Have you registered for the 15th Annual FBRTC 5K: Saturday May 16, 2026 ???

Please join us for the 15th Annual FBRTC 5K Road Race Hosted by TVFR & FBRTC Date: Saturday May 16, 2026  Start Time: 9 AM Location: Grove Street SNETT Trailhead – Parking at Waters Corporation, 210 Grove St., Franklin, MA. 02038 Entry Info:  18 yrs & Under: $25.00 pre-registration / $40.00 day-of 19 yrs - 69 yrs: $30.00 pre-registration / $40.00 day-of 70 yrs and Above: $25 / $40.00 day-of Awards:  5K Awards will be First Place Overall M/F. Age Group Awards: Top 3 M/F: 14 & Under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+ Event Details: Race start time: 9:00 AM. Registration opens at 7:30 AM. Course Details: Out-and-back 5k on hard-packed dirt trail. Course map available soon! Amenities:  1. Plenty of water and refreshments. 2. Walkers welcome. 3. Post-race refreshments 4. Awards to top 3 in each age group 5. Post-race gathering for raffle door prizes 6. Commemorative Race Tee-Shirts to the first 150 registered participants - sizes as available after April 17th. Early Bib Pick-Up / In-Person Registration on Friday May 15 at BFT (Body Fit Training) at 220 Franklin Village Drive, Franklin (across the shopping plaza from the Stop and Shop) from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Race Day Registration - Available on-site until 8:45 AM. Additional Info Available at https://www.tri-valleyfrontrunners.com/fbrtc This race benefits the continuing efforts to develop the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) into a multiuse path for Franklin & Bellingham. The SNETT is an abandoned rail bed running from Franklin through Douglas to the CT boarder, sections of which have become fully developed multi-use paths linking communities across southern Central Massachusetts. For more info & to learn how else you can help visit: https://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/ Register Here

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by
Tri-Valley Front Runners
PO Box 125, Milford,MA, 01757United States

NY Times: "The Trump Administration Has Changed Almost Every Aspect of Food Stamps"

"President Trump and his top officials have cast a sharp decrease in the number of food stamp recipients over the past year as evidence of economic progress and increasing self-sufficiency.

But the decline of more than three million participants since Mr. Trump took office to December 2025 is the result of some of the most consequential changes and the largest funding cut to the program since its inception.

An explainer of SNAP rules in a snack aisle at
a grocery store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Credit...
Thalassa Raasch for The New York Times

Through legislation and regulatory tweaks over the past year, the administration and its allies in Congress have achieved a long-held conservative goal of shrinking the safety net, reshaping how the federal government defines need for low-income beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Among the alterations: who is eligible, who must work to receive benefits, how much beneficiaries will receive, what can be purchased, what grocery stores that accept SNAP must stock on shelves, how states and counties administer the program and how much localities are paid by the federal government."

Continue reading the article via this gift link - 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/26/us/trump-administration-food-stamps.html?unlocked_article_code=1.eVA.gJrk.jErkgi1qIl5j&smid=url-share

Early Bird Discounts fly away on May 1 for Lifelong Learning Summer Programs

Early Bird Discounts fly away on May 1
for Lifelong Learning Summer Programs

"Don't miss the early bird discount.

Sign up for Lifelong Learning's summer program by May 1st!

Go to bit.ly/3OhFVUS for details."

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

Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill Assisted Living Community Named Among Nation’s Best

"Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill, an Assisted Living and Mind & Memory Care community, has been recognized as one of the best senior living communities in both Massachusetts and the nation, earning top honors in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Senior Living ratings.

Selected from more than 800 communities statewide, Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill distinguished itself through exceptional feedback from residents and their families.

Forge Hill achieved “Best” status by earning the highest possible rating in Assisted Living. Survey responses highlighted outstanding performance in key areas including safety, quality of care, community leadership, staff, value and overall resident experience.

Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill

Forge Hill is owned and operated by Benchmark Senior Living, which manages communities across the Northeast. It is one of 49 Benchmark communities recognized this year.

