Join us at our fourth annual Celebrate with Pride 2025 - Saturday, June 21

We're so excited to announce that over 40 vendors have already signed up to celebrate PRIDE with us! 

 

Join us at our fourth annual Celebrate with Pride 2025 - Saturday, June 21

Don't miss your chance to be a part of this exciting event. 

 

If you're interested in participating as a vendor or an event volunteer, just click and follow the link! https://franklinlgbtqalliance.com/pride-2025

 

 

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/12M3JDV4iFS/

Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Override -> Questions 1 - 4

Frequently Asked Questions - shared from the Town of Franklin FY 2026 Override Information page. There are 40 and a form to ask another question if it is not already listed there -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/Faq.aspx?TID=41

 

1. How does an override work?

    By passing an override, the Town can assess taxes in excess of the automatic annual 2.5% increase and any increase due to new growth.  An override results in a permanent increase in the levy limit and allows the Town to fund services and programs we believe the community expects and desires.

2. How does Proposition 2 ½ limit tax increases?

    Proposition 2 ½ is a state law that was enacted in 1980. It limits the total amount of property taxes that a city or town can assess each year. The “levy limit” or total tax amount a town is allowed to collect cannot increase by more than 2.5% per year, plus the impact of new growth, unless there is a vote to override this limit. Individual tax bills are impacted by changes to the relative value of residential and commercial properties and localized changes in real estate values. However, if the town had no new construction in a given year AND all of the real estate in town increased in value by exactly the same amount, say 10%, then every property tax bill would increase by 2.5% the following year. See an example below.

Proposition 2 ½ - FAQ - Q2

3. What’s the difference between an override and a debt exclusion?

    While an override results in a permanent tax increase that is used to fund recurring operational expenses, debt exclusions result in a temporary tax increase to pay the debt service from bonding for a specific capital project, such as building a new school. For debt exclusions, the debt service costs are added to the levy limit for the life of the debt only (typically between 10-30 years). Thus, unlike overrides, debt exclusions do not become part of the base used to calculate future years’ levy limits.

4. What is the amount of the override?

    The amount of the override is $3,862,672 and it is to fix the Town’s Structural Budget Deficit in order to provide level service, meaning the same level of service the Town is providing today.

Additional info can be found on the Town FY 2026 Override page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/1089/Fiscal-Year-2026-Override-Information

Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Override -> Questions 1 - 4

The SAFE Gala Auction is going digital so that anyone, anywhere can participate

The SAFE Gala Auction is going digital
so that anyone, anywhere can participate

This year, the SAFE Gala Auction is going digital so that anyone, anywhere can participate and make a difference by bidding on items in our silent auction! 

 

Start bidding now: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/safegala/items/

Not attending the gala? That's okay! You will just need to register for the auction by following these simple steps:

1. Go to the “Purchase Tickets” page

2. Select the “Silent Auction Access” package

3. Complete registration

4. Select “Set up Bidding”

5. Follow prompts Start bidding!

#safegala25 #makeadifference #onlineauction #massachusetts

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1AYjS5nWGS/ 

Consider Creative Corner kids art activities for June school half days

Consider Creative Corner kids art
activities for June school half days

 

June half days we have programs 12:30 to 5:30 PM and school pick up options for some schools too ! 

 

 

LARGE NEW SPACE/ LOCATION to Birchwood Bakery, 99 Main St.

Register -> 
www.creativecornerartstudiofranklin.com

 

 

 

 

 

Shared from -> 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJG6Uz5xFONPbvL5YVowvQzfle2ttMiOcKS2l40/?

Updates to Beaver St. Interceptor Project: Grove St Closed at MBTA tracks week of 5/5 to 5/9

GROVE STREET ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE!!

Starting Monday (5/5) Grove Street will be closed at the MBTA train tracks between the hours of 7 AM and 4 PM.  Then on Tuesday (5/6) starting at 7 AM the area will be closed 24 hours a day until Friday (5/9).  This full time closure is needed for the installation of the sewer main under the train tracks. 

Beaver St. Interceptor Project

Traffic turning onto Grove St from Rt. 140 will be detoured over to Beaver Street via Rt. 140. Please follow posted detour signs for directions. Access to all businesses and properties on Grove Street between Forge Hill Road and Rt. 140 will be open to local traffic only. 

The contractor will also be working off the road at 38 Pond Street, Franklin Village Mall and at 260 Fisher Street. This work will happen throughout the week and limited to no traffic impacts are expected.

At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with preparation for the masons to be onsite to construct the exterior building structure.  

