Franklin Matters

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Councilor LeBlanc "quarterbacks' the June 10 & June 17 Town Council meetings (audio)

FM #1769 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1769 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Michael LeBlanc. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meetings of June 17 and June 10, 2026. Yes, in reverse order.

We focus on two questions:

ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

June 17 meeting

Swearing of backfill new hires
Budget closeout for FY 2026

June 10

FY 2027 budget approved by 6-3 vote
Capital budget approved by 9-0
CPA funding approved 7-2 vote
Strategic investment to grow revenue

The conversation runs about 50 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1769-town-council-quarterbacking-06-18-26/

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Franklin TV videos for replay

Town Council - June 17 - recap & video link https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/town-council-witnesses-backfill-new.html

Town Council - June 10 - recap & video link https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/town-council-takes-almost-5-hours-to.html

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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.

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How can you help?

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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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Sunday Funday at Fairmount Fruit Farm, from 1 to 5 PM, June 21

"Join us for Father’s Day tomorrow! C&C has a Stuff your Stanley special. Fill your cup up with ice cream for $9.99. Free root beer for Dads.

From 1pm-5pm we’ll have water games setup at our playground. Our mining sluice will also be running, check it out and mine for gems or fossils! 

Local goods in our store - Dom’s meats, pickled items, dessert pies and more!"

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

Franklin TV: FIFA Fans Are – Great!

The Scots Partaay! The Japanese Tidy Up.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/21/2026

After all the puffery and prep – FIFA is actually here. For me, the games are somewhat interesting,; the big stats and records, a bit more so, but I’m really enjoying the fans, no matter which great country they come from.

They are people of the world who just want to enjoy the moment and each other where each is rightfully proud of his/her/their great country. There’s that word ‘great’ again. This is a moment where we are all great – appreciating, and being appreciated by, each other. The Scots showed us that partying and kilts – and joy are never out of style. Tidying up the stadium, Team Japan demonstrated their national commitment to cleanliness and a shared respect for the public good. Having visited and greatly enjoyed both great countries, I can vouch. They’re all great. See you at the Franklin watch parties. It’ll be great.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching.

Thanks for listening to wfpr●fm,

and staying informed at Franklin●news.

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 Library closing early June 24 & June 25

Franklin Library closing early June 24 & June 26

via the Franklin Public Library

"May I have your attention please! The Franklin Public Library will be closing early on Wednesday June 24 and Thursday June 25 at 3:00 PM.

The outside drop boxes are always open and our digital collections are available 24-7!"

Note: The Senior Center is also scheduled to close early on both Wednesday & Thursday due to the Fan Zone on the Town Common

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1GeG2G54Wb/

Memorial Day Ceremonies in the Town of Franklin (MA) 2026 (video)

Due to the weather the parade was canceled on Memorial Day 2026. The ceremonies at Dean College, Union St Cemetery and St Mary's Cemetery did happened as scheduled.

The ceremonies on the Town Common at noon also ran as scheduled.

The Franklin TV recording captured all of those and is available - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILTuEWRF1g

The Franklin Matters recap includes photos, audio, and a copy of the program

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/05/town-of-franklin-2026-memorial-day.html

Honor guard preparing 21 gun salute

Franklin Public Library events the week of June 22 - June 27, 2026

Start your summer fun at the Library!

Get Summer Reading with the 'Plant a Seed' Starting Workshop! M 6-22 4pm
Practice makes progress at the Mahjong Meetup! Tu 6-23 6pm
Don't forget your towel for a Legendary Foam Party Sa 6-27 10:30am
Find a rainbow in a Butterfly Garden! Sa 6-27 1-3pm

Note The Library closes early on Weds/Thu due to the World Cup Fan Zone on the Town Common

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

CommonWealth Beacon: "DiZoglio’s campaign to audit the Legislature is fueled by misinformation, political ambition, and personal attacks"

"TWO WEEKS AGO, the House passed legislation that establishes a framework for a constitutionally viable financial audit of the Legislature, and that subjects the Legislature and governor’s office to public records law for the first time.

The bill provides the state auditor, Diana DiZoglio, with all of the documents that she has requested and codifies into law an extensive list of documents that the Legislature must make available to the public.

To craft the audit section of this legislation, the House worked diligently to address the separation of powers concerns that have been raised by constitutional scholars, while working closely with good-government and transparency advocates at the ACLU of Massachusetts and Common Cause Massachusetts to draft the public records portion of the bill.

In other words, the House bill demonstrates the advantages that are unique to the legislative process – a system through which members of the public, experts, and advocates from across the political spectrum can come together to arm legislators with a baseline of facts and best practices in order to produce practical, effective legislation that is responsive to our constituents.

