How does one with a degree in neuroscience get a Grammy nomination? Listen to Kymberlee tell her story (audio)

FM #1495 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1495 in the series. 

Kymberlee O’Brien

This session shares my conversation with Kymberlee O’Brien, MEd, PhD on Monday, August 11, 2025. Kymberlee may be recognizable from her presentations on brains, or her drum circles, both activities at the Franklin Senior Center grant funded by the Franklin Cultural Council. She has also performed as a jazz singer locally including most recently at the Franklin Farmers Market.

With such a varied background, I felt that we would have a good and wide ranging conversation, and I think you’ll agree we did.

Did you also know that she is a Grammy nominated composer?

Listen in to our conversation (approx. 38 minutes)

Audio link ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1495-kimberlee-obrien-08-11-25/

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

William James Faculty page -> https://www.williamjames.edu/about/profiles/faculty/kymberlee-obrien.html 

Neuralight Consulting -> https://www.neuralightconsulting.com/ 

Music link -> https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/kymberlee-obrien/

PR -> https://www.artistpr.com/press-release/grammy-recognized-artist-kymberlee-obrien-blends-jazz-latin-and-pop-in-new-anthem-of-resilience/ 

Her Grammy nominated single -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKSGrDgK8Fo 

Items mentioned during our discussion

• Alive Inside -> https://www.aliveinside.us/#land

• Greater Good at UC Berkeley ->  https://www.aliveinside.us/#land

• TEDx at William James -> https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/60382

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

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin School for the Performing Arts Welcomes New Families for 2025-26

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) is excited to welcome new families to begin their performing arts journeys at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin, MA for the 2025-26 School Year.  

Founded in 1985 by Director Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA is a unique place where students of all ages and levels of ability participate in an array of music, dance, and drama programs with professional instruction and extraordinary performing opportunities. FSPA believes that an education in the performing arts, whether or not pursued for a professional career, provides young people with lasting life skills. 

Franklin School for the Performing Arts Welcomes New Families for 2025-26

Students of the arts develop personal attributes including focus, discipline, self-esteem, and an understanding of teamwork. Superior communication and social skills become strengths of students who pursue music, dance, and drama. Conservatory and career bound students, as well as those who attend classes for fun, gain a sense of accomplishment and the confidence they need to succeed in all endeavors. 

The FSPA School of Music features an impressive faculty of Boston area professionals. Student musicians are trained through private lessons, group classes, ensembles, and recital opportunities. A student can begin as a toddler in Little Music School and graduate with Senior Recital Honors, or simply enjoy lessons for fun. FSPA’s Voice Program is committed to nurturing three pillars of vocal success: confidence, technique, and musicality. Voice students develop healthy technique, gain critical knowledge to strengthen musicality, and build stylistic skills within a varied repertoire of vocal genres.

The program fosters a lifelong love of using one's voice and builds the professional singers, choirs, and audiences of tomorrow. The FSPA School of Music offers private lessons in all instruments. Opportunities for instrumental study abound at FSPA, with studio instruction available on piano, drums, bass, guitar, ukulele, woodwinds, strings, and brass for children and adults. Collaborative small ensemble coaching, theory, chamber music, and ear training classes round out the extensive music program. Unique to FSPA, Little Music School teaches children as young as 18 months to play the piano, engaging them from the earliest age in the joys of music-making and exploration of the arts.  

At the FSPA School of Dance, students dance for the art, not the trophy. FSPA believes in fostering a love for dance through artistic expression and breathtaking performances without the burden of expensive, time-consuming competitions, offering a community where creativity thrives, performances shine, and the joy of dancing takes center stage. Classes for all ages and levels are offered in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern/Contemporary, Dance for Musical Theater, and Commercial Pro Dance. The School of Dance faculty focuses on what truly matters: students’ growth as dancers and artists. With fewer travel expenses and no pressure to compete, dancers flourish in a positive, supportive environment.  

The FSPA School of Drama offers a rare opportunity to pursue Musical Theater at the highest level. With professional training in the three schools of Music, Dance, and Drama as well as extraordinary performance opportunities, FSPA’s Musical Theater program instills a lifelong love of Musical Theater, while carrying those who choose to pursue it professionally to Broadway and beyond. From the basic elements of pantomime and role playing, to character development and scene study, Acting students are introduced to the fun and work involved in theater. The FSPA School of Drama strives to build great artists while teaching students to work together and think creatively. 

