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Saturday, January 17, 2026
Smile Days at the Children’s Museum of Franklin
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Chalkboard chat condenses the 4 hour Jan 13, 2026 School Cmte meeting to an hour (video & audio)
FM #1627 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1627 in the series.
This session shares my conversation with School Committee member Reis Hansen. We had our discussion via Zoom on Friday, January 16, 2026. We condense and get into the explanations behind the key items from the recent School Committee meeting January 13, 2026.
Our conversation covered the following topics:
Early insights on role as school committee member
Subcommittee work on Policy & Horace Mann Legacy
Meeting recap
Recognition of cheerleaders
FHS trip to Galapagos for 2027 was approved
FHS 2026-27 Program of Studies Update
how courses are added, selection by students
Office of Teaching & Learning District Assessment Presentation
The role of teaching & learning
The use of data to provide support and interventions as needed
MCAS still used just not a requirements for graduation
Franklin Childcare Presentation
The planning underway for initial opening for 9 student with 2 teachers
For school dept personnel first, then Town employees
Further expansion possible for community over time
Can provide revenue to sustain program
We close with a discussion on screen time and use of technology in the classroom
based upon a resident comment
Our conversation runs about 72 minutes. Let’s listen
Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnBKBSydGU4
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School Committee page (with contact info) -> https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-committee
School Committee subcommittee assignments ->
https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons
Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaXy2prDrCI
Agenda -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2086
Meeting packet folder (copies of the presentation are not yet available, once posted they should be in this folder) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-13%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24614180
Pictures of the slides shared captured in one album for
The Galapagos trip presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/amcYuXHUxJfRbu6Y7
The FHS Program of Studies -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/p5zRxxEXyke76hV66
Teaching & Learning update -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/LotQq5wCQJ8qJmUy9
Little Solutions Childcare update -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/JoMPxdB2v7a2TMV26
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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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Both FHS girls (video) & boys basketball teams top Milford on Friday
Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Friday, January 16, 2026
Boys Basketball = Franklin, 52 @ Milford, 41 – Final
Girls Basketball = Milford, 42 @ Franklin, 66 – Final
Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ3CkRa4IIU
– Franklin drilled 12 threes as a team and used a huge second quarter run to earn a big win over Milford. It is Franklin’s fifth win in a row, moves them to 0.500 for the first time this season, and puts the Panthers alone in first in the Kelley-Rex. Milford got off to a good start. Ava Baglione scored eight points and Katelyn Kearnan added four as the visitors took a 12-11 lead after one. Franklin took full control with a dominant, 24-3 second quarter. Freshman Brielle Nicholls sparked the Panthers, knocking down three from beyond the arc and scoring 13 points in the frame. Ava Bonney added a pair of threes and scored eight points in the frame. Milford edged the third quarter by a point, as Kearnan scored six and Reagan Cunningham and Abby Murphy each scored four. Franklin never allowed the Hawks to mount much of a comeback and Kendall Mone scored six of Franklin’s 16 in the fourth to put the game away. Nicholls finished with a career-high 19 and Bonney added 14 – both hit four threes. Mone added a career-high 13 points, while Tessah Rodrigues scored eight and Sophia Sacramone had seven.
For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)
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| FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com |
Indoor Track: Meet #3 Highlights & Top Performers for FHS vs. Taunton - Jan 15, 2025
In addition to the FHS Indoor Track results provided on Friday from Thursday's meet, Hockomock Sports has prepared these highlights and top performers.
Franklin vs. Taunton
Boys Score: Franklin 67, Taunton 33
- Franklin’s Peter Gubka won the 55-meter dash and hurdles, setting personal bests in both and the league lead in the dash (6.58, 7.76).
- Franklin went one-two in the 300m as Peter Theodorou won (38.95) and Owen Bertoldi ran a personal best for second (39.31). Taunton’s Michael Braxton was third in a personal best (39.62).
- Kyle Twomey and Andrew Rontiris set personal bests to finish first and second for Franklin in the 600m (1:28.82, 1:30.76).
