Chris Smither scheduled to perform at Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - September 13

Chris Smither

Chris Smither Sept. 13,2025  7:30 PM $30  Doors open at 7:00 pm.

Honed by decades on the road, acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Smither delivers music that is equal parts folk, blues, and poetry. Influenced by the likes of Lightnin' Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt, his signature fingerpicking style, foot-tapping rhythms, and deep, resonant voice have earned him a devoted international following. With songs recorded by artists such as Bonnie Raitt and Diana Krall, and twenty albums to his name—including his latest release All About the Bones (2024)—Smither remains a masterful performer whose live shows are as powerful as his songwriting. Upcoming Shows

Richard Shindell, October 18 RUNA November 15 Ellis Paul, Dec. 6 Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Candlelight vigil for International Overdose Awareness Day 08/31/25 (audio)

FM #1502 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1502 in the series. 

This session shares the first part of the International Overdose Awareness Day candle light vigil held by the SAFE Coalition on Sunday, August 31, 2025. The vigil was held on the Franklin Town Common. This first part was conducted from the stage at the gazebo. The second part, recorded by Franklin TV, was held right near the flags planted on the Common.  

 

Speakers

• Jennifer Knight-Levine,  CEO | Co-Founder

• Jim Derick, Director of Family Recovery | Co-Founder

• Rev Doreen Oughton, Franklin Federated Church

• Anthony, member of SAFE Coalition with his recovery story

The recording runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1502-ioad-safe-coalition-vigil-08-31-25/

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For more about the SAFE Coalition, visit their web page -> 

https://www.safecoalitionma.org/ 

International Overdose Awareness Day -> https://www.overdoseday.com/ 

Photo album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/eUJRuDrhDoZfSMp18 

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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"

Candlelight vigil for International Overdose Awareness Day 08/31/25 (audio)

FHS sports broadcast schedule for the week of September 2

FHS sports broadcast schedule for the week of September 2

Schedule for sports for the week!

Checkout Franklin Pride TV on YouTube for live streams.

YouTube link -> https://www.youtube.com/@franklinpridetv7819

OR

Franklin Pride TV - YouTube  https://bit.ly/FTV-Schools 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1BL1ikE9GV/

Biennial Election Candidate Nomination Papers Filing as of Aug 28, 2025

The local ballot is filling in. Town Clerk Nancy Danello posted the most recent updated report as of August 28, 2025 showing candidate nomination papers have been taken for Town Council, School Committee, Town Clerk, Board of Assessors and Planning Board at this point. 

There is/are 

1 candidate for the Board of Assessors

2 candidates for 2 spots on the Planning Board

10 candidates for 7 spots on the School Committee

1 candidate for 1 spot for the Town Clerk

15 candidates for 9 spots on the Town Council

The Board of Health, and Planning Board (Associate Member) remain without at least a candidate for each open position at this time. 

Biennial election Candidate Nomination Papers Filing

This will likely be fairly dynamic until September 15 when the signatures required are returned and validate. The Ballot doesn't get finalized until Sep 22.

The PDF download -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6790/Nomination-papers-filed-as-of-8-28-25

The PDF display: 

Franklin Food Pantry closed for the week of September 1; reopening Sep 9

Franklin Food Pantry closed for the
week of September 1; reopening Sep 9

To prepare for the next few months - which are typically the busiest time at The Pantry - we will be closed to clients beginning Monday, September 1, 2025, and reopen for shopping on Tuesday, September 9, 2025,  at 9 AM. 

A limited number of staff and volunteers will be in the building during this time to deep clean The Pantry, take inventory, and restock. 

Information on additional food resources is posted on our website: https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-help/resources/neighborhood-resources/

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

ReThinking: Jacinda Ardern on leading with empathy and overcoming self-doubt (video)

Re:Thinking with Adam Grant

"When Jacinda Ardern was thrown into the race for New Zealand’s prime ministry just months before the general election in 2017, she had no intention of even running for the position—but she knew it was her responsibility to become the leader her country needed. 

In this episode, Adam and Jacinda reflect on strategies for closing confidence gaps, discuss the importance of compassion in leadership, and break down a phenomenon that New Zealanders call “tall poppy syndrome.” 

They also look back on Jacinda’s most pivotal decisions, from steering the country through the COVID pandemic to stepping down as Prime Minister."

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

USA Facts lays out what programs immigrants are eligible for (chart)

Are immigrants eligible for government assistance? It depends on their immigration status.

Recent laws (including the One Big Beautiful Bill) have limited some immigrants’ access to government programs — but which ones, and for whom?

We broke it down in a new table to help make sense of this complicated system.

USA Facts lays out what programs immigrants are eligible for (chart)

The USA Facts page has an interactive chart, scroll over it to get additional info ->

https://usafacts.org/articles/immigrant-program-eligibility/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Monday, Sep 1, 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 Monday - Franklin Public Radio

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

Franklin TV schedule for Monday, Sep 1, 2025 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:00 am Riffing on Main Street: Steve Sherlock

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness Day 2024

9:00 am 4th of July 2025: Two Guys Who Like Sharks

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Candy Apples

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Meatballs

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Black Bean, Roasted Pepper & Garlic Pizzetta

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 4

3:02 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 12

4:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

5:30 pm Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 1

8:30 pm Celebrate with Pride 2025: Queens of the South Coast

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

8:30 am SAFE Coalition: Overdose Awareness Day 2024

9:30 am Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

10:30 am Public School Concert: MICCA Showcase Pt. 1 03-14-18

12:00 pm Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2022

1:30 pm All-Town Showcase 2024: Band

3:00 pm FHS Varsity Football v Methuen 11-08-24

6:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball v Mansfield 10-07-24

9:00 pm FHSTC: Peter and the Starcatcher

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

8:00 am Planning Board 07-28-25

12:00 pm Police Station Building Committee 08-27-25

2:00 pm Planning Board 07-28-25

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

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, August 31, 2025 ??

Sunday, August 31

11am Sunday Brunch (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

1pm Sunday Fundays (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

1pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

5pm International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) (Franklin Town Common)

7pm Sunday at Sunset (St John's Episcopal Church)

** NO Town Meetings today   **

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What's happening in Franklin, MA

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

Reminder: SAFE Coalition vigil 5 PM on Town Common - International Overdose Awareness Day

Last year, 1,763 people died from overdose in Massachusetts.

Join us for International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 to remember and honor loved ones we’ve lost to overdose.

Community Vigils

flags to honor those who passed during 2024

SAFE Coalition will host community vigils from 5 to 6 PM at two locations:

• Franklin Town Common (200 Main St.)
• Wrentham Town Common (1 Franklin St.)

We encourage attendees to bring photos of loved ones to place on a special memorial display table at the vigils.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/2025-international-overdose-awareness.html