An Update from Congressman Jake Auchincloss - 03/13/26

Good morning. I’m your Representative in Congress, and I write to keep you informed.

"A war of choice led by a president without a plan

Operation Epic Fury is a war of choice without congressional authorization. Given his lies to the Iranian protestors about help on the way, his weakness in Ukraine, and his blood-for-oil scheme in Venezuela, this president has no credibility on either the strategy or law guiding foreign policy. Congress must reclaim its war powers and insist that military force against Iran be debated in plain view of the American people, not on Signal chats.

Many Americans in the MA-04 have personal ties to the affected nations, particularly Israel and Iran, and I have spoken to individuals in both diasporas. They hold conflicting emotions, simultaneously – hope & fear, boldness & exhaustion. They and their families abroad, as well as all citizens of this Republic, deserve sound and lawful strategy from Washington.

I voted Yes last week on the War Powers Resolution to end hostilities with Iran until & unless the president comes to Congress for an authorization. I am ready to work across the aisle to craft congressionally directed strategy on Iran, especially for securing American air supremacy in the region to defend our allies & interests against the Islamic Republic’s belligerence; ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz; and supporting the Iranian people's right to self determination. But first, congressional Republicans must call the question on this fundamental issue of war powers by voting against a reckless commander-in-chief and for the Constitution.

Acting without oversight, the administration’s sophomoric strategy has created two problems:

 -  There’s a new Khamenei, and he’s worse than the old Khamenei

 -  The new Khamenei now has another ‘nuclear’ option, in addition to enriching the still at-large uranium: close the Strait of Hormuz for non-Chinese oil transit. 

Before the president travels to Beijing in a weakened position at the end of this month, he should present for congressional approval a plan for ending this war of choice while preventing the regime from denying transit through the Strait of Hormuz, in violation of international law. Kharg Island, the export site for nearly all Iranian crude oil (much of which goes to China), may be one critical element of that plan."

Onwards,

Jake

Continue reading the newsletter via PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z-WXduUAVaupGoVE048gmX4xTkzR4Su6/view?usp=drive_link

Exclusive audio of the Franklin Commission on Disability meeting March 5, 2026 (audio)

FM #1686 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1686 the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting held on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The meeting was held at the Senior Center. The meeting opened with a welcome by Chair Ali Rheaume.  

Quick Recap:

• Motion to approve previous meeting minutes, made, passed unanimously

• Discussion on AAB Non-Compliance Letters, some sites getting repeat letters, MBTA supposedly to be compliant in May

• Resource Document is live, getting feedback, led to discussion on calling the doc a “resource” or list of “services available”, renamed to “Disability-Related Services”

• Discussion on “Accessibility in Franklin” - working on a doc to list public sites, and share standard accessible access points of interest Group working to divide to work and make progress

• Discussion on possible increase in membership by 2, ultimately a vote to approve the request for 2 more members

• Motion to adjourn, made, second and approved

The meeting runs just over 1 hour. Let’s listen to the Commission on Disability meeting held March 5, 2026.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1686-franklin-ma-commission-on-disability-mtg-03-05-26/

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

The Commission on Disability agenda can be found ->

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2163 

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

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. 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"

Save the Date: BFCCPS multicultural night - March 26

Save the Date: BFCCPS multicultural
night - March 26

Save the date for Multicultural Night hosted by the ELPAC. 

All members of the BFCCPS community are invited and welcome to come! Tour around the world learning about different cultures.

Join us March 26th from 6-8 PM

Shared from - https://www.bfccps.org/apps/events/event.jsp?eREC_ID=5205369&d=2026-03-26

Boston GLobe: "With fewer students and higher costs, many Massachusetts districts weigh school closures and mergers"

Franklin has redistricted and closed schools, other communities are facing the same issues.

"As student enrollment drops across Massachusetts and expenses rise, districts are showing a willingness to take on one of the most polarizing issues in public education: closing or merging schools.

The downsizing has popped up in a wide variety of urban, rural, and suburban districts, including Acton-Boxborough and Belchertown in Hampshire County, which are both shuttering an elementary school in June. Boston is also closing three schools this summer as it strives to eliminate nearly one-fifth of its schools.

