Friday, April 24, 2026

United Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament - Monday, June 8, 2026

United Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament - Monday, June 8, 2026
United Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual
Golf Tournament - Monday, June 8, 2026


URCC Annual Golf Tournament - Monday, June 8, 2026
Sign up by contacting Jack at the Chamber office.

The New England Country Club
180 Paine Street
Bellingham





Boston Globe: "US reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug"

Via the Boston Globe:

Boston Globe: "US reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug"
Boston Globe: "US reclassifies state-licensed medical
marijuana as a less-dangerous drug"
"President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it’s regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse — to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June."

Continue reading the article with this shared link - 

Say “no, thanks” to unexpected offers to lower your credit card interest rate


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By BCP Staff

If a company calls you unexpectedly and offers to help lower your credit card interest rate, say “no, thanks.” It’s probably a scammer hoping you’ll pay them for shortcuts that don’t really exist. 

Here’s how to spot and avoid scams that promise to help lower your credit card interest rate.

Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/04/say-no-thanks-unexpected-offers-lower-your-credit-card-interest-rate?utm_source=govdelivery



Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, April 24, 2026

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fmFranklin 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 Friday
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events 


9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong. 2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews  Showcasing the "Blues" as a basis for and influence of Country, Jazz and Rock and Roll, here and worldwide.


11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM - “The Vibe” show plays music for everyone searching for some enjoyment, some dance, a happy or thinking mood, and most importantly, having fun.  Tune in to wfpr.fm and listen to “DJ Vibe” spin music across many genres and join this new vibing experience


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 Friday, April 24, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Katie Kindilien
8:30 am Frank Presents: Djuna Perkins
10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel
11:00 am Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 3
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 '19 Show 2
3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4
3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2
8:00 pm Metrowest Summit: World Cup 02-26-26
9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Joe Jencks

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

7:00 am All-Town Chorus & Orchestra 2026
8:30 am Metrowest Symposium: Festivals & Community Celebrations
9:30 am 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26
11:00 am United Methodist Church: Lola Richardson
2:00 pm FHS Concert Hour 02-25-26
3:30 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Attleboro 04-13-26
8:30 pm Franklin Footlighters: High School Musical Jr.

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


8:00 am  Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26
2:00 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals 03-05-26
6:30 pm  Finance Committee 04-09-26

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
Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Thursday, April 23, 2026

First night of the FinCom FY 2027 Budget Hearings - audio in 2 parts - 04/06/26

FM #1723-24 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1723-24 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee Budget Hearing on General Government, the 1st of 4 sessions to go over the FY 2027 budget. The meeting was held in Council Chambers with 8 of 9 members present.


Let’s listen in

Part 1 runs about 2:13 Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1723-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-1-p1-of-2-04-06-26/



Part 2 runs about 3:11 Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1724-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-1-p2-of-2-04-06-26/




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



The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/Y7KSV5MTfHs?&t=140 


Agenda doc including links to the FY 2027 budget 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04062026-2219  


My full set of notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jmG8Vn97Cemo5YjonVvLtr72hkqHHM26/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!

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


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


What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, April 23, 2026 ???

Thursday, April 23


10:00am April Break Youth Lacrosse Clinic (Beaver Pond Recreation Area)

3:00pm Back to Life: Youth Theater Project (SAFE Coalition)

7:00pm Franklin Fathers Wine Tasting (Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions)

7:30pm Dance Company (Dean College Main Stage Theater)



For Library events -> 
For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

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   ***

GATRA Regional Public Meeting

Thursday, April 23 Time: 2:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04232026-2243 


Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, April 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/589?fileID=8914 


----------


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

Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2 at 10 AM

Join Building Equitable Neighborhoods (BEN) for Franklin on Saturday, May 2nd for our fourth annual walking discussion of downtown Franklin! The event is part of an international series in memory of social activist and placemaker Jane Jacobs.

Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2
Join this year's Jane's Walk for conversation and reflection with neighbors! - May 2

The ~1.5 hour tour will begin at 10:30 AM from the Franklin TV studio (43 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA). Parking available.

map of the walk, heading clockwise
map of the walk, heading clockwise

All are welcome, including pets and wheels!
Join us for refreshments and continued discussion after the walk!
This year, we will be joined by regional planning professionals from Congress for a New Urbanism (CNU) New England!

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.


General Purpose

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a Town board that conducts public hearings for variances, special permits and comprehensive permits.

Core Functions

Schedules public hearings for the property owners in Franklin to decide a device that appeals our Zoning Bylaws

Staffing

Three (3) Elected Volunteer Board Members.
Two (2) Elected Volunteer Associate Members.

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

The ZBA has handled all the public hearings and will continue to do so.
There are several new members that have been appointed in recent months.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

The ZBA’s budget has been reduced due to the elimination of the requirement to publish legal notices in the newspaper.



Lauren makes the case for how Brightlight Business Co can help (audio)

FM #1722 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1722 in the series. 


Brightlight Business Co
Brightlight Business Co
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Lauren Mottley, owner of Brightlight Business Co. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Monday, April 20, 2026. 


We cover the following topics

  • Lauren’s “Franklin story”

  • How the “Brightlight” name came to be

  • How the company is positioned to help

  • How to get started


The conversation runs about 41 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio - 
https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1722-brightlight-business-co-04-20-26/


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


Brightlight Business Co - https://brightlightbusinessco.com/ 


Brightlight business LinkedIn page - linkedin.com/company/brightlight-business-co 


Brightlight Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/brightlight_businessco/ 



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


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!

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


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