Senior Story Hour - WFPR: Episode 081 - Children's Book, The Thousand Hour Lesson, Hotdog vs Hamburger, Love, Old Friends, and much more (audio)

In this episode, The Franklin Senior Center Writers Group share stories, poems, and writings about alpha writing, love poems, old friends, empty bowls, a peanut butter jelly direction exercise, Bo gives us an update on his children's book, Bob gives us another chapter in The Thousand Hour Lesson, and Joe conducts his summer survey on the hotdog versus the cheeseburger.

Audio link -> https://senior-scribblers.captivate.fm/episode/episode-081-childrens-book-the-thousand-hour-lesson-hotdog-vs-hamburger-love-old-friends-and-much-more-

Senior Story Hour - WFPR

Senior Story Hour - WFPR = The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group

Steve Sherlock hosts The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group for a monthly reading of short stories, essays, poetry and more. 

Find more episodes here (or on your favorite podcast app) ->  https://senior-scribblers.captivate.fm/episodes

Rod & Gun Club breakfast is back Sunday, July 20

Rod & Gun Club breakfast is back Sunday, July 20 

Breakfast is back!

This Sunday, July 20, come to the Franklin Rod & Gun Club for our monthly all-you-can-eat breakfast from 7:30 - 11 AM at 53 Florence St. in Franklin.

Eggs, pancakes, sausage, French Toast, corned beef hash, home fries, baked beans, and all the coffee/juice you can drink.

And it's just $10 ($5 kids). Yeah...10 bucks!

The 4th has passed but these food fireworks are about to go off. Best deal in town and great for families!

(open to the public, cash only at the door)

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

Rise up Saturday, July 19 at 10 AM

Rise up Saturday, July 19

Learn more about Rise Up and sign up for email updates here: https://alirheaume.com/rise-up

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

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This one-hour social meet-up is intended to be a safe space for:

• individuals navigating life with disability to meet others they can relate with
• community partners to learn more about the population and share resources
• support persons to meet other support persons

For additional information about this event, please visit ->  https://alirheaume.com/rise-up

Navigating life with disability? Check out the Rise Up group meeting Saturday at 10 AM to see if it is for you

Chad Hollister & Premo perform in the Franklin TV Studio (video)

Jim Derick, SAFE Coalition, welcomes Chad Hollister and Premo to the Studio for live performances along with a conversation.

Chad Hollister & Premo perform in the Franklin TV Studio (video)

Video link ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXY5gQTcnpw

For more about Chad Hollister and his band visit -> https://chadmusic.com/

Stacey Abrams and the 10 steps to autocracy (video)

In a recent visit to the Jimmy Kimmel show, Stacey Abrams succinctly laid out the ten steps to autocracy. How close to the path are we?

In a ten minute video, she begins about 2 minutes and it runs about 2 and a half minutes, then shifts to other topics. She is on a book tour and made an appearance at The Unlikely Bookstore Tuesday evening which a family member attended.

video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M16NVCtfXk

An NPR Interview also covers the same topic along with others in the conversation with Stacey -> https://www.npr.org/2025/07/15/nx-s1-5464737/stacey-abrams-coded-justice

The Great salt lake is no longer "great", and soon may not even be a lake

"On a recent flight home to Salt Lake City, I gazed out the window and shuddered. The ground below was riddled with cracks. Sporadic green pools dotted the dry earth where vast water had once been.

I was flying over what used to be an outlying stretch of the Great Salt Lake — the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. Growing up, I used to row there with my crew team. I came to love the brilliant sunsets, along with the migratory birds that stopped there each year.

This was not the lake I once knew.

For years, Great Salt Lake has been shrinking due to water overuse and rising temperatures. It has gone from a high of 3,300 square miles in the 1980s to a record low of 888 square miles in 2022. Though a few years of heavy precipitation have helped, it is still in grave danger. Without meaningful change, the lake could vanish altogether in a matter of years.

This is not just a disaster for Utah, where the lake is a cornerstone — it could have wide-reaching impacts that could reach New England."

Shared from -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/14/magazine/great-salt-lake-sparks-new-england-concern/ 

Last August, I also shared an article on the disappearing Great Salt Lake ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/08/utahs-great-salt-lake-rings-climate.html

The Great Salt Lake, near Salt Lake City, Utah, has lost more than 70% of its water. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

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 repeats my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere on the closing out of FY 2025 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/jamie-and-lucas-close-out-fy-2025-look.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)  

• Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi have a captivating discussion about the world of Italian wine with the esteemed Shelley Lindgren ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-shelley.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, July 16, 2025

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

7:30 am Mental Health: Abigail Drake

8:30 am FSPA: Spring 2025 Show 2

10:00 am More Perfect Union: D. E. I.

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Lasagna

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Peppers

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Pies

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2

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

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 8

3:30 pm 4th of July 2023: School of Rock

5:30 pm Franklin Matters: Electric Youth

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Garnet Rogers

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22

8:30 am FHS Spring Jazz 2025

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness Day 2024

11:00 am Lifelong Music Spring 2025: Strings School

12:30 pm FHS Varsity Softball v Taunton 04-09-25

4:00 pm Tri County Graduation 2025

6:00 pm FHS Graduation 2025

8:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Wachusett 04-24-25

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

8:00 am Town Council 06-18-25

2:00 pm Town Council 06-18-25

5:45 pm    Economic Development Committee  CHAMBERS or 3rd FLOOR  819 0476 3421

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: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 ???

