What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, October 25, 2024 ???

Friday, October 25

8am – 1pm  Early Voting (Town Clerk's Office) 

10am – 12pm Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

2 – 6pm Franklin Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)

2 – 6pm Cousins Maine Lobster (Franklin Town Common)  

2 – 6pm Doglio Coffee (Franklin Town Common)

2 – 5pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church) 

Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main St, Franklin, MA 02038, USA

3 – 6pm Padula Brothers (live music) (Franklin Town Common)

4 – 8pm Trunk or Treat (Franklin TV and Radio 102.9 FM)

4 – 6pm 5th Annual Pumpkin Patch (St John's Episcopal Church)

7:30 – 10pm FPAC: The School of Rock (THE BLACK BOX) 

9 – 11pm Steven Fritzsche (Two for the Rode)  (3 Restaurant)

**  NO Town Meetings today   **

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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

Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

What vendors and activities are at the LAST Farmer's Market for this season - October 25 ???

We are glad you asked.  

Thanks to the good folks operating the Franklin Farmer's Market, we have the answers to share. 

Thanks for all the goodness this season, can hardly wait until next year!

 the LAST Farmer's Market for this season - October 25

"Based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence gathered throughout last night and this morning, they collectively determined that the fire was intentionally set"

See the following statement from @massdfs : https://www.mass.gov/news/fire-in-franklin-church-being-investigated-as-arson 

UPDATE: The ATF this afternoon informed State Police fire investigators that they would match up to $5,000 in Arson Watch Reward Program funds in connection with last night’s fire. That would raise the maximum reward for information to $10,000.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call 1-800-682-9229.

the maximum reward for information to $10,000

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DBhCvnZR1k0/

The Boston Globe also provides coverage of the fire and arson investigation -> 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/24/metro/franklin-church-fire-arson/

FHS girls soccer post win on Senior Night Thursday

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, October 24, 2024 

Boys Soccer = Franklin, 0 @ Milford, 1 – Final 

– Milford junior Danny Da Silva delivered the game-winning goal with just over 10 minutes to play to help the Hawks knockoff division-leading Franklin. Sophomore Gui Quaresma won the ball on the edge of the Milford defensive third and quickly found classmate Mayck Moreira at midfield. Moreira took a few touches forward before hitting a through ball between a pair of defenders and Da Silva latched onto it and deposited a low shot to the far post for the only goal of the game. Quaresma, Gabe Santos, Andre Moura, and Gianelli Caccin all played terrific in front of goalie Robbie Cappelli as Milford earned its second shutout and win over the Panthers this season. Tiko Lourenco also had a great game for Milford, working hard throughout the midfield all game long.

Girls Soccer = Milford, 2 @ Franklin, 5 – Final

Volleyball = Franklin, 0 @ Barnstable, 3 – Final 

– Franklin came up just short in a tight second set and couldn’t dig out of the 0-2 hole in a 3-0 loss on the road at Barnstable (21-25, 24-26, 14-25). Olivia Alberti had a strong game in the middle with 11 kills (0.474 hitting percentage) and four blocks, Makayla Kuykendall added nine digs and six kills, Faith Edgehille notched 15 digs, and Brooke Daniels finished with 22 assists.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-10-24-24/

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

Fall Cleanup - Scheduled for Week of November 11, 2024

It's Fall Cleanup time!

Yard waste will be picked up curbside during the week of November 11, 2024.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/fall-cleanup-week-november-11-2024

Fall Cleanup - Scheduled for Week of November 11, 2024

Holiday Shop & Artist Meet - Greet Event - Nov 23

I'll be hanging out and selling tons of handmade items:

Holiday Shop & Artist Meet - Greet Event - Nov 23

- embroidered beanies (which sold out within 45 minutes last year)

- embroidered ornaments

- embroidered wall hangings

- original watercolors

- various handmade cards, including Christmas cards (which sold out last year)

- original acrylic paintings

- hand painted bookmarks

- hand pointed rocks

- apparel

- and more!

» This is the only time every year that I hold a shop in person, so come check it out!

*Bonus points if you share about it!

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/evBamwMh2NL4fJ3X/

Reminder: DPW Touch a truck Saturday from 10 to 2; map available for parking, etc.

"Join us this weekend! Looks like it is going to be a beautiful Fall day!!  

We have plenty of parking available. Please see the map below!"

map available for parking

Reminder: DPW Touch a truck Saturday

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/fuGFb51t5v1W6BkN/

Halloween decoration winners announced

The Franklin Lions Club announce decoration winners:

"Thank you to everyone who entered the 5th Annual Halloween House Decorating Contest! All of the displays were amazing and such a joy to observe.

Thank you to all of our judges as this was not an easy task! Score sheets are in, calculated, and we have the winners! 

I will announce the top 10 displays here. First, second, and third place winners will receive an email outlining the award presentation. 

Top 3 winners will receive a yard sign to display with pride and a declaration from State Representative Jeffrey Roy!

