The Rausch Report for October 2026

Dear Friend,

Greetings and happy (almost) Halloween. I hope you’ve been enjoying the season's harvest fairs and stunning fall foliage as much as I have. Another highlight: I gave the keynote address at Northeastern University’s sustainability symposium, speaking about the pending environmental bond bill and the profound importance of civic engagement for protecting our environment.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I’m proud to share the Senate passed my bill to officially designate October 15 as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Massachusetts! More on that big win, which took place on October 15, below. 

In other legislative news, the Senate plans to vote next week on a $2.6 billion supplemental budget to close out FY26. This budget authorizes millions in investments for regional transit and maternal and children’s health. It would also require simpler cancellation processes for online subscriptions and give towns and cities more flexibility to pay down deficits related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Finally, voting is underway in advance of next week’s Election Day! You can early vote in person through tomorrow, use your mail ballot if you requested one, or vote in person on Tuesday. 

Read on in this month’s Rausch Report for details on voting, upcoming happenings in the district, legislation engrossed by the Senate, events I’ve attended, and more.

For real-time updates, please follow me on Facebook and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.     

Yours in service, 

Senator Becca Rausch

Continue reading this edition of the Rausch Report

https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-18256154?e=0c2c9810fe

Students (middle school & up): You can help to Feed Local Families by Volunteering as a Pantry Elf!

"Looking for a meaningful way to give back this season while earning community service hours? The Franklin Food Pantry is calling on middle school, high school, and college students to join our annual Pantry Elves campaign!

Running through December, Pantry Elves is a student-led online crowdfunding drive. Every dollar raised directly helps the Pantry purchase essential food, personal care items, and household supplies for local families in need.

Make a real impact right here in our community. 

Visit our website https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/pantryelves/ to learn more 

or reach out to Special Events Manager Jen Johnson at Jjohnson@franklinfoodpantry.org to volunteer

Download the flyer to share or as a reminder"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10EKk77TCVuBoPzcj8gAR_epGrYnLhu4C/view?usp=drive_link

Conservation at Farmer's Market Friday, October 30: DIY Field Journals, Native Seeds, Stickers, and More!

"Join us Friday, October 30 tomorrow to design your very own field journal, receive native seeds for your landscape, and more. We look forward to seeing you!"

Shared from - https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/208

Rebecca Loebe scheduled for the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse - Nov. 7

Singer-songwriter Rebecca Loebe has a knack for combining catchy melodies with thoughtful, meaningful lyrics. Blending folk, pop, and Americana, she brings a warm, expressive voice and an engaging sense of humor to her performances.

Audiences may recognize her from the first season of NBC's The Voice, where she was a member of Adam Levine's team. Long before that national television appearance, however, she was already building a loyal following through years of touring and performing.

Based in Austin, Texas, Loebe has taken her music throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. Her critically acclaimed album Give Up Your Ghosts earned praise from Billboard and Rolling Stone, showcasing her ability to tackle subjects such as self-worth and women's equality without sacrificing irresistible melodies. Her concerts offer a wonderful combination of heartfelt storytelling, infectious energy, and the kind of songs you'll find yourself humming on the way home.

Tickets available online - https://www.circlefolk.org/schedule/rebeccaloebe1126

The Horace Mann Legacy started right here in Franklin, MA

"If you’re following the Horace Mann Legacy Instagram account, you probably already know that the father of American public education was born right here in Franklin. But do you know exactly where his childhood home was?

He grew up on his family farm on what is now East Central Street! Today, if you’re running errands at the Horace Mann Plaza or stopping next door at Franklin Liquors, you are passing the exact starting point of a legacy that reshaped the nation’s schools.

The location is denoted by this granite monument right along the road. It’s a quiet, staggering piece of hometown history hiding in plain sight during our daily drives across town.

Next time you're stuck at the light by Shaw's & CVS,  see if you can spot it!"

Follow the Horace Mann Legacy account - https://www.instagram.com/horacemann.legacy/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Friday, October 30, 2026

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:

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)  

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, Oct 30, 2026

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

8:30 am Frank Presents: Tamisha Civil

9:00 am Frank Presents: Mike Maraglia

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel

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

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Chicken Salad

12:30 pm Cook with Linda: Chicken with Dijon

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 4

3:00 pm Senior Expo 2026

3:10 pm FM: Rotary Car Show

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

5:30 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Hayward Manor

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Brother Sun

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

9:30 am Lifelong Music Spring 2025: Band and Glee

11:00 am Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

1:00 pm FHS Winter Jazz 2026

2:30 pm 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

4:00 pm Battleship Cove: Inside the History: Pt. 4

9:30 pm FHSTC: Peter and the Starcatcher

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

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 10-15-26

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 10-15-26

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

Find out how Direct Impact Checking helps both Direct Federal CU and the SAFE Coalition (audio/video)

FM #1844 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1844 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Jennifer Levine, Executive Director, SAFE Coalition and Danya Raphael, Vice President, Brand Experience, Direct Federal Credit Union. We had our discussion virtually on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