Since then, experts on this issue have argued that the House bill takes “an important step toward enhancing legislative transparency.” Upon passage, the ACLU of Massachusetts said that this approach will give residents the legal right “to documents providing a wealth of insight into legislative and gubernatorial operations, finances, audits, ethics, and where individual legislators stand on important policy decisions.”

The problem, though, is that you probably didn’t hear any of that."

Continue reading the Opinion piece by Ronald Mariano, speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/dizoglios-campaign-to-audit-the-legislature-is-fueled-by-misinformation-political-ambition-and-personal-attacks

Franklin's State Rep Jeff Roy outlined this issue recently

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/whats-up-with-audit-state-rep-jeff-roy.html

How to avoid a travel scam this summer

Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

How to avoid a travel scam this summer

By BCP Staff

Summer is here! If you haven't made your vacation plans yet, you might be looking for a deal. While you look for bargains, scammers are looking for ways to reach you…and your money.

Here are some things to know to help you avoid travel scams.

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday, June 21, 2026

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm
schedule for Sunday, June 14, 2026

Yes, Franklin has its own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a schedule full of 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:

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

Saturday, June 20, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, June 20, 2026 ???

Saturday, June 20

8:00am St. Mary Men's Faith Formation Group (St. Mary's Parish)

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:00am Fallen Hero: Edward A. Kelly (Veterans Walkway, Franklin Town Common)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Revolutionaries in White: A Look Across Three Centuries of Bridal Fashion (Franklin Historical Museum)

10:00am Rise Up (Franklin United Methodist Church)

4:00pm South Street Six (live music) (Dean College Stage at Patriot Place)

5:00pm 3rd Annual Celebration of Life Fun Run Festival (Plainville)

7:30pm Garden of Hedon (live music) (THE BLACK BOX)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

*** NO Town Meetings today ***

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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

Fallen Hero Recognition: Edward A. Kelly - June 20, 2026 - 9 AM

There is a Fallen Hero Recognition event today (6/20/26) at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly, U.S. Army.

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history may be available for that veteran. This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

Fallen Hero: First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly, U.S. Army

First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly, U.S. Army, was born on May 28, 1915, son of Michael and Ellen Kelly. Edward lived with his parents and one brother at 129 Fisher Street.

First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly was an officer in the regular army having enlisted on November 13, 1934. When conflict broke out, 1LT Kelly was sent to a tank outfit for training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was then ordered to the Hawaiian Islands to serve in an amphibious tractor outfit.

1LT Kelly died a short time later on June 20, 1944, at age 29, while serving in Hawaii.

1LT Edward A. Kelly was survived by his wife, Rose, and a child who were living in Los Angeles, CA at that time.

First Lieutenant Edward A. Kelly was interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 17, 1949.

For the full series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this linkhttp://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

The schedule of Fallen Heroes for the year on one page (PDF)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tlyiAK18owM81p8aJs1vhKc3p2bIK1cv/view?usp=drive_link

Free Emergency Preparedness class on Monday, July 20

via Franklin Fire Dept

"Come join us on Monday, July 20th at 4 PM. Our Paramedic Intern will be providing a free class on Emergency Preparedness. The location is our Fire Headquarters at 40 West Central St. "

Download the flyer as a reminder or to share -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qzfzHKUjT2GuawPMqXYQoVftJNh4qcrE/view?usp=drive_link

Beaver St Interceptor (BSI) Construction Updates ~ Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26, 2026

Beaver Street CLOSURE Alert - RT. 140 (West Central Street) to Recreation Center.  Monday (6/22) through Friday (6/26) 7 AM to 4 PM:

All Traffic for Beaver Street will be rerouted to Grove Street for access.   This includes those needing to access Franklin Glass and the residents at 242 - 270 Beaver Street. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert: Monday (6/22) through Friday (6/26) 7 AM to 3 PM:

The contractor will reinstall sidewalks within RT. 140 (West Central Street). The work will be contained within the southbound lane from Burger King to Beaver Street. During this time there will be lane closures on RT. 140. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Please reference the interactive map and posted signs for details and updates. - https://www.franklinma.gov/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

We appreciate the public's continued support and understanding and will continue to communicate regularly via social media, our dedicated email list, and the construction map as work progresses.

Garden Of Hedon scheduled to perform at THE BLACK BOX, Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 PM

Vintage style psychedelic blues rock with just a shot of punk rock attitude. Theswagger of The Stones, meets the sophistication of The Beatles, combined with the power of Led Zeppelin, and the eclectic weirdness of early David Bowie and Alice Cooper.