- Taunton’s Jordan Trucchi edged Franklin’s Tucker Morin in the 1000m, finishing six hundredths apart (2:53.89, 2:53.95). Sawyer Laing won the mile for Franklin in a personal best (4:55.53).
- Franklin’s Adam Peng won the 2 mile (10:47.28) with Nicholas Mitchell second in a season best (10:49.91). Franklin won the 4x200m relay (1:38.17), while Taunton won the 4x400m relay (3:42.37).
- In the field, Taunton’s Jaedan Thompson won the shot put in a personal best (48’7.75). Franklin swept the high jump as Peter Gubka (5’10), Stephon Reed Jr (5’8), and Caleb Keras (5’2) went one-two-three.
- Taunton’s Michael Braxton won the long jump in a personal best (18’4).
Girls Score: Franklin 77, Taunton 23
- Phoebe Cuneo and Jossie Camp ran personal bests to go one-two in the hurdles (9.56, 9.66). Camp also won the 55m dash in a personal best (7.75), and Cuneo won the 300m (43.93).
- Franklin’s Keelan Donnelly won the 600m in a personal best (1:50.58). Maddie Bruno and Victoria Courtright-Lim set personal bests to take the top two spots in the 1000m (3:08.85, 3:10.89).
- Savannah Copeland won the mile in a season best (5:44.73) as Franklin swept the event. Franklin also swept the 2 mile, led by Annabelle Santiago (12:53.11) and Violet Copeland (14:11.28).
- Taunton won the 4x200m relay (1:54.31), while Franklin won the 4x400m relay (4:32.48).
- In the field, Lydia Donnelly won the shot put for Franklin in a personal best (29’6.50). Callie Joyce won the long jump and high jump in personal bests (15’7, 4’8).
Boys Indoor Track = Franklin, 67 vs. Taunton, 33 – Final
Boys team results by event -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QShD4DQoKuMNQzw_SyOMtPZdKI_DIG89/view?usp=drive_link
Girls Indoor Track = Franklin, 77 vs. Taunton, 23 – Final
Girls team results by event -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xsrJc0WNTqmIQ-_0x2MyvoKWNVRVSHaG/view?usp=drive_link
Complete Indoor meet results for 1/15/26 -> https://lancer.trackscoreboard.com/meets/427/events
For all the other Hockomock League Team Indoor Track results from Meet #3 (subscription Required) -> https://hockomocksports.com/indoor-track-meet-3-highlights-top-performers/
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| FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com |
A Cappella Music Festival – Live at 3 Restaurant - Feb 7
IMPORTANT SHOW/SNOW RELATED NEWS!!!!! The town has cancelled all events on school property this Saturday, February 7th. THIS CONCERT HAS MOVED TO THE RESTAURANT "3" AT 461 WEST CENTRAL STREET IN FRANKLIN!!!! SHOW WILL STILL START AT 7:30PM, BUT WILL NOW BE UPSTAIRS AT 3.
Looking for something fun and different to do on a Saturday night?
Tim Seamans and I are proud to bring to town Saturday, February 7th at the Franklin High School Theater an unforgettable evening of live vocal music featuring three outstanding collegiate a cappella groups:
- The Colgate Thirteen
- The Tufts Jackson Jills
- The Fairfield Crust
Doors open: 7:00 PM
Show starts: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $5 (+ small processing fee)
All event details and tickets can be found on Eventbrite — grab yours and we hope to see you there!
Beaver St. Interceptor Project: Construction Updates for Week of Jan 19 to 26, 2026
Construction Updates ~ Monday (1/19) Through Friday (1/23)
RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert - Monday Night (1/19) thru Thursday Morning (1/22) 7pm to 5am, Friday (1/23) 7am-3pm
The Contractor will continue with the installation of the sewer force main within RT. 140 (West Central Street). The work will be contained within the southbound lane from Burger King to Beaver Street. During this time there will be evening lane closures on RT. 140. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.