 

We talk about 

• Direct Impact Checking

• Account features

• Linked to one of 4 non-profits

• SAFE Coalition

• PFLAG Greater Boston

• The Ellie Fund

• Raising A Reader Massachusetts

• Importance of listening to serve the community

• Importance of building relationships

The recording runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen/watch

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1844-direct-impact-checking-with-safe-coalition-10-27-26/

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlK8J9OiwSk

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Direct Federal home page - https://www.direct.com 

Press release on Direct Impact Checking - https://www.direct.com/learn/news/direct-federal-credit-union-launches-direct-impact-checking-turning-everyday-spending-into-community-impact 

SAFE Coalition home page - https://www.safecoalitionma.org/ 

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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"

Frank Falvey talks with Andrew Mikula about Ballot Question #7 in this episode of Frank Presents (video)

Frank Falvey talks with Andrew Mikula about Ballot Question #7 in this episode of Frank Presents

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3fO5KzGoqU

Town Clerk Nancy Danello talks with Liz Harkins at the Library about the State Election Nov 3, 2026 (video)

Liz Harkins, Executive Director for Franklin TV met with Town Clerk Nancy Danello at the Franklin Public Library early in October to find out about the State election coming up Nov 3, 2026.

Thanks to Mitzi Gousie, Programing and Outreach Coordinator at the Library for hosting this event.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ktQgEuqS4

Visit the Town Clerk's page for additional election info

https://www.franklinma.gov/333/Town-Clerk-Elections-Division

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, October 29, 2026 ???

Thursday, October 29

• Get your spot for the FHS Theatre Company Boosters November Calendar Raffle  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/get-your-spot-for-fhs-theatre-company.html
• Last time to Order your KoC Thanksgiving Pie(s)  Please visit our website www.kofc1847.org/payments-thanksgiving-pie-sale

8:00am Early voting (Town Clerk's Office)

9:00am Advance Removal of Early Voted Ballots (3rd floor trng room)

4:00pm 7th Annual Pumpkin Patch (St John's Episcopal Church)

6:30pm Predatory Relationships in the Suburbs (webinar by SAFE Coalition; Register: https://www.safecoalitionma.org/get-support/webinar)

7:00pm    Ghosts and Legends with Jeff Belanger (Historical Museum)

***  Town Meetings today ***

October 29, 2026 - Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2582 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2574 

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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

Start your Thanksgiving morning at the 15th Annual Franklin Turkey Trot

"Kick off your Thanksgiving morning at the 15th Annual Franklin Turkey Trot - a family-friendly 5K run and walk to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.

Date: Thanksgiving Morning, Thursday, November 26, 2026

Time: Race starts at 8 AM 

Location: Start and finish at 91 Jordan Road, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Franklin, MA 02038

Registration: $30 per participant. Children under 5 run free (no bib provided).

https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Franklin/FranklinTurkeyTrot

Race Shirts: T-shirts are available for purchase online through October 30! A limited number of shirts will be available the morning of the race.

Bib Pickup: Wednesday, November 25, from 7pm to 9pm, or the morning of the race between 6am and 7:30am (in-person registration will also be open during these times).

Awards given to best costume and the top finishers in each age category. Great door prizes will be drawn following the race, accompanied by a light breakfast for all participants.

Thank you to G&C Plumbing and Heating and our local sponsors for helping make this race possible. Their generosity ensures 100% of registration fees benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.

Come out to support a great local cause, enjoy some holiday fun, and start your Thanksgiving on the right foot!"

Conservation Awarded SNEP Mini-Grant to Boost Beaver Coexistence and Climate Resilience

The Franklin Conservation Department has secured a nearly $2,000 mini-grant from the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) and Restore America’s Estuaries to expand its innovative Beaver Coexistence Program.

The new funding will deploy 10 specialized "flow devices" at high-priority locations across Franklin. These non-lethal, water-regulating tools are designed to stop chronic infrastructure and roadway flooding without disrupting local beaver populations and the many benefits that beavers provide. 

By stabilizing water levels, the initiative aims to:

• Prevent Infrastructure Damage: Minimize roadway flooding and protect local stormwater networks.
• Boost Climate Resilience: Maintain critical wetlands that absorb extreme rainfall and mitigate severe droughts.
• Enhance Water Quality: Improve groundwater recharge and naturally filter out sediment and pollutants.

Drawing on research from leading experts like Dr. Sandra Clinton and Dr. Emily Fairfax, the Franklin Conservation Department and Stormwater Environmental Affairs Division aims to dismantle the traditional "beaver nuisance paradigm." The Beaver Coexistence Program treats the animals as vital ecological partners, leveraging natural wetland engineering to build a more resilient landscape.

