Franklin Matters

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Audio recording of the Horace Mann Legacy Committee meeting April 30, 2026

FM #1704 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1704 in the series.

This session shares the Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcmte Mtg held on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Meeting chaired by School Committee Vice-Chair Dave Callaghan. Members Ruthann O’Sullivan (in person) and Reis Hansen (remotely) participated. Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Director of Operations Colin Boisvert participated.

Quick recap

History of the chocolate chip cookie shared Cookies provided for those present
Resource doc for committee to collect information about Horace to build the

base of understanding for the group to help prepare the story to be used by the committee for the community awareness

May 2 film to be shown at museum Kids play area to understand Horace as he grew up. Presentation on the Research around the middle period of Horace's story in Franklin scheduled for Sunday. Multiple ideas to add to the weekend to augment the activity and improve the draw appeal
Children's Museum checking with the Library to coordinate some younger age activities and info
Motion to adjourn

The meeting runs about 1 hour and 20 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1704-fps-horace-mann-legacy-subcmte-mtg-03-30-26/

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The agenda for this meeting can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03302026-2211

My full set of notes in a PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/16dsOWdxcZ5Mn79mQAsfLMZVIDfbnTwXJ/view?usp=drive_link

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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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Tickets for the 2026 Empty Bowls Dinner on now on sale

This year's Empty Bowls Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 14 at Franklin High School from 6 - 8 PM. We are really looking forward to this feel-good, fun community event.

Here is some information about the event to share!

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased using this link, http://weblink.donorperfect.com/emptybowlstickets26

Adults: $22 ($25 at the door)

Children (18 & under): $12 ($15 at the door)

T-shirts are $20 each and are available for purchase until April 13^th using this link, http://weblink.donorperfect.com/emptybowlsshirt2026

We are looking for sponsors and have various levels available each with their own benefits. I have attached the sponsorship levels and here is the link to submit a sponsorship, http://weblink.donorperfect.com/emptybowlssponsors26

Tri-County Wrestling Mattress fund raiser scheduled for April 26

Tri-County Wrestling Mattress
fundraiser scheduled for April 26

MATTRESS FUNDRAISER ALERT!

Our wrestling team is hosting a Mattress Sale Fundraiser and we’d love your support!

April 26th
10 AM – 4 PM
School Gym

Come check out a huge selection of brand‑name mattresses at great prices — all while helping our athletes gear up for an amazing season. Bring family, friends, neighbors… everyone sleeps, so everyone wins!

Let’s pack the gym and make this fundraiser our best one yet

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DWoL2skCfqv/

Senior Center Statistics Don't Tell the Whole Story

4 key slides on the Franklin Senior Center

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EDmJH8Nj4/

Beaver St. Recycling Center Hours for Franklin, MA change this month of April

Regular hours this weekend.

Starting next week (April 7), we will be open on Tuesdays 12 PM - 3 PM through November.

Beaver St. Recycling Center Hours for Franklin, MA change this month of April

Have you seen the new Glen Pharmer sign ?? - another wonder from "Signs By Cam"

via Signs By Cam

Have you seen the new Glen Pharmer sign ??
- another wonder from "Signs By Cam"

"I have to say that I am speechless about this sign we fabricated and installed this week.

This by far was the toughest build engineering wise that I’ve done in 33 years. Full color, high resolution, wireless LED board with halo lit push-thru acrylic letters and real whiskey barrels.

Love what you do…

Do what you love"

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWraj4Hjr_G/

Franklin Police Dept: OUI Arrests made on April 2, 2026

Via Franklin Police Dept

"On April 2, at approximately 10:00 PM, a Franklin Police officer conducting traffic enforcement on King Street observed a motor vehicle traveling faster than the posted speed limit. The vehicle was stopped, and following an on-scene investigation, the operator—a 24-year-old Franklin resident—was arrested.

The operator has been charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Speeding, and Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol.

Franklin Police Dept: OUI Arrests made on April 2, 2026

A passenger in the vehicle also exhibited signs of alcohol impairment. The individual was not charged at that time and was provided transportation home. The vehicle was subsequently towed from the scene.

At approximately 11:15 PM, the same individual later arrived at the Franklin Police Department and requested to speak with the front desk officer. Reviewing station surveillance systems and conducting a subsequent investigation, officers determined that the individual had driven a motor vehicle to the station while exhibiting signs of alcohol impairment.

As a result, the individual—a 27-year-old New Hampshire resident—was arrested and charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.

These incidents highlight the serious risks associated with impaired driving. Both arrests could have been avoided. The Franklin Police Department urges all individuals to use a sober driver or rideshare services.

Stay safe and have a great weekend!"

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

Hydrant Flushing Begins the Week of April 13, 2026 for Franklin, MA

The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division begins its spring hydrant flushing program on Monday, April 13, 2026. This program is conducted annually to improve Franklin’s water quality and fire flows.

Hydrant Flushing Begins the Week
of April 13, 2026 for Franklin, MA

Flushing will take place Monday–Thursday, 3 PM – 7 PM and Saturdays, 7 AM – Noon. Additional flushing may occur during the day, as required. Hydrant flushing is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks, depending on weather and staff availability.

Residents may experience temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being flushed in their area. Even though the water may be discolored, it is still safe for human consumption. Visit https://www.franklinma.gov/635/Water-Quality to find out what you should do if you have discolored water.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the DPW office at 508-553-5500.

Shared from - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/1105/Hydrant-Flushing

Road construction alert for Saturday: King St & Constitution Blvd

ROAD WORK Saturday

Please be aware the Franklin Water Department will perform planned water main repairs at the intersection of King St. and Constitution Blvd. on Saturday, 4/4, beginning at 4 AM. There will be NO road closures or detours for this work. Expect slowdowns due to lane closures in the area.