Library & Senior Center events 

Tuesday, July 15

5:00pm Youth Summer Track Meet (Franklin High School)

6:00pm Table Top (Franklin Public Library)

7:30pm Smart Phone Trivia (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->        

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

** Town Meetings today   **

OPEB Board of Trustees Meeting

Tuesday, July 15 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07152025-1813 

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What's happening today in Franklin? 

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

Nomination papers for Town of Franklin Election available Aug 4, 2025

Monday, August 4 – Nomination papers available (by appointment only) in the Town Clerk's Office. Please check our website for hours.

Monday, September 15 by 4:00 PM – Signed Nomination papers must be submitted to the Town Clerk's Office for certification

Monday, September 22 by 4:00 PM- Last day to withdraw your candidacy

Nomination papers for Town of Franklin
Election available Aug 4, 2025

Saturday, October 25 – Last day to register to vote from 9 AM to 5 PM in the Town Clerk's Office by appointment only or register online at http://www.sec.state.ma.us

Please visit our website www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk or call the Town Clerk's Office at 508-520-4900 for any questions.

Download the list of available positions ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/18_OEf8M8YNVj4iCTeaPXo8bLnXZ2UuUn/view?usp=drive_link

Senior Story Hour - WFPR: Episode 080 - The Thousand Hour Lesson Chapter 4, The Writer's Group, Love, Memorial Day, and much more (audio)

In this episode, The Franklin Senior Center Writers Group share stories, poems, and writings about their group, Bob gives us the fourth chapter in The Thousand Hour Lesson, love poems, an unlikely hike, Memorial Day, and why would anyone?

Audio link -> https://senior-scribblers.captivate.fm/episode/episode-080-the-thousand-hour-lesson-chapter-4-the-writers-group-love-memorial-day-and-much-more-

Senior Story Hour - WFPR

Senior Story Hour - WFPR = The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group

Steve Sherlock hosts The Franklin Senior Center Writer's Group for a monthly reading of short stories, essays, poetry and more. 

Find more episodes here (or on your favorite podcast app) ->  https://senior-scribblers.captivate.fm/episodes

"Where's the Toast?" Memory Cafe - Wednesday, July 16 at 1 PM

"Where's the Toast?" Memory Cafe
 - Wednesday, July 16 at 1 PM

Hello All,

We welcome you to join us at our monthly "Where's The Toast?!" Memory Cafe on Wednesday, July 16 at 1pm.  

Our memory cafe is free and open to those in the community who are living with memory loss, their families and caregivers.

This month is generously sponsored by Salmon Health & Retirement The Willows in Medway and features the music of Mike Tarara!  

Please RSVP to save your spot and share with those who may want to join us.  

Ariel

--

Ariel Doggett

PROGRAMMING & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR | COUNCIL ON AGING

Franklin Senior Center

10 Daniel McCahill St. 

Franklin, Massachusetts 02038-1352

O. 508-520-4945
F. 508-520-4917
E. adoggett@franklinma.gov

https://www.franklinma.gov/583/Franklin-Senior-Center-Council-on-Aging

 

NY Times: "A New Era of Hunger Has Begun"

By Tracy Kidder:

NY Times: "A New Era of Hunger Has Begun"

"Parts of Easthampton, an old mill town in western Massachusetts, look like relics of industrial New England — the old workers’ rowhouses, for instance. In other parts, it seems like a place in renaissance, with converted factory buildings spruced up and reinhabited by art galleries, restaurants, shops. Pedestrians fill the sidewalks on Friday and Saturday nights, especially during monthly art walk evenings. But on Monday mornings, when the downtown feels shuttered, another sort of crowd, one in search of food, not art and entertainment, gathers on a side street outside a 19th-century brick building. A sign out front identifies it as the Easthampton Community Center and Food Pantry.

The center distributes free groceries on Mondays and Wednesdays, but Monday is usually busier, because many people it serves have run out of food by then. By 9 a.m. on a Monday in June, a line of people with shopping bags extended from the sidewalk across the parking lot to the first of the food stations alongside the old building. There, clients are greeted by volunteers with friendly faces and helpful voices, offering milk and eggs, a selection of breads and pastries, frozen meat, fruit and vegetables. Inside, another team of volunteers assembles bags of canned and packaged food, some for adults, others for children."

Gift article link -> https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/opinion/america-safety-net.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WU8.7Ufx.sJO5TyPQMr2k&smid=url-share

Senior Center Poetry Day - Oct 25, 2017 (video)

From deep in the Franklin TV video archives comes this recording of the Poetry Day held at the Senior Center on October 25, 2017.

video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4LPTfBJ_vk

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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:

wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday, Franklin Public Radio

Tuesday

SAFE Radio – Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder 

Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines - An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era

Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday

Franklin TV schedule for Tuesday, July 15, 2025

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

7:30 am Joe Landry: The Railroad in Franklin

9:00 am Mental Health: Abigail Drake

10:00 am Frank's Musings: Supreme Court

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Peppers

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Pies

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2

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

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 8

3:30 pm Riffing on Main Street: Amy Adams

4:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

6:00 pm Horace Mann PSA

6:30 pm Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta

7:30 pm Strawberry Stroll 2025

8:00 pm 4th of July 2023: School of Rock

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

7:00 am Public School Event: Remington Spring Music '22

8:30 am FHS Spring Jazz 2025

10:00 am Mental Health: Abigail Drake

12:30 pm All-Town Showcase 2024: Chorus and Orchestra

2:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse v Taunton 04-10-25

4:30 pm Tri County Graduation 2025

8:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

9:00 pm FHSTC: Urinetown

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

8:00 am  School Committee 06-10-25

2:00 pm  School Committee 06-10-25 

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