Fisher Street Easement - Monday (1/19) thru Friday (1/23) - 7AM to 4PM
The contractor will be working off the road along Fisher Street. There are no anticipated traffic impacts at this location.
Beaver St. Interceptor Project
West Central Street (near BJs) - Wednesday (1/21) thru Friday (1/23) - 7AM to 4PM
As the weather allows the contractor will be working on the installation of the helical piles along the side of West Central Street. During this time there will be evening lane closures on West Central Street. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.Beaver Street Pump Station
At the Franklin Recreation Center
the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with construction of the internal building component installation and testing of the pumps. Bypass piping equipment will be onsite and protected by barriers. Access to the recreation center will NOT be affected during this time.
For additional details on the complete project, please visit -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project
Junk Dunkers can provide Curbside Junk Pickup
(508) 595-8419 | support@junkdunkers.com
17 Symmes Rd, Franklin, MA 02038
Winter Hours at the Beaver St Recycling Center
Friendly reminder from DPW on the winter hours for the Beaver St recycling center
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| Winter Hours at the Beaver St Recycling Center |
Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14VeTtvap87/
Overview of Children's Museum of Franklin accessibility features
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| Overview of Children's Museum of Franklin accessibility features |
Before construction even began, and all during the process, they consulted with many different people regarding access accessibility, myself included.
This has definitely been one of my favorite consulting opportunities!
In addition to my overall passion for accessibility, I also love working with children with years of experience as an educator, a Bachelors Degree in Movement Science, a Masters Degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and additional certifications for Special Populations.
Put all of that together, and it was truly a dream to be invited to evaluate the space before, during, and continuing forward as well.
The owners Meg and Erin have been extremely open to accepting all feedback regarding accessibility, and truly take action on it as they are able to.
Whether was encouraging benches with back to them, having a fragrance free environment, making sure transition areas are smooth, and so much more, they listen and care about all of it!
The @childrensmuseumfranklin is located at 157 Cottage St in Franklin, MA.
Check out the hours and more information on their website at https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org
Have fun!!
Video: Footage showing a tour of the Children's Museum of Franklin. It starts outside, showing handicap parking and ramp access. Once inside, there are white cubbies and a rack a g coat. It pans to the front desk, which has a sensory kit and headphones on the counter. Then, it shows a restroom, walks by some water fountains, and goes into the open concept play area. It shows parts of the museum including a play vet office, farm area, bank, Lego section, train exhibit, a lift down to a lower area, digital body exhibit, a tree that you can go inside for sensory items, and a gear based mechanism.
Hashtags: #inclusion #accessibility #childrensmuseum #accessibilityconsulting #accessibilitymatters
View the full view (reel) online -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DTi9TiLAQ9F/
Monday: Commuter Rail will operate on regular weekday schedule for MLK Day - Jan 19, 2026
On Monday, January 19th, for MLK Day, all Commuter Rail line trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Affected lines:
- ALL
Franklin/Foxboro, Providence/Stoughton and Fairmount Line passengers:
The Amtrak infrastructure repair work has been completed and effective Mon. 1/19, trains resume operating on Fall/Winter schedule available now at mbta.com/cr.Keep your commute on track and sign up for T-Alerts!
Go to https://alerts.mbta.com and subscribe to receive relevant, real-time service alerts via email or SMS.
Last Updated: Jan 16 2026 01:54 PM
ICE Detainer data "driven entirely by immigrants without criminal convictions"
via Austin Kocher
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| ICE Detainer data "driven entirely by immigrants without criminal convictions" |
The key finding? Growth in detainers is driven entirely by immigrants without criminal convictions. Detainers for people with convictions stayed flat while those for people with pending or no charges surged.
This matters because detainers let ICE leverage routine local police activity (traffic stops, 911 calls) to funnel people into the deportation pipeline. The data shows enforcement expanding far beyond any public safety rationale.
Dashboard link in bio. More analysis coming soon."
Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DTQeW2mkY8Y/
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