Holi Celebration & Color Throw - 2:00 to 3:30 PM on the Town Common, Saturday, May 17

Join the Franklin Public Library

Holi Celebration  & Color Throw - 2:00 to
3:30 PM on the Town Common, Saturday, May 17

for a special celebration of the Holi Festival, outside on the Town Common!  

Music, activities, and of course, COLOR!! 

Wear something that you don't mind getting messy!

In the event of inclement weather, the Rain date will be Saturday 5/31

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Franklin Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Waste Management Update - Trash Collection Schedule for 5/16 & 5/17 Franklin, MA

Update from Waste Management:

Due to long lines at the disposal facilities this week, trash collection is behind schedule. 

For those with routine Thursday curbside collection:

• If your trash was not collected yesterday (Thursday 5/15/25) as-scheduled, it will be collected today (Friday 5/16/25). 

For those with routine Friday curbside collection:

• If your trash is not collected today (Friday 5/16/25), it will be collected tomorrow (Saturday 5/17/25). 

Thank you for your patience.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=59

Waste Management Update - Trash Collection Schedule for 5/16 & 5/17 Franklin, MA

Eat or Take out from the Raillery Public House to help the FHS Class of 2026 fundraiser - May 21

Eat or Take out from the Raillery Public House
to help the FHS Class of 2026 fundraiser - May 21

Join us at the Raillery in Franklin on May 21st to raise money for the class of 2026!

Any time during the day, with any purchase, as long as you mention that you are there for the FHS class of 2026, we will get 10% of the proceeds which will go towards our senior week next year! 

See you there!

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DJrH16cuUWh/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, May 16, 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 Friday

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

• This segment features the first Finance Committee budget hearing for FY 2026 on school budgets -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/1st-budget-hearing-for-fy-2026-finance.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

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

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, May 16, 2025

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

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Erin Spencer

8:30 am Frank Presents: Jay Elias Pt 1

10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Erin Gallagher

11:00 am Senior Disability Expo

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Stromboli

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Chicken Pot Pie

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 6

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 1

7:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Rod & Gun Club

8:30 pm Veterans' Call: Lauren Turner

9:30 pm Metrowest Boston Annual Meeting 2025 Pt 2

 

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

7:00 am Lifelong Music Spring 2025: Band and Glee

8:30 am Mental Health: Joanne Spillane

9:30 am FHS Spring Jazz 2025

11:00 am FHS Track and Field: v North Attleboro 05-09-23

1:30 pm Arts Advocacy Day: Marketing

2:30 pm Lifelong Music Spring 2025: Strings School

6:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Canton 05-01-25

9:00 pm Franklin Footlighters: High School Musical Jr.

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 05-08-25

11:00 am Finance Committee 05-01-25

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 05-08-25

 

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

Town Council Meeting 5/07/25 Audio in 2 parts (1) full meeting, (2) audit & AAA rating only

FM #1447-1448  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1447-1448 in the series. 

This session (1447) shares the FUll Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.  

This session (1448) shares the FY 2024 Fiscal Audit presentation and discussion from the Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. This includes the announcement of the AAA bond rating renewal. 

Meeting recap -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-hears-of-clean-audit-and.html 

The Full meeting recording runs about 2 hours and 37 minutes  

#1447 - Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1447-town-council-mtg-full-session-05-07-25/

The Audit Segment runs about 56 minutes

#1448 - Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1448-town-council-mtg-audit-segment-05-07-25/

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The Franklin TV recording is available for review -> https://www.youtube.com/live/BjLJUaJedMc&t=389 

The agenda and released documents for this session ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05072025-1719 

My full set of notes captured during the meeting -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YrOYu85-re20L0v7tmmAvCY2e54ir5sY/view?usp=drive_link 

FY 2024 Audit report ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/539 

Other audit reports can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=36 

S&P Bond Rating letter dated May 6, 2025

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5614/SP-Rating-Report---Franklin---2025 

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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"

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5614/SP-Rating-Report---Franklin---2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, May 15, 2025 ???