Interested students and families are invited to stop by 38 Main Street to tour the facility, speak with faculty, and learn more about all FSPA has to offer. Additionally, families may call 508-528-8668 to speak with FSPA’s staff or email reception@FSPAonline.com. 

FSPA is excited to launch a new and improved FSPAonline.com in September.  

Franklin TV: Our Open Board Meeting - Saturday, Aug 23 at 3 PM - The Invitation Bears Repeating

It’s Happening. August 23rd at Our Studio

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 07/27/2025

Our Annual Open Board Meeting will take place as our neighborhood block party. Come to our 23 Hutchinson St. studios.

It’s open to all Franklin businesses and residents. We’ll meet-and-greet and enjoy the day starting at 3:00 PM. Come hungry and enjoy steak tips, pulled pork, dogs, burgers and all the fixin’s – along with tunes, games and fun.

You can also tour our studios and learn about Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm. We’ll also briefly review the past year’s progress and plans for the future. At our meeting you may cast your vote for new and/or renewing board positions.

Excerpt from FCCA bylaws: (Available on our website.)

Section 15. Election of Director by the Membership (a) Members shall be notified by the Clerk of the election of a director by the Membership at the Annual Meeting. Said notice shall be in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4 of this Article IV. (b) Any eligible voting Member may be nominated for election to the position of Director by:

(i) Written notification to the Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to Annual Meeting; or (ii) By nomination from the floor of the Annual Meeting made and seconded by no less than three (3) eligible voting members.

Thanks to our board members who contribute their time and energy to help make

Franklin●TV all that a public access TV studio can be. 

If you would like to become

involved either as a volunteer or to create your own TV or radio programs at

Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm, just send an email to: info@franklin.tv with your contact information. 

You can also call us to discuss and explore your ideas. 508-541-4118

Please join us at our Franklin●TV event. Come meet, greet, chow down, have fun, and learn all about local TV and radio in Franklin.

See you then.

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

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 Art Association welcomes Paul Olson as their demo artist for Sep 3 Meeting

The Franklin Art Association is excited to welcome Paul Olson as their demo artist on Wednesday, September 3, to kick off their 2025-2026 season.  The FAA meets at the Franklin Senior Center at 6:30pm first Wednesday of each month, where new members and the public are invited. 

Paul will demo his approach to plein-air painting.  Paul Olson is a Rhode Island-based plein-air painter inspired by the natural splendor of our beautiful Narragansett Bay. Olson’s artwork reflects his deep connection with nature and his love for the flora and fauna of the coastal landscape around him. He can often be found at his easel on his small boat, documenting the effects of wind and weather, sky and water. His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the Northeast, and in some less traditional spaces like the Providence Place Mall and the Local 251 Teamsters Union Hall. 

Paul is also a lover of trees, having had two exhibitions of tree paintings at Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and is a potter making containers for Bonsai, and cultivating his own collection of miniature trees.

Olson has been a passionate teacher at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) with a career spanning over 25 years. Semi-retired but still teaching Oil Painting as a Senior Critic in the Illustration Department at RISD, Paul now spends more time out painting, enjoying being part of the landscape in the open air.

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday, Aug 17, 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 Sunday

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 Sunday

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, August 16, 2025 ??

Saturday, August 16

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:00am Library Book sale (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Rise Up (Franklin United Methodist Church)

10:00am Walking Group (St John's Episcopal Church)

10:30am The Poop Museum! (Franklin Public Library)

12:00pm Mad Science Minis!(Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Library bag sale (books by the bag) (Franklin Public Library)

3:00pm Music and Comedy of Don White (Franklin Public Library)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

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

Police issue Fraud alert on fraudulent invoice from Town of Franklin department

Police issue Fraud alert on fraudulent
invoice from Town of Franklin department

***FRAUD ALERT***

This week an organization in Franklin received an invoice from the “Planning & Development Department” requesting a wire payment. The fraudulent invoice even used the new Town of Franklin logo. Now it could be argued this is one of the worst photoshop attempts of all time but that’s a conversation for another time.

If you receive one of these please please please do not wire money.

If you have questions about any bill you receive from the Town of Franklin we implore you to call Town Hall and confirm the invoice with the respective department before paying it.

If you think you’ve been scammed or have questions about a potential scam you can always call the station at 508-528-1212 or stop by the station.

Thank you!

