Franklin Matters

Friday, May 23, 2025

Save The Date! Metacomet Land Trust Annual Meeting June 26th!

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Dear Neighbor,

Please join us on Thursday, June 26th, for Metacomet's annual business meeting and program! We will gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Upton Community Center. Our program will be on the state of Massachusetts birds, including visitors such as this beautiful Yellow Breasted Chat, which was banded and released at a preserved property in Uxbridge last fall.

Prior to the meeting, please take a few moments to read our Annual Report which is now available on our website at this link:

2025-MLT-Annual-Report.pdf

Our membership meeting is an important part of our annual governance. We encourage you to attend, ask questions about our progress and recent activities, and vote on the key motions to allow the Trust to fulfill our governing by-laws.

If you would like to volunteer to serve on the Board or other committees, please contact me for more information at Lisa.Mosczynski@metacometlandtrust.org.

In Conservation,

Lisa Mosczynski
President
Board of Directors

Recent gifts receipt: $25 on 03/22/2019.
Please renew your membership if your last gift was prior to December 1st, 2024.

Membership Donations, Gifts of Land or Conservation Restrictions, or donations of items to be auctioned are deductible on the Federal 1040.
Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.

How Are the Birds?

Metacomet will host Brandi Van Roo, Ph.D. and Beth Milke for a presentation on the health of our wild bird populations when they speak at our annual meeting on June 26th. The program will be held at the Upton Community Center at 9 Milford Street (Rt. 140) in Upton.

Brandi Van Roo is a professor of wildlife biology at Framingham State University. Her research includes bird breeding behavior as well as migrant bird banding for conservation purposes. She trains
undergraduate students at banding stations in Ashland, Uxbridge and Douglas.

Beth Milke currently serves as a Volunteer-in-Parks with the National Park Service, leading bird walks and maintaining River Bend Farm's Pollinator Garden for Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc.

A silent auction with wild bird-focused items, refreshments and information on land preservation will also be offered. If you would like to contribute an item to our fundraiser, please write to susan.speers@metacometlandtrust.org.

On a personal note...
It's appropriate here to reflect that it is entirely due to the conservation ethic of Ann and John Hanscom, whose beautiful Foxfire Farm hosts both Brandi and Beth during their bird banding work, that so many birds have a place to stop on their fall and spring migrations....thus adding to our appreciation for the habitat, actively used by so many creatures, and for landowners such as Ann and John, who made the choice in 2020 to permanently preserve their property -- 25 years ago this fall.
-- Susan Speers, Board of Directors

We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too!

Our mailing address is:

Metacomet Land Trust

P.O. Box 231

Franklin, MA 02038

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, May 23, 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 my conversation with Bobbi Gerlits about the renovation of the labyrinth at the First Universalist Society of Franklin -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/talking-about-labyrinths-with-bobbi.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 23, 2025

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

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Christine West

8:30 am Frank Presents: Jay Elias Pt 2

10:00 am Riffing on Main Street: Steve Sherlock

11:00 am Senior Disability Expo

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Mac 'n' Cheese

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Shrimp, Tomato & Greens Pizzetta

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 7

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

4:00 pm Metrowest Boston Annual Meeting 2025 Pt 2

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

8:30 pm Veterans' Call: Lauren Turner

9:30 pm PorchFest 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 Senior Awards Night 2025

1:30 pm Arts Advocacy Day: Marketing

2:30 pm Lifelong Music Spring 2025: Strings School

5:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Taunton 05-12-25

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

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

Thursday, May 22, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, May 22, 2025 ???

Thursday, May 22

Library & Senior Center events

Empty Bowls tickets on Sale
Early Voting - FY 2026 Override Special Election

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

6:00pm 10th Annual Empty Bowls (Franklin High School)

6:00pm JFK Night of the Arts (John F. Kennedy Memorial School)

7:00pm Rising Stars Pop/Rock Cabaret (THE BLACK BOX)

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 **

Town Council Meeting

Thursday, May 22, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05222025-1753

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (CANCELED)

Thursday, May 22, 2025, 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05222025-1723

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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

Last Chance, We Need Your Help — Volunteer for PorchFest!

PorchFest is coming up on Saturday, June 7th, from 12–6 PM, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make it a success!

Franklin.PorchFest.Info

Join us as a Porch Manager, where you’ll team up with porch hosts and bands to keep everything running smoothly. Or lend a hand at our information tables, where you’ll help neighbors and visitors navigate PorchFest with maps and schedules.

Be a part of this amazing community event and make a difference right on your block. Sign up today at Franklin.PorchFest.Info, then click the Volunteer Signup tab and become a PorchFest volunteer!