Library & Senior Center events

Thursday, May 15

 

** Kennedy PCC fund raising (Santa Fe Burrito Grill)

8:30am State & Town Officials Office Hour (Franklin Senior Center)

10:00am Van & Pavilion Ribbon Cutting Ceremony  (Franklin Senior Center)

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

7:00pm Birchwood Wine Dinner (Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen)

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

7:00pm BEN 4 Franklin Mtg (Franklin TV and Radio Studio) 

7:30pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   

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

**   Town Meetings today   **

Coffee Hour with State & Local Officials

May 15, 2025, 8:30 AM

No agenda for this informal gathering

Conservation Commission Meeting

May 15, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05152025-1741

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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

State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy Announces Passing of House Budget

Investments Made Supporting Franklin and Medway

State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) announced key victories for Franklin, Medway, and the Commonwealth in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) House budget, a $61.47 billion spending plan focused on economic opportunity, education, housing, and transportation passed without new taxes. Representative Roy successfully advocated for targeted local investments and critical statewide initiatives through a series of budget amendments.

State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy
Announces Passing of House Budget

"I was proud once again to deliver local aid to Franklin and Medway that will improve the lives of my constituents," said Representative Roy. "In these difficult times, I am grateful for the leadership of Speaker Ron Mariano and Ways & Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz for making it all happen.

"The House's FY26 budget makes key investments that better support Massachusetts students and families, that increase access to affordable health care, and that provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system - all without raising taxes. In a moment of incredible uncertainty at the federal level, our budget is proof that government can be both fiscally responsible and an agent of good, the kind of government that our residents deserve," said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). "I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and the House Committee on Ways and Means for working diligently to craft a budget that delivers results for our constituents, as well as all my colleagues in the House for their valued input."

"This budget builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our residents. Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, public transportation, or early education these initiatives are a reflection of our shared values," said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). "By reinvesting in the people of the Commonwealth we will continue make our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come. I want to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership during this budget process, as well as my Vice-Chairs Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Kipp Diggs, and the entire membership of the House for their thoughts and guidance over the last few months to make this a more successful and well-rounded budget."

Due to responsible fiscal management, the House's FY26 budget is balanced, and makes significant investments across several issue areas, without needing to include new taxes or tax increases nor drawing from the Stabilization Fund, which is set to reach $8.36 billion.

Representative Roy's local and statewide budget wins include:

Local Investments in Franklin and Medway

• $100,000 for the Franklin Performing Arts Company to support arts and cultural programming.

• $50,000 for the Children's Museum of Franklin to expand educational opportunities for local families.

• $50,000 for the Franklin Food Pantry and $50,000 for the Medway Village Food Pantry to fight food insecurity.

• $25,000 for the Medway Community Farm to support local agriculture.

• $25,000 for the Franklin Downtown Partnership to promote economic development in the heart of Franklin.

• $100,000 for the SAFE Coalition to support individuals and families affected by substance use disorder.

Local Investments in Franklin and Medway

Statewide Initiatives Led by Roy

• $500,000 for the Genocide Education Trust Fund to support curriculum and teacher training on genocide awareness in middle and high schools.

These amendments complement major statewide investments in the FY26 House budget, including:

• $7.1 billion in Chapter 70 school aid, with minimum $150 per pupil increases.

• $1.3 billion in Unrestricted General Government Aid to cities and towns.

 

• $450 million for the MBTA and $110 million for RTAs, alongside $40 million to launch the MBTA Academy.

• $94 million to make community college free and expanded financial aid and adult learner support.

• $275 million for Emergency Assistance shelters, and $258 million for rental vouchers to protect housing stability.

• $475 million for childcare provider grants and $15 million to reduce the waitlist for affordable child care.

Speaker Mariano and the House Committee on Ways & Means introduced their FY26 budget proposal on April 16, 2025, following a review of the Governor's proposal and a series of public hearings. The budget passed the House of Representatives 151-6 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The PDF press release from which this was copied can be found ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VFwWYNL8pPPCnuyq41thIXd7sfVaZpb4/view?usp=drive_link