Time to get your Franklin (MA) Questions Answered: Weds, Nov 19, 11:00 AM at the Senior Center or via Zoom

What is going on with .... ?

What happened to ....?

                How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, volunteer Community Information Director for Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have.

Time to get your Questions Answered

When: Wednesday, Nov 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM  

Where: Franklin Senior Center (2nd floor conf room) and via Zoom

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form, or check with the Senior Center front desk, or email me:  https://forms.gle/Nh8RxkMtG1J1DGwj9

Check out the holiday happenings at the Creative Corner Art Studio

Check out the holiday happenings at the Creative Corner Art Studio 

Check them out and sign up on the Creative Corner page ->    https://www.creativecornerartstudiofranklin.com/

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LndDmGUE4/

Boston Globe: "The Boston Foundation’s annual Greater Boston Housing Report Card outlines how the region’s housing crisis may only get worse"

"The cost of buying a home is growing for everyone

Home prices around here have been rising for decades, but the last few years have been particularly bad.

First, home prices soared in a pandemic-driven housing market frenzy. Then, when interest rates began to rise in 2021, the market effectively froze, driving prices higher still.

Prices have gone up everywhere and across the price spectrum. It’s in the communities where home prices were the lowest before the pandemic that prices have grown the most. In Brockton, for example, the median sale price of a single-family home has risen 72 percent since 2015. In Lawrence, it has more than doubled."

Franklin From 2015 to 2025, the median sale price of a single-family home rose 35%.

Median sale price for a single-family home in 2015 (adjusted for inflation): $510,002

Median sale price for a single-family home in 2025: $688,000

Continue reading the Boston Globe article -> 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/11/business/housing-prices-rental-construction-boston-foundation/

The Boston Foundation 2024 report is available for download. The 2025 is not yet available for public download.   https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/reports-and-covers/2024/gbhrc-2024/2024gbhrc-digital-sm.pdf

CommonWealth Beacon: Municipal budgets at the breaking point (audio)

Via the Commonwealth Beacon - The Codcast

"THE ADVOCACY GROUP representing all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts fired a warning flare up to Beacon Hill last month when it published a detailed report likening the budget woes municipalities face to a “perfect storm.”  

But how did communities get to this point? What kind of solutions do they want to see, and what would that mean for taxpayers?  

This week, The Codcast hosts a panel discussion unpacking municipal finance issues with a trio of guests: Massachusetts Municipal Association executive director Adam Chapdelaine, Amesbury mayor Kassandra Gove, and Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance executive director Paul Craney.  

 The Codcast

The report from the Massachusetts Municipal Association found that unrestricted general government aid to cities and towns has dropped over the past two decades once adjusted for inflation, forcing communities to foot the rising bill for services with budgets that are constrained by a cap on property tax increases.  

In Chapdelaine’s view, the current crisis is a mix of longer-term factors that have been building for decades and the “incendiary pressure of significant inflation” in recent years.  "

Audio link -> https://open.spotify.com/episode/4K18Au0Krk2x0mP45WhR2M?si=d_Vkh3-VTu6na39qR3Zfhw

Find the report referenced -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/explore-mmas-new-report-perfect-storm.html

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, November 13, 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 Thursday

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 shares a combination of 2 recent conversations: 1 with Don Krishnaswami on the revitalization of the LiveARTS String Quartet and it's first performance (for free) at the Historical Museum, Nov 16 and 2 the Board of Health Mtg held on Nov 5, 2025

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM - first hour

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - second hour

Turntable – "Enjoy a fun experience with co-hosts The Vibe and Pauly G sharing personal discussions about a featured rock n roll vinyl record (1st hour) and the best, all music Vibe Playlist (2nd hour)"  

• The Turntable Show features "Harvest",  Neil Young's most successful album released February 1, 1972.  Harvest is the fourth studio album from Neil Young and includes two major hits, "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold".  Young also co-produced the album that includes the London Symphony Orchestra on two songs and backup vocals by David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, and James Taylor.  
• The Vibe Neil Young Playlist Hour features both acoustic and electric classics from Neil Young performances.   A must listen if you like Neil Young live!