1.. 404 Martello Rd: Raven's Hallow Cemetery and The Poison Garden

2.. 2 Overlook Drive: Bruce Wonka’s Haunted Candyland

3.. 35 Meadowlark Lane: Pumpkin Patch of the Dead

4. 65 Summer Street: REDЯUM MANOR

5. 6 Hayden lane: Rumble in the graveyard

6. 65 Pond St: Everything scary

7. 3 Ashbury Drive: Haunted House at 3 Ashboo-ry Drive

8. 674 Pleasant Street: Jimmy “bones” Buffett Tribute

9. 787 Lincoln St: Disney’s Haunted Mansion

10. 6 Anchorage Road: Graveyard Playground

Community Vote: Thank you to everyone who saw each display and voted for your favorite. This years’ Community winner is: 35 Meadowlark Lane: Pumpkin Patch of the Dead 

If you haven’t already, please go out and see all of the creative and fun displays the Franklin Community has to offer!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/kVPZhQna8q2owCqq/

U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, MA Lawmakers Urge DOJ, ATF To Crack Down on Interstate Gun Trafficking As Gun Violence Surges

U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) sent a letter to the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requesting that ATF ramp up its work to mitigate the influx of illegal firearms from other states into Massachusetts.   

The majority of guns recovered from crimes in Massachusetts are trafficked from other states with weaker gun laws. Straw purchasers, those who buy guns on behalf of people who cannot legally purchase guns, and unlicensed individuals often purchase guns in states with weaker gun laws and transport them via highways that have become popular gun trafficking corridors. This includes the notorious "Iron Pipeline" along Interstate 95. The guns are then resold for profit in states with tighter restrictions on gun purchases, undermining the efficacy of strong gun laws in states like Massachusetts. 

"While Massachusetts suffers one of the highest rates of interstate gun trafficking, this problem is not unique to the Commonwealth. Nationwide, almost one-third of guns recovered in crimes were trafficked from other states," wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers made five key recommendations to the ATF: 

• Strong implementation of a newly finalized rule that will require more sellers to obtain federal licenses and comply with federal safety requirements that help identify potential traffickers. These requirements include conducting background checks, maintaining inventory records, and reporting when customers purchase two or more handguns within five consecutive business days.
• Improve inspections of high-risk and noncompliant dealers. The ATF should conduct more frequent follow-up inspections of dealers that sell guns to straw purchasers and those that ignore other indications of trafficking. 
• Expand reporting requirements for multiple sales of rifles, in addition to revolvers and pistols, and require ATF to keep those reports for at least five years, up from the current requirement of two years. 
• Increase public access to gun trafficking data to allow researchers, journalists, and policymakers to have access to vital data on interstate gun trafficking and the sources of crime guns. 
• Ensure more consistent crime gun tracing and increase technical assistance to train local law enforcement on how to do so.  

The lawmakers requested an update on ATF's efforts to stem the flow of weapons across state lines by November 7, 2024. 

Congressman Jake Auchincloss is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and a national leader for gun violence prevention. Rep. Auchincloss has worked closely with the Biden Administration to ensure that ATF and DOJ are closing loopholes on background checks in existing legislation and cracking down on ghost guns. He has also cosponsored multiple pieces of anti-gun trafficking legislation, including the Trafficking Reduction and Criminal Enforcement (TRACE) Act.

 

U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, MA Lawmakers Urge DOJ, ATF To Crack Down on Interstate Gun Trafficking As Gun Violence Surges

WaterSmart actually got smarter, will get better as data is collected

via the Water Department of the DPW: 

WaterSmart Update:

We have updated our water meter reading collection system and for about 50% of the Town we are now collecting hourly water readings. 

WaterSmart was updated last week with this hourly information causing high use water notifications to be sent out.  

The notifications are based on a comparison to prior usage and since there was no prior hourly usage before last week the system saw a big jump causing the notifications to be sent out.  As the data continues to be populated in WaterSmart you will be able to set your WaterSmart notifications based on this new data.  

Please track your usage over the next 2 weeks using WaterSmart and if you still have concerns after the 2 weeks please call the DPW Admin office (508-553-5500) to schedule a meter appointment. 

We encourage everyone to sign into WaterSmart, check your account, and update your notification settings. 

Go to WaterSmart to sign up or access your account ->

https://franklinma.watersmart.com/index.php/welcome?

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1YY5VAy76Nd3bUFQ/

example report from our residence since we moved in

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance schedules movie night for Oct 26 at 6:30 PM

movie night Oct 26 at 6:30 PM

Franklin LGBTQ Alliance invites you to

"Join them for a Halloween Movie Night!

When: Saturday, October 26th at 6:30pm 

Where: Franklin TV at 23 Hutchinson Street in Franklin 

What: We will be watching the Nightmare Before Christmas

There will be an assortment of spooky snacks!