Please plan accordingly and we appreciate your understanding while we make these necessary repairs.

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14cg4ERXEG3/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday, April 4, 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

Friday, April 3, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, April 3, 2026 ???

Friday, April 3

Note: The Senior Center is closed on Friday for Professional Development

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

7:00pm The Pub Kings (live music) (Jimmy D's Bar and Grill)

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 ***

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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

Ali Rheaume talks about the creation of "Buddy The Brain" (video & audio)

FM #1703 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1703 in the series.

This episode shares my conversation with Franklin author, educator, and disability advocate Ali Rheaume. We met virtually on Thursday, March 19, 2026 to discuss her new book “Buddy The Brain”.

Ali Rheaume talks about the creation
of "Buddy The Brain" (video & audio)

We cover

The book is available in multiple formats
The origin story of the book
Ali’s recovery journey and advocacy

The video runs about 23 minutes, let’s watch (or listen)

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gLJIk2cRT0

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1703-ali-rheaume-on-buddy-the-brain-03-19-26/

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The landing page for Buddy The Brain https://alirheaume.com/buddythebrain

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area FM 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

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"

Culinary Cabaret Coming Friday, April 10

"Hello April !!

The Franklin Cultural District is buzzing with fresh energy—explore local events, artists, and all the creativity our community has to offer this week!

Check out our Eblast link shared below (or visit the link in our profile)

Eblast link - https://conta.cc/4tjWOQS"

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

The Economic Development Subcommittee met for the first time Thursday (video)

The Economic Development Committee met for the first time in this new Council term. Committee Chair LeBlanc, members Morrongiello, Griffith & Malloy present for this session.

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Building Commissioner Gus Brown, and Planning and Community Development Director Morena Zelaya were also present

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/EStN4ZeBYow?&t=112

The agenda here -

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022026-2223

My full set of notes taken during the meeting -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n0qTNv-eqTy85Vqdu3aJvo59fGJzHAwu/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

300 Fisher is scheduled to present at a July session, an EPA brownfield, does have economic value down the line
NuStyle with grant is advancing and that can be a valuable property given it's location
The no cap on restaurant alcohol licenses is an untapped advantage, we could do more on it.
Morena talks of the 600 page doc for Somerville as too much, a recent conference talked of "form based lite" and might be more workable here
The Town has done a lot downtown but what have the property owners done? How do we engage them to find out what their plans are? There is a gap there, they didn't do much in the Franklin For All project. We need them to tell us what they are looking for.
Possible student class with a college graduate level project could help develop a vision or model of what the downtown could be, could incorporate the networking with the owners as part of it, UMass Boston could meet sooner to set the class for the fall.
LeBlanc economic development is an area where you spend money to make money

The April 2026 Franklin School Committee Newsletter is here. Did you miss any of these items?

The April 2026 Franklin School Committee Newsletter is here

"Your April School Committee Newsletter is here!

Stay informed & connected.

Read the entire Newsletter here: https://aptg.co/xtRgLb"

FHS spring sports has 1 win, 1 loss, and 3 games/matches Postponed to TBD on Thursday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, April 2, 2026

Softball = Franklin vs. Hopkinton – Postponed to TBD.

Boys Lacrosse = Milford, 9 @ Franklin, 7 – Final

– Milford overcame an early deficit, holding Franklin to three goals over the final three quarters to secure the upset and its first-ever win over the defending Kelley-Rex league champions. Down 4-1 after one quarter and 6-4 at halftime, the visiting Scarlet Hawks stayed consistent offensively to tie the game up in the third quarter at 6-6 and rally for three goals in the final quarter to pull away with a historic 9-7 win. Senior Jason Stokes had a huge offensive game for Milford with six goals and one assist. Senior Sully Driscoll added one goal and three assists, and freshmen Jeff Corbin (two goals) and Sam Stachowski each scored for the Scarlet Hawks. Milford senior goalie Anthony Mastrioanni played a vital role in net with 17 saves and one assist. “The kids just played their hearts out and they’ve bought in to what we need to do to be successful,” said Milford head coach Austin Costa. Franklin’s Thomas Quinn led the offense with two goals, along with goals from Kellan Taccini, Ryder Hanchett, Quinn Kielty, Rocco Lampasona, and Ethan Barnes.

Franklin TV video for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/T_ygHcMQcWE?&t=466

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 18 @ Milford, 1 – Final

– Franklin wasted no time to demonstrate their strength, amassing ten goals in the first quarter. The visiting Panthers carried that momentum through the rest of the game to end with a dominant 18-1 victory over Milford. Izzy Cross had a big game offensively with two goals and seven assists, alongside teammate Erin Peterson who added one goal and four assists. Morgan Lovell had a strong showing on defense and in the draw circle where she accrued six draw controls.

Boys Tennis = Franklin @ Dover-Sherborn – Postponed to TBD.

Girls Tennis = Franklin @ Dover-Sherborn – Postponed to TBD.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-02-26/

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

Register or Donate to the Franklin PMC Kids ride scheduled for June 7

Here is a great community event where your kids are empowered to help Crush Cancer.

Join us on Sunday, June 7 for the Franklin PMC Kids Ride, a bike ride for kids ages 3-14. Kids can choose from a 3, 6, or 10-mile course. Younger riders, not yet on two wheels, can take part in the Tikes and Trikes course in a fun, contained area. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.

Kids can join a team, create their own or ride solo! All local communities are encouraged to participate.

This is our 20th year so come join the Fun!