“This recognition is a testament to the trust that residents and their families place in us and the extraordinary work of our associates,” said Tom Grape, founder, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Senior Living. “At Benchmark, we are driven every day to raise the standard for what senior living can and should be – creating communities where seniors truly thrive.”

Benchmark press release - 

https://weeklyvoice.com/benchmark-senior-living-at-forge-hill-assisted-living-community-named-among-nations-best-in-2026-u-s-news-world-report-senior-living-ratings-2/

US News & World Report article

https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2026-04-14/u-s-news-world-report-honors-top-rated-communities-in-2026-best-senior-living-ratings

Franklin Art Association: Quick updates

• FAA Spring Show at the Norfolk Library runs through the end of this week

• The deadline to register for the Fakes & Forgeries exhibit is Saturday May 2

• The last regular meeting of the year on Wednesday May 6th 6:30pm at the Franklin Senior Center featuring guest artist Kristin Parone, a floral painter

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, April 29, 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 hour features our conversation with Jillian & Emily about the Senior Center events for May 2026 ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/jillian-emily-fill-us-in-on-special.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 314 - From Prescriptions to Stills with GlenPharmer Distillery   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode_061741819.html

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

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

7:30 am     Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta

8:30 am Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Anna P. Wert

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Italian Sausage

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

6:00 pm SAFE Coalition Gala 2026

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

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

7:00 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

8:30 am All-Town Chorus & Orchestra 2026

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Danny Lagarce

11:00 am 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

1:30 pm     FHS Varsity Softball v North Attleboro 04-08-26

8:00 pm Rec Basketball:7th & 8th Grade Boys 03-07-26

10:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Catholic Memorial 04-21-26

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

8:00 am Town Council 04-15-26

1:00 pm Town Council 04-15-26

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

Franklin School Committee gets a mid year update on the District & School Improvement Plans (audio)

FM #1732 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1732 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM. All 7 members of the Committee were present in Chambers. 

Quick recap:

• The complete administrative leadership team across the district was present to provide a midyear update on the District and School Improvement plans

• The 'current' District and School plan can be found - https://heyzine.com/flip-book/24ecc9f7e5.html#page/1. The updates as approved last night should be updated to the school page in a day or so.

Let’s listen (approx. 3 hours 7 minutes)

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1732-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-04-14-26/

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

Franklin TV video is available for review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF4JTAfLa5E 

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04142026-2250 

The meeting packet folder contains the doc released before the meeting and after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/april-14%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/26737086 

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vRqOLinf4Pyzl_K-5sm6fjBuhOqbceig/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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"

DPW: Tuesday Recycling - Pick up Incomplete (again)

DPW: Tuesday Recycling - Incomplete

Update from Waste Management 7:00 pm 4/28/26: 

"Due to over-run's from yesterday, today's Recycling Collection was not completed. See attached map for affected areas, which are highlighted in BLUE. These areas will be collected tomorrow morning. We apologize for the inconvenience."

View it on website (You can visit the website but the map unfortunately gets hidden. This is the best view of it.)

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 ???

Tuesday, April 28

12:00pm Community Closet Closed today (Franklin United Methodist Church)

For 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

***  Town Meetings today   ***

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, April 28 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282026-2274 

Franklin School Committee Contractual Negotiations Meeting

Tuesday, April 28 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282026-2198 

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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

Call for Vendors: Franklin 250 Commemorative Merchandise Program - Submissions due Friday, May 8, 2026

Celebrate Franklin 250

The Town of Franklin is seeking qualified vendors to produce and manage commemorative merchandise in celebration of Franklin’s 250th Anniversary.

This milestone anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate Franklin’s history, community pride, and shared future. To support this town-wide celebration, we are inviting vendors to submit qualifications, product examples, pricing, and service information for a commemorative merchandise program that may be sold and/or distributed as part of Franklin’s anniversary events and promotions.

We are looking for vendors who can not only produce high-quality items, but also support online ordering, payment processing, fulfillment, and shipping through a hosted merchandise portal.

Interested vendors should complete the following form before end of business on Friday, May 1 Updated to May 8 .

Additional details

Call for Vendors: Franklin 250 Commemorative Merchandise Program

Form to complete

Submission Requirements Form