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

You can listen to Rydio talk with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen about this scam going around MA. Skip ahead to about 25 minutes for the scam section, or just listen through the 28 minutes.  -> https://soundcloud.com/localraydio/ray-in-the-morning-frankln?si=c46a9254ecd444f289d0757276b71461

Dave condenses the School Committee meeting of Aug 12 in this Chalkboard Chat (audio)

FM #1494 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1494 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion via Zoom on Thursday, August 14, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap both the School Committee meeting of August  12, 2025. 

 

We cover 

• Summer Learning Review - Paula Marano & Patty Gay, updates on lifelong learning, as well as extended school - 

• link to album which captured the slides shared found https://photos.app.goo.gl/WwFUYqSSqCrzx6gH8 

• Summer Move Update - Colin Boisvert - great detail, well organized, there is a whole lot happening across the redistricting move efforts, getting rooms and building ready, signs completed (shared here earlier), transportation updates due next week via bus routes, bus stops, additional drop off, pick up info also scheduled from principals. 

• Photo album of the slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/JRbK3Ez1K9yxjCAX9  

• 2024 Annual Report Draft Review - discussed verbally, no doc shared, feedback due back to Supt Giguere soon

• Engagement, budget, candidates

The recording runs about 26 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1494-chalkboard-chat-08-14-25/

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

Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net   

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RElB5OknJg 

Meeting agenda doc ->

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851 

Meeting packet folder contains the docs released before and after the meeting ->

https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/august-12%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/842818 

My notes in one PDF doc ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsjvTsjM0u3b3Qs_pJUcNlGr8falxQ03/view?usp=drive_link

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

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Dave condenses the School Committee meeting of Aug 12 in this Chalkboard Chat (audio)

Events starting up for Yankee Quilters

Yankee Quilters, a nonprofit guild of quilters which meets in Franklin, welcomes members new and old to its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 9th at Emma's Quilt Cupboard and Sewing Center, Horace Mann Plaza, 319 E. Central St., Franklin, MA. 

Events starting up for Yankee Quilters

The Guild meets the second Tuesday of the month, September through June. Members have a  social gathering at 6:30 followed by the meeting at 7:00 p.m. With this being our first meeting, we are planning a short business meeting, followed by a Meet and Greet. 

New people can receive information about our guild, and this year's calendar. Returning members can catch up with friends they haven't seen over the summer and make new friends. We will have a Show and Tell of projects completed over the summer. For more information, write to yankeequilters11@gmail.com.

***

Yankee Quilters is holding a Savers Fundraiser as a benefit for our programs and outreach to those facing challenges. We are collecting 'softlines' (men's, women's, and children's clothes, coats, shoes, scarves, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, belts, backpacks, etc. bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linens, tablecloths, curtains, pillows, etc.) Books and Media (paperback, hard covers of all genres except encyclopedias or textbooks). Any media items need to be boxed separately.

We will be holding 2 drop-off dates for donations: September 6th from 9:00 to 12:00 and October 4th from 9:00 to 12:00. October 4th is our Savers drop-off date, so we will be loading a truck and leaving promptly at 12:00. The drop-off location is Prime Storage, 302 Hartford Ave., Bellingham, MA 02019. If people need assistance with donations, please email yankeequilters11@gmail.com we will do our best to either pick up donations or schedule other drop-off times.

***

Tuesday, October 14th, Yankee Quilters monthly meeting at Emma's Quilt Cupboard, Horace Mann Plaza: Yankee member Sandie Husby, of Franklin, who sells her work as the "Lone Quilter," will presenting a program on "Quilting During the Great Depression." Sandie will be discussing the Depression, how it affected quilting and the quilts of that era. For more information, write to yankeequilters11@gmail.com

***

Yankee Quilters has three Staycation sewing events planned. The dates are October 24 - 26, 2025; February 27 - March 1, 2026; and April 10 - 12, 2026. All weekends take place in Holliston. The Staycations include a 6-foot table per person, cutting table, sandwiching table, design walls, 3 ironing stations. 

We also provide dinner on Friday night, lunch and dinner on Saturday, bagels and leftovers on Sunday. The cost for the weekend is $100.00 for members and $125.00 for non-members, with a daily rate of $40.00 for members and $45.00 for non-members. If you are interested in participating in any of these Staycations, please reach out to yankeequilters11@gmail.com or attend one of our meetings.