Franklin Matters

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Scammers are using fake websites in a twist on jury duty scams

Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

Scammers are using fake websites in a twist on jury duty scams

By BCP Staff

Scammers are still pretending to be the police, calling to say you've missed jury duty and need to pay.

But in a new twist, some scammers are now telling you to visit a website to enter your personal information — all so they can steal it and your money.

Scammers are using fake websites in a twist on jury duty scams

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio introduced a brand new schedule early in 2025 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 Wednesday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 2 PM)

This shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian about the events at the Franklin Public Library during August 2025 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/mitzi-i-review-all-big-events-and.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points. (repeats Saturday at 1 PM)

Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi have a discussion with Viticulture Leader Brenae Royal -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode.html

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, August 6, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:30 am Mental Health: Shannon Nesbitt

8:30 am FSPA Spring 2025 Show 4

10:00 am Sons & Daughters of Italy: Paolo DiGregorio

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Grillin'

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Trifles

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 3

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

3:30 pm 4th of July 2025: GQ & The Lady

5:30 pm More Perfect Union: Teachers Unions

8:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Mike Tarara

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

7:00 am All-Town Showcase 2024: Band

8:30 am Public School Concert: Elementary Music Pt. 2 06-04-18

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: The Hamlins

11:00 am FHS Spring Jazz 2025

12:30 pm Franklin Fury Softball v Dedham 07-23-25

3:30 pm FHS Track and Field: v North Attleboro 05-09-23

6:00 pm FHS Varsity Swimming v Milford 01-03-25

8:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Bridgewater Raynham 04-11-25

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

8:00 am Town Council 07-23-25

2:00 pm Town Council 07-23-25

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

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Franklin Town Clerk walks us through the timeline for the Biennial Election Nov 4, 2025 (audio)

FM #1488 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1488 in the series.

This session shares my conversation with Town Clerk Nancy Danello and Deputy Town Clerk Dyan Fitzgerald about the 2025 Biennial Election to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Our conversation covers:

Candidate nomination papers available as of August 4 during office hours in Clerk’s Office

Appointment requested

Candidate nomination papers due back by Sept 15

Withdrawal if needed, completed by Sep 22

Last day to register to vote is October 25
Early voting schedule to be published later
Office closed on Tuesday November 4 to run the election at Franklin High School gymnasium

November 4 election voting hours from 6 AM to 8 PM
Unofficial results expected around 9 PM

Biennial election Candidate Nomination Papers
November election

for a 2 year term of office for the Town Council and School Committee.
For a 4 year term: Town Clerk, Planning Board, Board of Assessor, Board of Health

Our conversation recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen in

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1488-town-clerk-on-the-biennial-election-2025-07-31-25/

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Town Clerk page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/333/Town-Clerk-Elections-Division

November election timeline -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6245/Important-dates-to-remember-

Seats up for election in November -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6240/Seats-Available

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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"

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 ??

Library & Senior Center events

Tuesday, August 5

5:00pm Youth track & Field meet (Franklin High School)

6:00pm Table Top (Franklin Public Library)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->

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

** NO Town Meetings today **

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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

Town of Franklin, MA: Road Work Announcement! Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Road Work Announcement! Tomorrow, August 5, 2025.

Town of Franklin, MA: Road Work Announcement! Tuesday, August 5, 2025

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

2025 International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31, 2025

Last year, 1,763 people died from overdose in Massachusetts.

Join us for International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 to remember and honor loved ones we’ve lost to overdose.

Community Vigils

SAFE will host community vigils from 5 to 6 PM at two locations:

Franklin Town Common (200 Main St.)
Wrentham Town Common (1 Franklin St.)

We encourage attendees to bring photos of loved ones to place on a special memorial display table at the vigils.

Volunteers needed to help with International
Overdose Awareness Day - August 31, 2025

Memorial Flag Displays

In addition to the vigils, SAFE will collaborate with community members to place memorial flags across the county:

Franklin Town Common
Wrentham Town Common
Norfolk Town Hill lawn
Medway Town Hall lawn

Those interested in helping can sign up using the form below.

Together we can reduce substance use disorder stigma, increase understanding and awareness, remember those who died of overdose, and prevent drug-related harm.

https://www.safecoalitionma.org/ioad

Community Baby Shower for expectant mothers and babies on Monday September 8, 2025

Community Baby Shower for expectant
mothers and babies on Monday September 8, 2025

The Metacomet Public Health Alliance nurses (serving the towns of Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham) are hosting a Community Baby Shower for new and expectant mothers and babies on Monday September 8, 2025 from 2-4 PM at Wrentham Fiske Library.

The community baby shower is very similar to a health fair and will include local vendors such as the SAFE coalition, WIC, Families in Bloom (lactation consultant), and our local police and fire departments. Educational information will be provided by the vendors which includes perinatal mental health, infant CPR and choking, nutrition information and more!

In addition to the vendors and resources, there are plans for coloring and other activities for young children who attend with their caregivers.

Download the flyer as a reminder or to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WeF_kx6amkss8QcqbsoMTRO078Zkkts/view?usp=drive_link

Youth Track & Field Meet - Aug 5 at 5:00 PM

The LAST youth track meet is tomorrow August 5th!