Find the playlist ->  https://tinyurl.com/TurntablePlaylists

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 Thursday, November 13, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

10:30 am Pickleball Tournament: Pickleball Tournament

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Sweet Corn Risotto

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Steve Sherlock

5:00 pm Jon Mitchell & Randy LaRosa: 12-Tone Music

6:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

7:00 pm Frank's Musings: Gaza

8:00 pm Franklin Interfaith Thanksgiving 2024

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: The Kennedys

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

7:00 am FHS Winter Band 2022

8:30 am FHS Winter Music: Band 2024

10:00 am FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Waltham 11-06-25

12:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball v Taunton 10-14-25

2:00 pm FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

8:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 10-30-25

12:00 pm Finance Committee 10-22-25

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 10-30-25

7:00 pm Conservation Commission  CHAMBERS  896 3725 0102

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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 ???

Wednesday, November 12

• Yard waste pick up this week
• Music Boosters fundraiser - Hot Table  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/you-can-help-music-boosters-with-their.html

10am Free Haircuts for Veterans (Franklin Senior Center)

Library & Senior Center events

1pm Writer's Group (Franklin Senior Center)

6:30pm Jennifer Tefft (live music) (21 North St, Medfield)

7:30pm Cabaret (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

-----

FHS Sports - Field Hockey

Division 1 Final Four

#3 Wellesley vs. #2 Franklin, 7:00 (@ Westboro HS)

FHS Sports - Volleyball

Division 1 Final Four

#16 Newton South vs. #5 Franklin, 7:15 (@ Westwood HS)

-----

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

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

**   Town Meetings today   **

Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11122025-1999 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11122025-2001 

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 Time: 7:00 PM

-----------

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

“Italian Roundtable: Experiences of 20th Century Immigrants” - Nov 14

“Italian Roundtable: Experiences of
20th Century Immigrants” - Nov 14

Panelists:

• Antonio Cence – Bellingham 
• Eddie Colace – Franklin 
• Angela Graceffa – Bellingham 
• Mike Narducci – Medway
• Al Pizzi – Franklin
• Phyllis Vozzella – Franklin

Organized by the Quattro Eroi Lodge 1414 Order Sons and Daughters of Italy In America

When: Friday, November 14, 2025 - 1:30 PM

Where: Franklin Senior Center

Many thanks to the Franklin Senior Center for hosting this event. Also, we very much appreciate Franklin TV for recording this session and making it possible for those not here today to view it. 

And most of all, we express our gratitude to the panelists for sharing their experiences in making a transition to a new country, with a different culture and different language.

Download a copy of the flyer as a reminder or to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ORxO6_MvDIG12HQKnrzpGU6w9OBWvqnW/view?usp=drive_link

Christmas on the Common comes around again, Sunday, November 30 at 4 PM

For the young and young at heart, Santa arrives on the Town Common, Sunday, Nov 30, 2025 at 4 PM. He is reported to be arriving via a special Franklin fire truck. Will Mrs. Claus be with him too?

Sponsored by Concerts on the Common. Donations to help with this and the Town Common decorations are appreciated. Checks can be mailed to 

"Concerts on the Common"
PO Box 92
Franklin, MA 02038

Download the flyer as a reminder of this special event

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n0d8kOZtEIYHZoVfVxU09bXP8YuVWYaS/view?usp=drive_link

Christmas on the Town Common - Nov 30 at 4 PM

All you can eat breakfast Sunday Nov 16 from 7:30 AM to 11 AM

All you can eat breakfast Sunday Nov 16 from 7:30 AM to 11 AM

You know what can't be shut down no matter how gridlocked things are? Our delicious all-you-can-eat breakfast.

Nov. 16 from 7:30-11am at 53 Florence Street, our (locally) famous breakfast is just $10 ($5 for kids 12 and younger). So before you have to host Thanksgiving at your house, let us take care of you.

We'll have scrambled eggs, pancakes, French Toast, home fries, sausage, baked beans, corned beef hash, and refillable coffee and OJ.

In a world defined by crazy ups and downs and soaring costs, our $10 breakfast deal remains a steadfast beacon in a sea of constant change. Affordable, delicious, and served with a smile and genuine care from your friends and neighbors.