The impending shutdowns — a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years — add to more than three dozen public schools that have closed or consolidated since the pandemic disrupted classroom learning. That list includes shuttered elementary schools in Cambridge, North Middlesex, and Wellesley, and the closure or merger of several charter schools.

District leaders have pursued the closures and mergers to balance operating budgets amid declining enrollment and rising costs for special education, transportation, utilities, and other expenses, or to curb spending on replacing antiquated school buildings as construction costs have soared."

Continue reading the article in the Boston Globe with this shared link:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/13/metro/declining-school-enrollment-fuels-massachusetts-closures/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Beaver St. Interceptor Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday (3/16) Through Thursday (3/19)

RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert 

~ Monday Night (3/16) thru Thursday Morning (3/19) 7pm to 5am

Beaver St. Interceptor Project

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.

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 info on the Beaver St Intercept Project

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Bar Pizza soft opening and find raiser for Youth Baseball

Via Tim McDonald:

"Good morning friends!

     I wanted to share some exciting news that many of you may not have heard about yet. A new business, Bar Pizza and Salad Co, has just opened up at 384 Union St. in Franklin!

     They will be holding a soft opening this Saturday, March 14th, from 12 PM to 6 PM, and it's online orders only. Here's the best part: they are generously giving 50% of their proceeds to the Franklin youth baseball program! This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to support our local youth while enjoying some delicious food.

     As community members, we often find ourselves being asked to support local teams or schools. When a business steps up and offers to share half of their earnings to benefit our kids, it’s truly a remarkable gesture. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this chance to have lunch or dinner from Bar Pizza and Salad Co and give back to the community.

     Let’s show our support for this new business and ensure they feel welcomed by our community! Mark your calendars for Saturday and let’s flood them with orders!

     Thank you all for being such a wonderful community. Together, we can lift each other up!"

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1EUSMsHwz7/

MBTA issues St. Patrick's Day Guide - adjusted schedule & guidelines for March 15

On Sunday, March 15th, most South Station Lines will operate on a modified weekend schedule to accommodate increased ridership for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston. Passengers can expect larger crowds and longer queues.

The MBTA and Keolis urge riders to celebrate responsibly, leave their vehicles at home, take public transportation to festivities, and follow these safety tips:

• Alcohol consumption and/or unruly behavior will not be tolerated on the MBTA.

• Secure personal belongings, especially in crowded areas. If wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it at your side or set it between your feet. Leave large items like coolers at home.

• Let riders off the trains before boarding.

• Travel without bikes. Bikes (including folding bikes) are not allowed on the MBTA at any time the day of the parade.

• Report any suspicious activity or individuals in distress to the nearest police officer, call the Transit Police at 617-222-1212, or dial 911.

• Download the MBTA See Say App to quickly and discreetly report suspicious activity to Transit Police. Using this app, riders can send Transit Police pictures, text messages, and locations of suspicious activity.

• Follow the instructions of MBTA Transit Police officers and staff who are there to ensure everyone’s safety.

• Take care of yourself and others. Seek medical attention when necessary.

Affected lines:

• Fairmount Line
• Fall River/New Bedford Line
• Framingham/Worcester Line
• Franklin/Foxboro Line
• Greenbush Line
• Kingston Line
• Providence/Stoughton Line

Learn more: https://www.mbta.com/guides/st-patricks-day-guide

Last Updated: Mar 12 2026 01:13 PM

Brief summary of AI news items this week

"When a robotics chief leaves the fastest-growing AI company in the world, it’s easy to call it “internal drama.” But her reason matters.

OpenAI recently signed a deal with the United States Department of Defense — despite being founded on the principle that powerful AI should benefit humanity and not be weaponized by governments.

For the robotics chief, that principle had quietly disappeared. She chose to leave rather than have her name tied to what comes next.

The concern is bigger than one contract. Military AI rarely stays in the military. Technologies built for war — surveillance systems, autonomous targeting, and behavioral pattern recognition — often move into civilian life within years.

