We have a potent way to fund our parks in 2026

The good news is that none of this is yet cast in concrete. And no matter what comes to pass, we have a potent weapon to at least lessen the impact of all of this on our state economy in general, and on our state parks in particular.

Mass Parks For All December 2025   Farnham-Connolly State Park. Photo credit: Mass Parks For All.   Dear Parks Supporter,   Massachusetts could lose as much as a billion dollars in across-the-board federal funding due to the Trump Administration's so-called Big Beautiful Bill. Meanwhile, recent reports of rising inflation, rising unemployment, and decreasing job creation are threatening to push the country, and in turn the state, into recession. Add to that a Massachusetts initiative petition heading toward the November 2026 election ballot that could remove nearly $5 billion in income taxes from the state Treasury.   The good news is that none of this is yet cast in concrete. And no matter what comes to pass, we have a potent weapon to at least lessen the impact of all of this on our state economy in general, and on our state parks in particular.   Read more in this month's blog.  What we're reading DCR to Host First Day Hikes at 14 State Parks (Mass.Gov) MassTrails Grant Applications Due February 2 (DCR) State's highest court to take up lawsuit against Boston's White Stadium soccer plan (Boston.Com) Save the Harbor is giving out $300,000 for free beach events (Revere Journal) Mass Parks for All (MPA) is a statewide non-partisan, non-profit 501(C)(3) organization with a 21st-century vision for protecting, renewing, expanding, and connecting our public lands. This newsletter is supported by the community that funds this work. Donate to support our work → Our mailing address is: Mass Parks For All P.O. Box 300343 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 United States

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday, December 30, 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:

wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday, Franklin Public Radio

Tuesday

SAFE Radio – Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder 

Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines - An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday

Franklin TV schedule for Tuesday, December 30, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:00 am Winter Wonderland 2024

7:30 am     Once Upon A Town: The Rome Block

9:00 am FHS Sports: Mike Masto

10:00 am Frank's Musings: A Proposition

11:00 am Winning Ways: Student Athletes Sh1 12-12-25

12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Quiche

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 3

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 8

3:30 pm Winning Ways: Student Athletes Sh1 12-12-25

4:30 pm Santa 11-30-25

5:30 pm Mrs. Claus Storytime

6:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Italian Immigrants

8:00 pm 12-Tone Music

9:00 pm Humbug 12-20-25

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

7:00 am Middle School Winter Music 2025: Chorus and Orchestra

8:30 am FHS Winter Music: Band and Wind Ensemble

10:00 am FHS Sports: Mike Masto

11:00 am Middle School Band 12-16-25

1:30 pm     FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Stoughton 12-18-24

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Swimming v Milford 01-03-25

6:00 pm Winning Ways: Student Athletes Sh1 12-12-25

9:30 pm Critical Conversations: Student Wellbeing

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

8:00 am  School Committee 12-09-25

2:00 pm  School Committee 12-09-25

6:00 pm  Finance Committee 12-10-25

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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, December 29, 2025 ???

Monday, December 29

10:15am Milk Jug Seed Sowing Workshop (Blackstone, MA)

Library & Senior Center events

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

** NO Town Meetings today   **

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

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

Boston Globe Editorial: "Getting to yes on housing in Massachusetts"

"Over the next decade, state housing officials estimate that Massachusetts will need another 222,000 homes. These homes are necessary to attract young professionals, to prevent families with young children from leaving, to empty the homeless shelters, and to let seniors age in their communities.

"Getting to yes on housing in Massachusetts"

More housing is also needed to mitigate climbing prices that are hurting not only lower-income residents, but even those who are solidly middle class. The median price of a single-family home in Massachusetts this year, as of November, was an astonishing $640,000, according to The Warren Group.

Zillow ranked Greater Boston as the fifth most expensive rental market in the country, with average rent hovering just under $3,000 a month, according to the Boston Foundation’s 2025 Housing Report Card."

Continue reading the editorial with this shared link -> 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/28/opinion/housing-reforms-massachusetts/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Getting to "yes" on housing is a key issue for Franklin. Basic supply / demand economics are at play. Unless, and until, we increase the supply to meet the demand housing costs will continue to rise making it less affordable. 

Consider the Building Equitable Neighborhoods For Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin) group. They want to understand zoning to advocate for the right changes to make to enable sustainable and affordable growth.  Find out more at https://ben4franklin.org/

Decision tree to help determine if a Smart Phone is right for a 13 year old?

"It’s hard to raise a child in a world their brain wasn’t built for.

Decision tree to help determine if a
Smart Phone is right for a 13 year old?

Smartphones feel essential to daily life, but for kids they bring adult content, comparison, cyberbullying, dopamine issues and levels of stimulation their developing brain can’t regulate.

Most kids aren’t “bad with phones”.

They’re just young – and overwhelmed.

This flowchart isn’t saying your child should never have a phone.

It’s showing that giving one too young, and without guidance, is like dropping them into a city without a map.

What matters most is getting them ready for what they’ll find there – through small, honest conversations that protect their brain, their confidence, and their safety.

If your child already has a phone, you haven’t “messed up”. You can start these conversations today.

This isn’t about banning childhood tech. It’s about giving kids the grounding and confidence to meet it when they’re ready. 

For some families that means supporting a child who already has a phone; for others, it means waiting until the time is right.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

🎨 Created by @tjpower and @smartphonefreechildhood 

🧠 Inspired by @mindandchild"

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

If you missed the podcast episode with Dr Carolyn Kuehnel and Dr Cindy Ballou, we ended up talking about screen time and will have a follow up conversation in the near future.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/kuehnel-psychological-services.html

FHS sports results for Sunday, December 28, 2025

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Sunday, December 28, 2025

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 2 vs. Marshfield, 3 – Final

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)  

https://hockomocksports.com/sundays-schedule-scoreboard-12-28-25/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Mass Governor's 2025 Year-in-Review

Mass Governor's 2025 Year-in-Review

Via Governor Healey:

"Massachusetts is America’s #1 state to live in — and everyone should be able to afford to call it home. From housing and health care to energy, education, and more, we’re working to cut costs from families and businesses in our state."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DS0aTiAgjaz/

Dean College Baseball Team fund raiser - drawing Jan 5, 2026

Dean College Baseball Team
fund raiser - drawing Jan 5, 2026

via Zach Handfield:

"Hi all! I am a member of the Dean College Baseball Team and we are doing a raffle fundraiser for our trip to Myrtle beach in March.

Some cool prizes up there for you to win and it is $25 to purchase a ticket.

Here is a link if you would like to participate -> https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/.

Thank you all!"

Shared from -> 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/?multi_permalinks=4214274388842555&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen

The Bacchus Busters Jan 17 at Pour Richard's

Bacchus Busters Jan 17 at Pour Richard's

January is all about winter wines. Deeper textures, richer aromatics, and bottles made for slow evenings and hearty meals. 

This Bacchus Buster is designed for stocking your cellar with exceptional values, undiscovered producers, and new cold-weather favorites you’ll reach for all season long.

Think structured reds, layered whites, and wines that shine when the temperature drops. 

Join us for an afternoon of thoughtful tasting and refined winter selections.

January Bacchus Buster  = Saturday 1/17 | 1–4 PM

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DS0LwDflGrZ/

USA Facts on core inflation

Via USA Facts:

"Core inflation (excluding food and energy) dropped to 2.6%, the lowest since early 2021. Headline inflation fell to 2.7%.

The government shutdown disrupted data collection, so figures blend September and November with carried-forward October estimates."

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DSdQ802CY_8/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Monday, December 29, 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:

wfpr.fm Schedule for Monday - Franklin Public Radio

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