Shared from - https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/207

FHS field hockey ties with Lincoln-Sudbury on Wednesday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Field hockey = Lincoln-Sudbury, 1 @ Franklin, 1 – Final 

– Franklin closed out the regular season with an impressive draw against Lincoln-Sudbury in a battle of the top two teams in Division 1. The Warriors had been denied a win just once all season entering the matchup, but junior Penelope Brady put the Panthers in front with a beautifully finished penalty stroke late in the first quarter. Lincoln-Sudbury answered early in the second, and neither side could break through again in a tightly contested finish. Junior Elise Ackerman made six saves for the Panthers. 

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-10-28-26/

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

St. John’s Christmas Fair set for December 5th will have Santa, shopping and live Nativity

Save the date. St. John’s Church Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 5th, from 9 am to 2 pm at 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin. Activities all day, while you shop. This event is free and all are welcome.

The Schedule:

• Visit with Santa Claus from 10 AM to 12 PM.
• Live nativity on the front lawn 11 AM to 1 PM
• Shopping all day 9 AM to 2 PM.
• Home-made treats all day 9 AM to 2 PM 

1) Visit and photo op with Santa Claus from 10 AM to 12 noon. 

2) Shopping: Enjoy the popular raffle. Bid on silent auction items and experiences. Check out gift baskets with themes like sports; spa, health and wellness, and pet items. Give the gift of food, wine, coffees, and teas. Treat yourself to fresh, beautiful wreaths and greens. Grandma’s Attic will have unique items to purchase. Buy favorite gift cards from popular restaurants and stores.

3) Home-baked treats: cookies, fudge and other baked goods at the Cookie Walk. Snacks and drinks can be purchased during the fair. 

4) Live nativity scene. What is a live nativity scene? Jesus was born in a barn and lay in a manger, surrounded by animals. We will enact this scene with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and real farm animals (sheep, goats, donkey) during the fair. Visit, learn and enjoy from 11 AM to 1 PM. 

For more information:

Call 508-528-2387 Email admin@stjohnsfranklinma.org

Like us on Facebook See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org 

Franklin Recreation and Franklin Food Pantry Team Up for “Football for Food”

Franklin Recreation’s Flag Football League collected more than 522 pounds of food for the Franklin Food Pantry through its “Food for Football” initiative.

All Flag Football teams participated in the effort, with donations collected during Tuesday and Thursday evening games at Beaver Pond. The community-wide show of support highlights the generosity and commitment of Franklin’s young athletes and their families.

Franklin Recreation and Franklin Food Pantry
Team Up for “Football for Food”

Franklin Recreation and its participants across the town’s sports programs have supported the Franklin Food Pantry since 2019, continuing a tradition of community service that has made a meaningful difference for local families for more than seven years.

Ryan Jette, Director of Recreation would like to thank NFL Flag Football coordinator Jack Geromini and all the players, families, and volunteers who contributed to this successful food drive and helped support neighbors in need!

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Thursday, October 29, 2026

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:

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events  (Repeats Saturday at 3:00 PM)

The Senior Center event highlights for Nov 2026 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/chasity-jillian-share-insights-on.html
 

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM - first hour

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - second hour

Turntable – "Enjoy a fun experience with co-hosts The Vibe and Pauly G sharing personal discussions about a featured rock n roll vinyl record (1st hour) and the best, all music Vibe Playlist (2nd hour)"  

• The Turntable Show features Tom Petty & Heartbreakers From The Vault's Anthology, a special LP release on December 4, 2025.  The LP is delivered on stunning blue vinyl and available to the Tom Petty Nation fan club.   The double album includes many newly released live recordings.  Listen to Pauly G and the Vibe dive deep into the vaults of the best live sound and music selected by Tom Petty.  
• The Vibe Tom Petty Playlist Hour features the award winning, fan favorite, and one of the best TP&HB album's "Damn The Torpedoes".  Enjoy the Turntable Album Experience!

Find the playlist ->  https://tinyurl.com/TurntablePlaylists

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 Thursday, Oct 29, 2026

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

9:00 am Aging Agenda: Brian Maxfield

10:00 am Franklin Matters: Cemetery Tour

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Lobstah

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Chicken Salad

12:35 pm Cook with Linda: Chicken with Dijon

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 4

3:00 pm Senior Expo 2026

3:10 pm FM: Rotary Car Show

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Jenn Goebel

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Dave Hencke

5:30 pm FM Journal October 2026

6:30 pm Frank Presents: Mike Maraglia

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Andrew Mikula

7:30 pm Sons and Daughters of Italy: Carlo Geromini

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Brother Sun

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

7:30 am Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

8:30 am Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Chorus & Orchestra

10:30 am FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Natick 10-17-26

12:30 pm FHS Winter Jazz 2026

2:00 pm Metrowest Symposium: Equity & Access in Arts & Culture

3:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Soccer v Mansfield 10-21-26

6:30 pm Franklin Youth Softball: All-Stars 06-11-26

9:00 pm FHSTC: Peter and the Starcatcher

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 10-22-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 10-22-26

6:00 pm Economic Development Subcommittee 10-29-26 Training Room    854 1996 9089

7:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 10-29-26 CHAMBERS 921 5684 4576

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