 

Costumes are welcome"

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Friday, Oct 25, 2024

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

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

7:00 am Sons and Daughters of Italy: Carlo Geromini

8:30 am Frank Presents: Donna Grady

9:02 am Frank Presents: Tamisha Civil

10:00 am Riffing on Main Street: Michael Walker Jones

11:00 am Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 3

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Party Chicken

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Shrimp, Tomato & Greens Pizzetta

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 2

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

4:00 pm State Representative Public Debate

5:30 pm Veterans' Call: VA Pension

8:00 pm Endless Konnections: Kevin Barthelemy

9:30 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Rob Lawson

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

7:00 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2023

8:30 am Mental Health: Max Morrongiello

9:30 am Public School Concert: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 01-29-19

11:00 am FHS Track and Field: v Attleboro 04-04-23

1:30 pm FHS Winter Band 2022

3:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

9:30 pm FHS Theater Company: Cinderella

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

8:00 am     Zoning Board of Appeals 09-26-24

2:00 pm     Zoning Board of Appeals 09-26-24

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: Thursday, October 24, 2024 ???

Thursday, October 24

7:00am Fiber Art Installation

8:00am Early Voting

4:00pm 5th Annual Pumpkin Patch

5:00pm Board Game Night

9:00pm Dom Debaggis (live music)

9:00pm Steve Demers (live music)

**   Town Meetings today   **

• Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (remote & broadcast)

Event Date:  Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 7:30pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/10.24.24_zba_agenda.pdf

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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

Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

The Town of Franklin Completed Sewer Upgrades Using Grant Funds from the MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

The Town of Franklin Completed Sewer Pump Station Pumps, Motors, Drives and Control Upgrades Using Grant Funds from the MA Department of Environmental Protection

In January 2023, the Baker-Polito Administration, though MassDEP’s Clean Energy Results Program, with support from the Department of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, awarded $8.1 million in State Gap III Grants to 62 Organizations and Municipal Facilities for energy efficiency projects and renewable power generation in the Commonwealth.

The Town of Franklin secured a $67,807 State Gap III Grant, which was combined with $7,534 in local funds and $1,905 in incentives from National Grid, to improve energy efficiency at the Town’s Grove 1 and Grove 2 sewer pump stations. The proposed project includes replacing the two pumps in-kind with updated controls to return them to manufacturer efficiency and the installation of VFDs to allow for operation at lower head and flow points. 

Both sewer stations were built in 1986 and have not been upgraded with newer technology since then.  With this upgrade the Town expects to reduce its annual energy usage by approximately 2,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year with an estimated cost savings of $800 per year. 

Total Project Cost: $77,246

Gap III Grant Award: $67,807

Town of Franklin (cost share): $7,534

Energy Provider Incentives (National Grid): $1,905

Project Annual Cost Savings: $800

Projected Annual Electricity Savings: 2,500 kWh

Any questions about this project should be directed to Doug Martin, Town of Franklin Water and Sewer Superintendent, at 508-553-5500 or domartin@franklinma.gov.

The Gap Energy Grant is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Energy Results Program (MassDEP, CERP). The Gap Energy Grant is an innovative and cost-effective funding model that produces energy-efficient and renewable energy project results!

The Town of Franklin Completed Sewer Upgrades Using Grant Funds from the MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

Franklin Fire & mutual aid respond to fire at St Mary's Wednesday

At 5:46 PM the Metacomet Emergency Communications Center received a Fire Alarm from a central station monitoring company for 1 Church Square followed by a caller reporting a fire at the back of St. Mary's Church. Franklin Fire units were dispatched and a working fire assignment was quickly struck bringing in mutual aid from Norfolk, Wrentham, Medway, Bellingham, and Plainville.

A fire in the rear sacristy was quickly extinguished by the initial arriving crews. There was a significant amount of smoke throughout the entire Church. Personnel remained on scene for a period of time to ventilate the building.

fire at St Mary's

This fire is under investigation by the Franklin Fire Department, Franklin Police Department, The State Fire Marshal's Office, and the ATF.

The Foxboro Fire Department provided station coverage.

Contact:

James McLaughlin, 

Franklin Fire Chief 508 553 5570

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/9BJc154Zno4oWaH9/

Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting video available for replay (video)

The Joint Budget Subcommittee met on Wednesday as scheduled. The Franklin TV video of the meeting is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWmbJdKWrAY

The agenda for the meeting ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/jbsc_agenda_revised_oct_23_2024.pdf

Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting video available for replay (video) - Oct 23

FHS field hockey and volleyball teams top Sharon on Wednesday

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 

Volleyball = Franklin, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final 

– Franklin closed out its league campaign with a clean sweep on the road at Sharon (25-10, 25-21, 25-18). Olivia Alberti shined at the net with 10 kills on a 0.556 hitting percentage while Gianna Laurello added five kills on a 0.714 hitting percentage to lead an efficient attack for the Panthers. Emerson Delleo added eight kills, Charlotte Yeulenski chipped in with five kills, and Brooke Daniels set in all in motion with 25 assists.

Field hockey = Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 16 – Final 

– Tori Cahill and Sinead Cogavin each scored their first varsity goals for the Panthers.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-10-23-24/

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