. Plenty of water and refreshments.

2. Walkers welcome.

3. Post-race refreshments

4. Awards to top 3 in each age group

5. Post-race gathering for raffle door prizes

6. Commemorative Race Gift to registered participants prior to Midnight April 30, 2025. Additional gifts available until they run out!

Additional Info Available at https://www.tri-valleyfrontrunners.com/fbrtc

This race benefits the continuing efforts to develop the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) into a multiuse path for Franklin & Bellingham. The SNETT is an abandoned rail bed running from Franklin through Douglas to the CT boarder, sections of which have become fully developed multi-use paths linking communities across southern Central Massachusetts. For more info & to learn how else you can help visit: https://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

OR Use this registration link -> https://www.active.com/franklin-ma/running/distance-running-races/14th-annual-fbrtc-5k-road-race-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)

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

https://gofan.co/app/school/MA14576

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.

Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAHS9BRE4cA&t=100

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 ->

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

The budget preview presentation ->

https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4620/2025-03-05-Budget-Update---Town-Coucil-Version-PDF

My notes captured during the session

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TELQ8ylitbI6RxGjNDCll4poFZsu2ONg/view?usp=drive_link

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

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