Volunteers can arrive @ 4:30 to help set up before registration at 5pm.

Admission is $5 for unlimited events! We can't wait to see you all there!!

https://t.co/EiTiQpaOdN

Please help local students start the school year properly!

Amazon Wish List https://bit.ly/45k2lfV

The Franklin Food Pantry is collecting new school supplies to give kids the tools and confidence they need to succeed in the classroom. Your donation of pencils, crayons, folders, notebooks, and more can make a huge difference.

Send your donation directly to The Pantry via our Amazon Wish List https://bit.ly/45k2lfV

or drop off your donation in the purple bin on The Pantry's loading dock, 341 W Central St. in Franklin, MA

Thank you for helping us set students up for success!

Annual Report of the Town of Franklin Town Council - FY 2024

With the Biennial Election coming up November 4, 2025, the nomination papers are available beginning Aug 4, 2025 for candidates to take, obtain the appropriate number of signatures to get on the ballot.

We are sharing the section of the Annual Report for the Town of Franklin 2024 to help explain what each role entails. The first up is that of the Town Council.

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The Town Council is the holder of all general, corporate, legislative, and appropriation powers of the Town of Franklin. On behalf of the Town Council, I submit our annual report for Fiscal Year 2024.

Tom Mercer, Chair

Robert Dellorco, Vice Chair; Glenn Jones, Clerk;

Deborah Pellegri, Melanie Hamblen, Brian Chandler, Cobi Frongillo, Patrick Sheridan, Ted Cormier-Leger

Town Council Website: https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council

Town Council Subcommittees Website: https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council-subcommittees

Budget Subcommittee & Joint Budget Subcommittee

The Budget Subcommittee is composed of four members of the Town Council; Tom Mercer, Chair; Brian Chandler, Vice Chair; Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo.

The Joint Budget Subcommittee (JBSC) is an advisory committee composed of the four Budget Subcommittee members, three members of the School Committee and four members of the Finance Committee. The purpose of the JBSC is to promote communication and collaboration during the Town’s annual operating budget process.

In FY24, the JBSC met three times to provide FY24 budget updates, and discuss the preliminary FY25 budget model and the five year forecast. The primary focus of their discussions, led by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Lucas Giguere, was the 2024 override vote, which ultimately did not pass.

Capital Budget Subcommittee

The Capital Budget Subcommittee is composed of four members of the Town Council; Deborah Pellegri, Chair; Robert Dellorco, Vice Chair; Brian Chandler and Ted Cormier-Leger.

The Capital Budget Subcommittee met twice in FY24 to review departmental requests and capital plans.

They recommended that the full Town Council appropriate the following:

Capital Round 1:

Free Cash Appropriations: $2,567,616

● School Department: Vehicles, Curriculum, Equipment, Technology & Buildings - $950,387

● Facilities Department: Equipment - $300,000

● Technology: Technology - $36,000

● Town Administration: Technology & Human Services - $100,000

● Fire Department: Vehicles & Equipment - $337,854

● Police Department: Vehicles, Equipment & Technology - $373,375

● Department of Public Works: Equipment - $470,000

Water Retained Earnings: $1,942,450

● Water Enterprise Fund: Infrastructure & Equipment - $1,942,450

Sewer Retained Earning: $350,000

● Sewer Enterprise Fund: Equipment - $350,000

Capital Round 2:

● The $1,500,000 for Capital Round 2 was used to cover the FY25 Operating Budget shortfall.

Economic Development Subcommittee

The Economic Development Subcommittee (EDC) is composed of four members of the Town Council; Melanie Hamblen Chair, Cobi Frongillo, Vice Chair, Patrick Sheridan and Brian Chandler.

In FY24 the EDC met a total of 11 times. They discussed and recommended several bylaw amendments and zoning bylaw amendments to the Town Council, with the help of extensive research performed by Bryan Taberner and the Department of Planning and Community Development. Of the amendments that were voted on by Council, all but one passed. Notably, a zoning bylaw was passed which will authorize the rezoning of the 5+ acre industrial property located at 305 Union Street from Business to Commercial I, allowing for a promising redevelopment project which has the potential to revitalize and modernize the Franklin Crossing neighborhood. Also of note, important legislation was passed to bring the Town into compliance with MBTA Communities multifamily zoning requirements, as well as legislation relative to Accessory Dwelling Units. Other legislation passed by the Town Council on the recommendation of the EDC includes bylaws relative to snow removal, grease traps, and the Marijuana Overlay District.

Next on the horizon for the EDC, in addition to their ongoing work in collaboration with the Department of Planning and Community Development, is a Marketing & Branding project led by Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti. The Town received a State earmark to fund this exciting project, and the EDC will play a key role in building the brand and developing a new logo to represent Franklin's unique strengths and assets as well as the community's vision for the future.

TL:DR

You can continue reading of the accomplishments of the Town Council in the Annual report section -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bzfSXPoaIGZFi9MtcG996Xoey81sKFaH/view?usp=drive_link

or dig into the full annual report here ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JGxfeanVhITZ9jSTGf6tgDMtVlI000Ju/view?usp=drive_link