From her perspective, this wasn’t just a disagreement.

It was a refusal to  legitimize a direction she believed could reshape society in ways the public never chose. "    Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVm8K3QiDrm/?

"Anthropic has released a striking report on how AI could reshape the job market.

Jobs at the highest risk: software developers, financial analysts, and customer service roles.

Groups most affected: women, white workers, older employees, and high-income earners.

But there’s an important nuance: the biggest impact may not be mass layoffs, but companies simply hiring fewer people.

The group most affected could be recent college graduates, whose risk is estimated to be 4× higher.

Entry-level hiring has already dropped about 14% since the launch of ChatGPT, particularly in high-risk occupations.

Safest jobs: bartenders, dishwashers, beach lifeguards, generally physical, hands-on work that AI cannot yet automate.

These roles account for roughly 30% of the labor market.

The most concerning part: AI already has the technical capability to automate many tasks, but widespread disruption is slowed by regulation and the gradual pace of corporate adoption. The main barrier is not skills, it’s acceptance and implementation

The report is based on real data but also includes theoretical modeling, so it should be read with caution. Some manual labor jobs still lack sufficient data for analysis."   Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVjiNeYjd-g/?

 

Grammarly removes AI Expert Review feature mimicking writers after backlash  

"Grammarly has disabled a controversial AI feature that imitated the style of prominent writers and academics, and is facing a multimillion dollar lawsuit from those whose identities were used without consent.

The feature, called Expert Review, used generative AI to produce feedback supposedly inspired by writers including the novelist Stephen King, the astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson, and the late scientist Carl Sagan.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed in the southern district of New York against Superhuman, Grammarly’s parent company. The lawsuit argues that using a person’s name for commercial gain without permission is unlawful, and argues that damages due across the plaintiff class are in excess of $5m (£3.7m).

Since Grammarly’s feature has come to public attention, a number of writers have spoken out about being included."

Shared from -   https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/mar/13/grammarly-removes-ai-expert-review-feature-mimicking-writers-after-backlash?CMP=share_btn_url 

How does it feel to be a number? "ICE agents reveal daily arrest quotas and surveillance app in rare court testimony"

Federal agents clash with anti-ICE protesters
at the ICE building in Portland, Oregon,
on 12 October 2025. Photograph:
Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images

"ICE agents reveal daily arrest quotas and surveillance app in rare court testimony"

"US immigration agents in Oregon used a custom-made app to identify neighborhoods and people to target, and had daily arrest quotas they sought to meet during operations, courtroom testimony has revealed.

Details about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers’ surveillance tools and arrest goals in the state have come to light in a federal lawsuit that compelled officers to answer questions under oath, offering a rare window into opaque, internal strategies that are generally kept secret and have been driving mass detentions and chaotic raids.

The class-action suit, filed by Innovation Law Lab, an immigrants’ rights non-profit, challenged ICE’s practice of detaining people without warrants or probable cause. Advocates said the tactic resulted in widespread racial profiling and unconstitutional arrests, and a federal judge sided with the plaintiffs, issuing a ruling broadly halting warrantless arrests in Oregon."

Continue reading the article:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/13/ice-agent-court-testimony-oregon?CMP=share_btn_url 

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday, March 14, 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 Saturday

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 Saturday

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, March 13, 2026 ???

Friday, March 13

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

7:00pm Postponed - new date TBD (FHS TC performs "Animal Farm")

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

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

*** 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

Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation has a matching gift opportunity through April 20

matching gift opportunity through April 20

A generous BFCCPS family has issued a challenge: they will match every donation that the Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation receives between March 9 and April 20, 2026, up to a total of $5,000.

This means your gift of $25 becomes $50, and $100 becomes $200. If we meet this challenge together, we will raise $10,000 to jump start our first major area of focus: revitalizing our sports and recess fields.

You can read more about the matching gift challenge and donate here: https://app.smore.com/n/k1ybh

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

Reminder: Get your tickets for the Party for The Pantry - March 28

Reminder: Get your tickets for the Party for The Pantry - March 28

Party for The Pantry is just around the corner, and we are ready to rock! We’re bringing the music and the fun, but we couldn't take the stage without our incredible sponsors. 

