Nationwide strike Jan 30; Info removed from National Parks; white supremacy via White House

Nationwide strike Jan 30

"NATIONWIDE GENERAL STRIKE FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026

No work. No school. No shopping.

Withhold your labor and buying power to send a clear message: END ICE TERROR."

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

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

"Trump officials have ordered national parks to remove dozens of signs and displays related to climate change, environmental protection and settlers’ mistreatment of Native Americans in a renewed push to implement President Trump’s executive order on “restoring truth and sanity to American history.”

Info removed from National Parks

Among the national parks targeted in the new removal orders are some of the country’s most iconic: Grand Canyon, Glacier, Big Bend and Zion.

The removal orders include descriptions of how climate change is driving the disappearance of the glaciers at Glacier National Park and a wayside display at the Grand Canyon referring to the forced removal of Native Americans.

The administration’s broad attempt to suppress true stories “should offend every American,” said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association."

Tap the link to read the full details on some of the changes being ordered - https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/01/27/national-parks-signs-censorship/

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

Administration Social Media
Posts Echo White
Supremacist Messaging

"A flurry of social media posts from the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor have promoted the white nationalist right, including through images, slogans and even a song. 

The posts have referred to neo-Nazi literature, ethnic cleansing and QAnon conspiracies, mused about deporting nearly a third of the U.S. population, and promoted lyrics from an anthem bellowed by the far-right militants of the Proud Boys.

“There are two types of people to whom these messages will quickly look familiar,” said Oren Segal, a vice president for counterextremism at the Anti-Defamation League, “white supremacists, and those who study white supremacists.”

Read more about the postings ->   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/us/politics/white-supremacy-trump-administration-social-media.html

 Photo by @kenny_holston"

No, that’s not your boss asking you to buy gift cards

No, that's not your boss asking you to buy gift cards By BCP Staff While the gift-giving holidays are over, scammers still want gift card money. Some scammers might even reach out by pretending to be your boss and asking you to buy gift cards for them. But it's a scam. Here's how to spot and avoid it. Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/01/no-thats-not-your-boss-asking-you-buy-gift-cards?utm_source=govdelivery

   

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, January 29, 2026

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  (Repeats Saturday at 3:00 PM)

• The Maloney's tell how "More Farm Than Fancy" came about
   ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/mike-rescue-pig-was-1st-on-journey.html  

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 Album Hour" features Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's "The Nashville Sound" record released June 16, 2017.   
• "The Vibe Playlist Hour" includes an amazing mix of new studio and live hits from this award winning band.  

The Album won Grammy Awards for the Best Americana Album and “If We Were Vampires” won Best American Roots Song.  The Nashville Sound was nominated for a CMA Award for Album of the Year and won Album of the Year at the Americana Music Awards. 

Jason Isbell is a super talented American songwriter, musician, and performer and is leading the emergence of Americana songwriting and music industry.  Jason and the 400 unit have a cool blend of country, folk, and rock n roll compositions that are truly authentic and memorable.  Enjoy the Vibe and Pauly G discussing this artist, the band, and Americana music.

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, January 29, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

9:30 am More Perfect Union: Susan Rodriguez McDowell

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Lasagna

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:35 pm Cook with Linda: Broccoli Salad

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2019 Show 4

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Look Back then Move Forward

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Tom Marcone

7:00 pm Frank's Musings: Venezuela

8:00 pm The Circuit Breakers

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Kim Moberg & Jenna Nichols

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

9:30 am Public School Event: Concert Hour Day 1

11:00 am FHS Winter Jazz 01-29-25

2:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 1

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling: v Taunton 01-05-23

7:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Mansfield 01-07-26

9:00 pm FHSTC: Peter and the Starcatcher

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 01-15-26

12:00 pm Police Station Building Committee 01-06-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 01-15-26

7:00 pm Conservation Commission  CHAMBERS  863 2644 7994

 

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, January 28, 2026 ???

Wednesday, January 28

• Tuesday trash and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday
• Wednesday trash and recycling will be picked up on Thursday

1:00pm Scribblers Writing Group (recording session) (Franklin Senior Center)

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

Franklin Garden Club Program on New Age Floral Techniques

Kristin VanDijk, the founder of New Age Floral, will demonstrate how to create floral designs based on sustainable and regenerative floral practices at the February 3, 2026, Franklin Garden Club meeting. 