Town Council spends 4 hours reviewing details of the FY 2026 budget (video)

The Franklin, MA Town Council conducted the first of 2 budget hearings for the FY 2026 budget on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. All 9 councilors were present to start the meeting, 1 left not feeling well during the 4 hour session (Chandler).

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/OBuOFLY5kZY?&t=184

The Council agenda and associated budget documents can be found here ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05212025-1752

Budget hearing process summary

This first night, the line item summary for each of the departments is read aloud by the Clerk of the Council. As read, members can place a hold on a department line item for follow-up (question, comment, etc.).

A few departments were held automatically by the Chair (Police, Fire, Schools, DPW, Facilities). Another 14 departments were held by one or members of the Council.

After the list of holds was confirmed, they started back at the beginning of the listing (account number order per voting document) to address the question for that item. Councilors first, then Council Chamber community members, then Zoom participants, until all questions, comments were addressed for each item.

My notes captured via Twitter/X during the session are collected in one PDF file

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11W1dMjvh9zB0X9Bqw8CgfLus5YZG7arZ/view?usp=drive_link

Economic Development Subcmte reviews Residential Commercial Kitchen proposal and forwards to Town Council (video)

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday May 21, 2025 as scheduled. A four members were present in Chambers. Change in membership acknowledged as Chandler is no longer part of the subcmte and Jones returns to the group.

Franklin TV Video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhA24NshAhw

The agenda doc and released materials for this session can be found ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05212025-1754

My notes captured via Twitter/X during the approx 20 minutes session can be found ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PHbVok-fMevABTsvD4-Mz7qa_oANto2Z/view?usp=drive_link

FHS baseball, softball, and boys lacrosse teams all post wins on Wednesday

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Baseball = Franklin, 8 @ Sharon, 7 – Final

– Franklin looked in control with a four-run seventh inning to take an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh but the Panthers had to fend off a last ditch rally from the Eagles to get the win. While Sharon scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, the Panthers plated three in the second to take the lead for good. With a slight 4-3 edge going into the seventh, Franklin scored four runs, highlighted by a two-out RBI from Owen Pennini and a two-out, two-run single from Ryan Connelly. The Eagles clawed back into it as Matt Cronin (2-for-4) delivered a two-out RBI single and Casey Stengel reached on an error to bring another run in to make it 8-7, putting the tying run on second. Cal McKenna was able to induce a ground ball to the right side to close out the win. Senior Matt Luccini earned the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and no walks, striking out five in six innings. Patrick Luizzi went 3-for-3 with two RBI and sophomore Joey Goguen added two hits for the Panthers. Drew Yaffe added two hits and an RBI for the Eagles.

Softball = Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 21 – Final (5 Inn.)

– Sophomore Abby Souza delivered at the dish and had a strong performance in the circle to help Franklin win the first of two games against Sharon on Wednesday. Souza went 4-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored to help propel the offense, which also got a pair of doubles from Marley Allen (3-for-4, RBI, run). Emily Tulloch added three hits and four RBI. In the circle, Souza gave up just two hits and no walks, striking out six in five shutout innings. Alexa Newbold and Hailey Sand each had a hit for the Eagles.

Boys Lacrosse = Franklin, 11 vs. Walpole, 8 – Final

– Franklin saw its halftime lead slip for the second time in as many days as Walpole rallied to tie it but the Panthers responded with a run of its own to grab a key non-league win. Franklin used a balanced attack as Jack O’Connor (assist), Thomas Quinn, Quinn Kielty (three assists), and Nate Walsh each scored a pair of goals while Charlie Ballarino, Jordan Gaspar, and Ryder Hanchett each found the back of the net once. Drew McCarthy, Flynn Baker, and Jackson Palmieri helped to anchor the defensive effort in front of Sam Freedman (seven saves).

Boys Tennis = Sharon, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final

– Sharon took all five sets in straight sets to return home from Sharon with a 5-0 sweep over the Panthers, completing an undefeated league season. Senior Jacob Slavsky (first singles) and junior Isaac Chen (second singles) each only dropped one game with identical 6-1, 6-0 wins, and senior Sava Kassev completed the singles sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 decision at third singles. The senior-sophomore first doubles duo of Joel Zwicker and Avaneesh Mohan dropped three games in the first set but rolled in the second for a 6-3, 6-0 win, and sophomore Alex Pinnix teamed up with freshman Anish Koduru to earn a 6-1, 6-2 win.

Girls Tennis = Franklin @ Sharon, 3:45

For a photo gallery of the girls tennis match -> https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2024-2025/Spring-2025/Sharon-Franklin-Girls-Tennis-05-21-25

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-21-25/