For additional info on the project -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Franklin Youth Soccer Assoc fund raiser at both Franklin Honey Dews - Saturday, May 3

 

Franklin Youth Soccer Assoc  fund raiser at
both Franklin Honey Dews - Saturday, May 3

 

Grab a drink on the way to the fields on Saturday! 

 

Honey Dew is donating 10% of sales from BOTH locations on Saturday 5/3 to FYSA! 

 

Share with your local friends and neighbors!

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/18jp8S1uDk/ 

Teddy Gallagher's Smart Phone Trivia on Tuesdays

Best Trivia around at 7:30 PM

 

Tuesday night fun! 

Great food and drink, the Best Trivia around at 7:30 PM

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DJCwtRVRR4c/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday, May 3, 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 is 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:

 

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday

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 Saturday

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, May 2, 2025 ???

Library & Senior Center events

Friday, May 2

** Tri-County: Support the Class of 2026 & Enjoy Panera Bread

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)
1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)
6:00pm High School Musical Jr (Franklin High School)
7:00pm CAFE MURDER (THE BLACK BOX)
7:00pm Dance Senior Showcase (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  NO  Town Meetings today   **

 

-------------

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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 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-calendar

Finance Committee closes out FY 2026 budget hearings (video)

The Finance Committee completed the 3rd of the series of budget hearings on the FY 2026 budget Thursday, May 1, 2025. 7 of the 8 members participated, 1 remotely (1 absent).

 

Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/C5g8YGdpTmI?&t=430

 

The agenda and released documents for this session -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05012025-1710

Quick recap

• Up for review tonight were the General government departments, many of them much smaller than the Police, FIRE, DPW, and Schools covered previously but all key to Town services. 
• Recreation pays for itself with fee revenue from servicing 7200 kids with 3 full time personnel
• Library just above the minimum required by State legislation not revised since it was enabled over 100 years ago
• Town Clerk's office runs the annual census, dog licenses, registrations, and this year 2 elections; the special override election June 3 and the local election in November (Town Council, School Cmte and other elected positions, including this year the Town Clerk).
• Senior Center has a minimal expense budget most of it is personnel and a good portion of it is covered by fee revenue or grants. Still working on how to fine tune it, won't likely get to the fee supported  status of the Recreation Dept. May 15 ribbon cutting for the van and gazebo at the Senior Center (10 AM)
• Resolutions for approval - all passed by same 7-0-1 (1 absent) roll call vote
• Resolution 25-20: Recommendation of FY2026 Budget
• Resolution 25-21: Salary Schedule: Full-Time Elected Official 
• Resolution 25-22: Expenditure Limits for FY2026 on Departmental Revolving Funds Established by Franklin Town Code Chapter 73, as Provided in MGL Chapter 44, §53E½, as Amended 
• Resolution 25-23: Snow and Ice Transfer of Funds 
• Resolution 25-24: Appropriation and Transfer of Funds from Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to Water Line Project

My notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LFcbiY2E14_zoCwZHMOjuSOpnIaaUM1J/view?usp=drive_link

 

Finance Committee closes out FY 2026 budget hearings (video)

 

 

School Committee approves elementary report card changes, letter of support for alternate cable fee revenue (video)

The School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday evening, April 29, 2025. 

 

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/ZUcSpIZK3Ms?&t=175

Among the key agenda items were the following:

 

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. Elementary Report Cards

I recommend approval of the proposed changes to the Elementary Report Card as discussed.   

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568674/Discussion_Action_A_-_Elem._Report_Cards.pdf

B. Letter of Support

I recommend approval of the letter of support for an Act to Modernize Funding for Community Media Programming as discussed.  

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568677/Discussion_Action_B_-_Letter_of_Support.pdf

IV. Discussion Only Items

A. Campus Naming Discussion

Meeting agenda doc -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5568671/SCAGENDA_4-29-25.pdf

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/april-29%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/792078

 

FYI - My notes will catch up eventually. I was in the Finance Committee meeting held at the same time covering the FY 2026 budget hearings.