And if there's extras, we donate it all to Gilly's House so our friends battling addiction can have full bellies.

Open to the public, cash only. Hope to see you there!

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

You can help the Music boosters with their fundraiser at Hot Table, Nov 12

Music boosters fundraiser with Hot Table, Nov 12

Help the Music Boosters by getting food from Hot Table on Wednesday, Nov 12 from 4 to 9 PM. Use code GIVE35 when ordering. 

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ71HHLD0qL/

K Cooks announces commercial kitchen space in Cumberland, RI

Hi, I’m Kristen, Chef and heart behind K Cooks 

I am so excited to share my new commercial kitchen space with you 

Fully licensed and insured in Rhode Island 

•No, it is not a brick and mortar

•Yes, you can visit when I’m there 

•Yes, there’s a convenient pick up foyer

•Yes, I will still deliver & offer a local pick up location 

•Yes, its 20 mins away but let’s face it - it takes that long to get across town these days

•Yes, it’s my OWN space

•Yes, I can teach classes in the space 

•Yes, the possibilities are endless 

I created K Cooks, 7 years ago. With the goal to be a fully present mom, while being able to do what I love. And what a road it’s been 

I continue with that same goal and “bringing people together through food, one meal at a time.” 

I can’t even begin to describe the level of excitement I feel for this next chapter 

Here for ALL your food needs & wants 

Cumberland, RI   @gatehousekitchens

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DQwZJM1DpwG/

Web page -> https://www.k-cooks.com/

Dean College presents Cabaret this week - Nov 12 to Nov 16, 2025

Dean College presents Cabaret this
week - Nov 12 to Nov 16, 2025

Dean College is presenting ‘Cabaret!’ this week (November 12 - November 16).

Daring, provocative, and exuberantly entertaining, this musical explores the dark and heady life of Bohemian Berlin as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich.

Visit the Box Office page link to learn more and purchase tickets for "Cabaret"! ->

https://ci.ovationtix.com/36211/production/1247078

Consider grabbing a drink or a meal in downtown Franklin before or after a performance too!

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

The Guardian: "US supreme court extends Trump pause on $4bn in food aid benefits"

"Millions of Americans grappling with food insecurity will face more uncertainty this week after the US supreme court enabled the Trump administration to continue withholding funds for food stamps.

In an administrative stay issued on Tuesday, the highest court upheld the administration’s request to extend a pause on a federal judge’s ruling that would have required $4bn in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Snap, the food aid relied on by 42 million people, to be distributed. The funding freeze has been given two additional days, and will now remain in place until midnight on Thursday.

With the House planning to vote Wednesday on a package that could spell the end to the longest government shutdown in US history, the administration has dug its heels in on fully funding the essential food program, insisting the funds will only be cleared when Congress comes to a compromise.

“The only way to end this crisis – which the executive is adamant to end – is for Congress to reopen the government,” solicitor general D John Sauer wrote in the Trump administration’s filing."

Continue reading the full article -> 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/11/us-supreme-court-trump-snap-food-benefits

You can help the Franklin Food Pantry meeting the increasing need during these times of uncertainty with a monetary donation or purchase from their Amazon Wish list...   

scroll down the home page to make a choice ->
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

More Senior Housing coming with the Franklin Ridge project

"Seniors are the fastest-growing group facing homelessness — and that’s wrong. Westminster Senior Residences is a clear example of what we’re doing about it: partnering with local leaders to plan and build attractive, comfortable and affordable homes for older adults.  

More Senior Housing coming with the Franklin Ridge project

When we help communities move good projects forward, we protect our neighbors and strengthen Massachusetts. "

Listen to Ed Augustus at this recent ribbon cutting on Westminster. Follow link for video reel ->   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQuAqbOEywZ/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, November 12, 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 segment shares my conversation with Tom Mercer as we condense the Town Council meeting of Oct 29, 2025 in this "quarterbacking session"  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/tom-mercer-condenses-oct-29-town.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)  

• This segment features Kim & Mark in Episode 302 talking with "The Umami King Tim Hanni MW"  ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/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