New Age Floral Techniques

The meeting will take place at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 6:00– 8:30 p.m.  An informal social get-together will take place from 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. followed by a business meeting and the program. The meeting is open to the public at no charge, including those interested in becoming a member.    

 

New Age Floral provides floral professionals and hobbyists with eco-friendly solutions that replace unsustainable materials and contribute to a healthy, sustainable future.  Products include staples in the floral industry, such as the OshunPouch, a groundbreaking alternative to the traditional single-use ecologically toxic plastic floral foam block that sits in landfills. 

The OshunPouch is 100% sustainable, biodegradable, and home compostable.  VanDijk’s career spans leadership positions in garden clubs, owning flower shops, and pioneering online flower show education. She founded New Age Floral in 2020 and has grown the business to include numerous naturally sourced, regenerative materials to reduce the strain on the earth’s resources caused by the floral industry. 

The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts

School Committee get preview of FY 2027 school budget with 2.5% increase, assuming health costs transfer to Town account (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026. All 7 members were present in the Council Chambers.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UxhayAn6s

The agenda can be found -> https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/8d6ca562-53e6-4ea4-a1af-54dc11571527/SCAGENDA-1-27-26.pdf?disposition=inline

Released documents will be posted to the 'packet folder' ->  https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-27%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24906664

Quick recap

• The committee and community got a preview of the FY 2027 school budget. Excluding the health care costs ($8.8M), they presented a 'level service' budget that stays within a 2.5% increase
• The discussions with the Town to transfer the health care costs to the Town account 910 are in process. A Memo of Agreement (MOA) is being prepared to cover the details of the transfer. The Committee will schedule a special meeting to vote to approve the transfer next week

My notes in one PDF file ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/140kTZI5bmwVFlufRsU54cNneJ2BytZ-c/view?usp=drive_link

A copy of the presentation via photos captured during the presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4FRM9xmqLKzUwXFY8

FY 2027 school budget with 2.5% increase, assuming health costs transfer to Town account

FHS girls basketball team tops Mansfield on Tuesday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Boys Basketball = Mansfield, 48 @ Franklin, 42 – Final

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_j_4Db9LKg

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 45 @ Mansfield, 44 – Final

"After a rough start to the season that saw Franklin lose six of its first seven games, the Panthers went into Tuesday night’s visit to the Albertini Gym on a seven-game win streak and alone atop the Kelley-Rex division.

It was never going to be an easy game against their rivals and seemed likely to be a close one. Each of Mansfield previous five games had been decided by six points or less and Tuesday would be no different.

With less than three minutes to play, Kaylee Fernandes picked off a pass under the basket and scored to tie the game. Tessah Rodrigues forced a turnover on the next possession and Sophia Sacramone followed her own miss, used a nice pump fake to get free, and laid it in to put the Panthers in front 43-41 with 2:04 to play.

Mansfield got one back on a free throw from Katelyn Troilo. The score would stay the same for the next 80 seconds before freshman Brielle Nicholls went 1-of-2 at the line. Troilo managed to break the intense Franklin press and got the ball back for a decent look at a three. The shot was short but Sadie Jablonski snatched her 16th rebound of the night and put it in, plus a foul, to tie the game with 9.0 on the clock."

Continue reading the recap by Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-rallies-at-mansfield-extends-win-streak-to-eight/

For a photo gallery from this game.  https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-rallies-at-mansfield-extends-win-streak-to-eight/#:~:text=After%20a%20rough,on%20the%20clock.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)  

https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-27-26/

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

Have Fun While Making a Difference!: Soccer for smiles tournament Feb 17-18, 2026

Have Fun While Making a Difference!

Soccer for smiles tournament Feb 17-18, 2026

Our 2026 tournament is in the planning stages so save the dates in February!

February 17-18, 2026

Even though the tournament runs for two days, a player's commitment is just a few hours on one particular day. The day is split by age groups in 2- or 3-hour blocks of time (see schedule). It is great fun!