 

FHS softball and girls tennis teams post wins on Thursday (video)

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Baseball = Canton, 7 @ Franklin, 5 – Final

Canton 7, Franklin 5. Bono, Tremblay & Kryzak combine for 3.2 inn, 4H, 1ER, 3Ks. Offensively, Kryzak (2-5, 2B, R) Winer (2-4, 2RBI) Goguen (3-4, RBI) McCahill (2R) Connelly (BB, R) Sidwell (2BB, R) & Luizzi (RBI). Next up: 5/5 Mon. Franklin (H) vs Sharon at 7pm https://x.com/FHSCoachZBrown/status/1918147119828865034

 

 

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/Jj7YDm_FHP4?&t=320

 

 

 
 

Softball = Franklin, 6 @ Canton, 0 – Final

Boys Tennis = Franklin, 2 @ Canton, 3 – Final

Girls Tennis = Canton, 1 @ Franklin, 4 - Final

Panthers impressive in win over Canton 4-1!
Izzy Trull & Anna Powers took care of business for singles.
Brooke Daniels & Sydney Tolonen erased a 0-3 first set deficit to win in straight sets and are now 10-1 while Avalon Thomes & Katie Yelle won other dubs 3/3.
FHS 8-1 in Hock    https://x.com/fhs_gvtennis/status/1918085043463045244

 

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-01-25/

 

 

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

Franklin HS XC/Track & Field Boosters: Frosh Soph Meet Saturday, May 3

Franklin HS XC/Track & Field Boosters:
Frosh Soph Meet Saturday, May 3

Franklin HS XC/Track & Field Boosters (@FranklinXCTrack) posted Thu, May 01, 2025:

"Congrats to the Boys Track & Field team for their victory over Taunton (74-62)! 

Good luck to all of the Freshman / Sophomore athletes competing in this Saturday's Invitational meet.

Details about the meet can be found on the MSTCA website: https://t.co/JaB5LarYdp

Shared from -> https://x.com/FranklinXCTrack/status/1917961945879073130?

 

 

Have you read the May 2025 Franklin School Committee Newsletter Yet???

Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) posted Thu, May 01, 2025:

The May Franklin School Committee Newsletter is out! 

 

Highlights: 

• ECDC expansion
• FY26 budget
• report card updates
• Horace Mann tribute
• Superintendent Giguere's contract extension

Read more and share your feedback:  https://t.co/f2ffojZzVi 

 

Shared from -> https://t.co/3k8ePyx1YK

 

 Have you read the May 2025 Franklin School Committee Newsletter Yet???

Did you hear that the Whalemobile is at the Library today! Friday, May 2

Whalemobile at the Library today! Friday, May 2

 

 

The Whalemobile! is here to explore a Whale inside and out!

 

 

Friday May 2 at 1 PM

 

  

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DJFLNxkvm94/

 

 

St. Mary's 8th grade CYO players recognized: Tommy Flynn & Danny Abdilmasih

Tommy Flynn & Danny Abdilmasih

 

St. Mary's Franklin CYO Basketball 🏀 (@St_MarysCYO) posted  Apr 29, 2025:

 

Congratulations to St. Mary's 8th grade CYO players, Tommy Flynn and Danny Abdilmasih! https://t.co/QCxrQlicpD

New season of the "Talkin' TC Podcast" starts to run (video)

Talkin' TC Podcast Videos 

Dive into insightful conversations, industry highlights, and stories that celebrate the Tri-County experience! Whether you're a student, alum, or just love great discussions, this playlist is packed with engaging content from the Talkin' TC Podcast. Hit play, get inspired, and join the conversation!

✨Season 2 Episode 1 - In this episode, we sit down with Mrs. Kristen Magas, an inspiring Engineering Technology instructor at Tri-County—and a NASA Analog Astronaut! ✨
From training for space missions to teaching future engineers, Mrs. Magas shares her incredible journey in STEM and aerospace. 

 

She dives into how Tri-County equips students with the skills to design, build, and problem-solve in today's ever-evolving world of engineering while reflecting on her own experiences in NASA analog missions that simulate space exploration! 🛰

Whether you're a student curious about engineering, an alum reminiscing about your time in the program, or just passionate about space and innovation, you won’t want to miss this conversation! Hit play and explore the future of engineering and space exploration with Mrs. Magas! 🌌🔧

Click here to watch! https://youtu.be/WBmfgXuKFPg
 

See all our videos on the Talkin' TC page of our website: https://www.tri-county.us/page/talkin-tc-podcast

 

Kids (ages 6-18) Fishing Derby scheduled for Saturday, June 14 at Beaver Pond

Fishing Derby scheduled for Saturday, June 14

CAST YOUR LINE FOR A GREAT TIME! 🐟🎣

Registration is NOW OPEN for our Fishing Derby at Beaver Pond!

Open to kids ages 6–18 — it’s FREE to join the fun on Saturday, June 14 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

 

🎣 Fishing rods available
🏆 Prizes & trophies awarded
🌊 Big catches & even bigger memories

 

👉 Register online at https://franklinma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29942

 

Let’s reel in the fun — we’ll see you at the pond!

 

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