A huge shoutout to our “Opening Act Sponsors” for making this fundraiser possible:

The Elemen-Tree House

K Cooks LLC

Mike & Maureen Sabolinski

The Tavern on Central

UpFront Guitars

We are grateful for your support!  

Get your tickets for Party for The Pantry taking place on March 28th at THE BLACK BOX Online: https://bit.ly/4c4ismW

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/183VzD4xU6/

Franklin Food Services Celebrates Dr Seuss's birthday with Green eggs and ham (video)

Franklin Food Services Celebrates Dr Seuss's
birthday with Green eggs and ham (video)

Franklin I Am. Do You Like Green Eggs And Ham? 

Check out our video Celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday - https://youtube.com/shorts/uybI8Z9Ju1w

On March 2 we celebrated Dr. Seuss’s Birthday with a Green Eggs and Ham meal at the Franklin Elementary Schools. We also did a lucky tray and gave out Dr. Seuss books as prizes. Our staff joined in the fun and dressed up like Cat in the Hat!

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bz6EfKywH/

FHS METG performance schedule - at Wayland HS - 3/14/26 - 10:30 AM

FHS METG performance schedule -
at Wayland HS - 3/14/26 - 10:30 AM

The Semi Final round of the METG High School Drama Festival is this Saturday!

Do you have your tickets yet?!

For the full schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www.METG.org.

FHS is scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at Wayland HS at  10:30 AM

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVx_iEADslv/

Aging Boldfully: Ken Bray (video)

Aging Boldfully is a new show on Franklin TV's All Access channel hosted by Susan Rohrbach. Ken Bray was Susan's guest for this show.

The show description: 

"Aging Boldfully is about living your next chapter outside of your comfort zone—fully embracing the uniqueness of you.

For many of us, the idea of aging doesn’t appear on our radar until we approach our 60s, when retirement begins to loom. During this time, our attention often narrows to one critical goal: ensuring financial independence. While that focus is important, it can distract us from an equally vital question: What am I going to do with the rest of my life? 

Each of our journeys is unique. Rather than clinging to the tired concept of “retirement,” we have the chance to rethink and redesign this new chapter. What will life look like now that we are the CEO of our own story? 

Aging Boldfully will explore the themes that matter most as we step into this phase—purpose, relevance, resilience, physical health, mental well-being, intentional living, and mindfulness. It will showcase members of our community who are finding meaning, living with purpose, and overcoming obstacles—real examples of what it means to age not just gracefully, but boldfully."

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3e4ShaBXo 

Calling all artists! The Franklin Cultural District is looking for creative minds

Calling all artists! The Franklin Cultural
District is looking for creative minds

Calling all artists! The Franklin Cultural District is looking for creative minds to design swag for summer events and help bring our Dean Bank mural to life.

Deadlines are coming up — don’t miss your chance to be part of Franklin’s vibrant cultural scene! - https://conta.cc/4cZQedB

#FranklinWelcomestheWorld

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/14ZsH9guZDq/

SAFE Coalition answers: "What are healthy ways to deal with anger?"

SAFE Coalition answers: "What are
healthy ways to deal with anger?"

Each week, a SAFE Licensed Clinical Social Worker answers questions about mental health, substance use recovery, wellness, and more. 

👇Check out this week’s Q&A! 

 

Q: What are healthy ways to deal with anger?

A: Anger is a perfectly normal, healthy, and helpful emotion that deserves to be felt and doesn't necessarily need to be "dealt with." 

We do, however, want to use healthy strategies to help us identify, experience, and process our anger. Engaging in physical activity (running, strength training, dancing) is effective in releasing tension in our bodies. Crying, screaming (in a safe, private space), and even singing can also help us process and express our anger in a way that is safe.  You can also try writing/journaling about your anger and then ripping the paper into tiny pieces! 

-----------------------------  

Submit questions and view past answers at: https://www.safecoalitionma.org/ask-safe    #askSAFE

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/18ExdMLPfM/