Tournament details ->  https://www.soccerforsmiles.org/

Pour Richard's The First & The Last 1st Anniversary Grand Tasting Feb 7

Pour Richard's The First & The Last
1st Anniversary Grand Tasting Feb 7

via Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions

"Turns out we don't actually know when Giorgio is retiring, but we're not going to waste an opportunity to party and open bottles.

Mark your calendars and come prepared, you know how we do things."

Shared from -> 

https://www.facebook.com/share/14XtdxMvcWB/

Wright Old School Chocolate schedules class on craft chocolate - Feb 3

Bean to Bar: The Journey of Chocolate

Hello Chocolate Friends,

Have you ever wondered how chocolate is made — really made — from cacao bean to finished bar?

I'm excited to invite you to Bean to Bar: The Journey of Chocolate, an engaging evening presentation where I'll walk you through the full chocolate-making process and share what goes into crafting small-batch, artisan chocolate at Wright Old School Chocolate.

Bean to Bar: The Journey of Chocolate, Feb 3

This class is presented in a lecture format, making it a relaxed and informative way to learn about chocolate — with plenty of opportunity for questions along the way.

• Tuesday, February 3, 2026
• 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School
• $25 per person (includes tastings!)

During the talk, you'll learn:

• Where cacao comes from and how it's sourced 
• The key steps in transforming raw beans into chocolate 
• What makes craft chocolate different from commercial chocolate 
• How flavor develops along the way 
• Enjoy guided tastings of finished chocolate

For those who are curious to see where the magic happens, there is also an opportunity to tour the chocolate lab afterward (tour not included with class registration).

Whether you're a longtime chocolate lover or simply curious about how it's made, this is a fun, approachable introduction to the world of bean-to-bar chocolate.

👉 Space is limited. Register here: https://registration.xendirect.com/tri-county/calendar.cfm?action=month&month=2&year=2026

I'd love to see you there — and yes, loyal Wright Old School Chocolate patrons are always welcome too!

P.S. Come curious — leave chocolate-smart (and well tasted). 🍫

Wishing you well,

Peter W. Carlson, Founder

South Street 6 on Valentine's Day at The Chieftain

South Street 6 on Valentine's Day  at The Chieftain

Romantic, cheesy, sexy... chocolatey? 

Well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad! We're pulling out our favorite love songs, break-up songs, and set the bed on fire songs for Valentine's night at The Chieftain! 

Come grab a few drinks, maybe a candy heart or two, and stay for the music. 

8pm - close! 

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT_fy1EDgKl/

"the majority of its immigrant detainees have no convictions"

via Financial Times:

"the majority of its immigrant
detainees have no convictions"

"Trump administration officials have said that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is only targeting criminal illegal immigrants. But it is also the case that innocent people have been caught in the dragnet.⁠
⁠
Data from ICE shows that the majority of its immigrant detainees have no convictions, and a third have pending charges.⁠
⁠
Tap the link in our bio to read more" -> (registration required) https://www.ft.com/content/6642d7c7-d623-49b4-9bcf-0e9f7c65b4e0

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT_XxXEk2Hg/

Brene Brown on what makes power dangerous is how it is used

Via Brene Brown:

Brene Brown on what makes power dangerous is how it is used

"I’ve written about the idea of power-over and power with/to/within in all of my books, starting with “I Thought It Was Just Me” in 1997 and as recently as “Strong Ground.” 

We see the cruelty of power-over in organizations, families, and politics, and it’s getting worse. I’ve spent the past few days revisiting our research and work by other scholars and organizers who explore power. 

I think it’s important to remember that when people are leading with chaos, coercion, and cruelty, they’re showing us exactly what they’re afraid of.

They’re afraid of us. Our inclusivity and accountability and community and agency and freedom and learning and art and love and joy. Everything that is positively correlated with growth, renewal, learning, and impact."

This is one of 8 slides, you can find the remaining slides at -> 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DT8atWKgmcg/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, January 28, 2026

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  Scott Mason who thinks spring and talks baseball  1/12/26  ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/get-that-spring-feeling-with-scott.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 307 - Wine Social Media Star Kelly Axelrad   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode_0602953869.html

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