LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Tuesday, March 10 and FREE

Experience the health benefits of joyful laughter on Tuesday, March 10 (and every second Tuesday once a month) from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

LET'S LAUGH TODAY

Laughter Yoga is a body/mind practice for well-being that involves deep breathing and a few stretches, playful laughter exercises (no jokes or comedy), clapping and deep relaxation. It can strengthen the immune system, combat the negative effects of stress, and is a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety. 



Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! You can sit or stand. 

New laughers are always welcomed! Please bring your water bottle because laughing is dehydrating. This is a FREE event! 

Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Master Trainers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. www.letslaughtoday.com. If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com. 

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Mar 6 to THU - Mar 12

Friday, March 6

10:00am

 Knitting Group

Saturday, March 7

9:30am

 St. Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

10:30am

 Library- Baby Sensory!- Ages 0-2

10:30am

 Library-Dog Man Party!-Whole Family

3:00pm

 Library - Cookbook Club - Adults

3:00pm

 Library-Teen Pasta Party!-Ages 13-18

8:00pm

 Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey in Concert

Sunday, March 8

 Daylight Saving Time starts

8:00am

 All You Can Eat Breakfast

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:10pm

 Second Sunday Speaker Series

3:00pm

 Library - Celebrating Ireland - All ages

Monday, March 9

10:30am

 Library-Move Along- Ages 0-5

3:30pm

 Library- D&D for Kids- Ages 7-13

Tuesday, March 10

 MICCA Showcase Concert Chorus&Orch

9:30am

 Library- Cool Cruisers- 8mo-18mo

10:30am

 Library-Get Ready for Kindergarten- 3-5yrs

4:00pm

 Library-Toe-Tapping Tuesdays-Ages 2-4!

6:00pm

 Library - Adults - Drop-In ESL Conversation Class

7:30pm

 Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting

7:30pm

 Let's Laugh Today

Wednesday, March 11

10:30am

 Library- Terrific Toddlers- Ages 18mo-3yrs

3:30pm

 Library- Creation Station!- Ages 4+

4:30pm

 SPRING DISTRICT VISUAL AARTS SHOWCASE

6:30pm

 Library-Teen Advisory Board-Teens (13+)

7:30pm

 Franklin Newcomers and Friends: Steve Sherlock talks about Franklin Matters

Thursday, March 12

 MICCA Showcase Band Concert

9:30am

 Library- Tummy Time- Ages 0-12mo (pre-walkers)

10:30am

 Library-Story Xplorers- Ages 0-5

4:00pm

 Library- Bookworm Bounce Storytime!- Ages 0-5

6:30pm

 Library-Tales for Tails-Grades 2+

For the interactive version, please visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/links/submit-event

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Mar 6 to THU - Mar 12

SAFE Coalition creates the "Jeffrey N. Roy - Excellence in Public Service Award"

The SAFE Coalition presented its’ first annual “Jeffrey N. Roy Excellence in Public Service Award” to State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D) Franklin. 

Representative Roy is a founding member and Director of SAFE Coalition.
The award has been named for Representative Roy in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to prevention, destigmatization and treatment of Substance Use Disorder. 

The “Jeffrey N. Roy - Excellence in Public Service Award“ will be awarded annually to a person(s) who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to prevention and/or treatment of Substance Use Disorder.

SAFE Coalition president Jennifer Levine said, “Since helping to launch the coalition in 2015 Jeff Roy has been a tireless advocate for those impacted by Substance use Disorder. Jeff provided the leadership our organization needed in its early formation and has secured over $150,000 for SAFE in state funding that has enabled us to do our work."

About SAFE Coalition, Inc
SAFE is a regional coalition of community partners in Western Norfolk County (serving Franklin, Foxboro, Mansfield, Medway, Norfolk, Plainville, Walpole, Wrentham and surrounding towns) who have come together to provide a pathway for support, education, treatment options and coping mechanisms for those affected by substance use disorder. We do so by empowering those affected, including their families, with the tools necessary to succeed on their journey to recovery   https://www.safecoalitionma.org/

L-R Jennifer Levine, Rep Jeff Roy, Jim Derrick (Facebook photo via Rep Roy and SAFE Coalition)

FHS boys hockey team drop game to Archbishop Williams to end playoff run

Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap for the FHS boys hockey loss to Archbishop Williams, ending their playoff run 0-3.

"The Franklin boys hockey team had a sizable advantage in shots on goal, chances in the offensive end, and time in the attacking zone, but the Panthers walked away from Gallo Ice Arena with nothing to show for it.

Despite outplaying the 14th-seeded Bishops of Archbishop Williams for most of the game, the Panthers came up empty-handed. Archies scored a pair of power play goals and added a shorthanded one to skate to a 3-0 decision over the 10th-seeded Panthers.

“The seedings, you can throw them away,” said Franklin head coach Anthony Sarno. The D1 South Semifinals featured 9, 10, 12, and 14 seeds. “It’s about who comes to play, who wants it more. You’ve got to be on the right side of the puck and tonight, we had our chances we just couldn’t put it away. I thought we carried a lot of the play in the first and second periods, we just couldn’t put on behind the goalie.

“You can’t put your finger on one single thing, but it just wasn’t our night. I told the seniors, don’t hang your heads. We tried to do the best we could tonight, we just didn’t have it tonight. But it’s a great group of boys and they worked hard from start to finish.”

Continue reading the game recap:
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-blanked-by-bishops-in-south-semifinals/

For a photo gallery from this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2019-2020/Winter-2019-2020/Franklin-Archbishop-Williams-Boys-Hockey-03-05-20/

Franklin senior goalie Ray Ivers makes a save on a shot from Archbishop Williams’ Alex Umbro in the second period. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FM #216 Board of Health Meeting March 4, 2020 (audio)

FM #216 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 216 in the series.

The Franklin (MA) Board of Health met at 5 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Interesting to note that while coronavirus was among the topics, the Health Director Cathleen Liberty was following best practices and participated remotely as she was not feeling well. A good example to set for us all these days.

Chair Bridget Sweet opens the meeting. Members Tim Cochrane and Jeff Harris participate. Ginny McNeil the Health Agent also contributes actively to the meeting. There is acknowledgement of a Town Council who entered the room during the course of the meeting to sit and participate. In case you don’t recognize his voice, for the record I can say it was Eamon Earls.

The agenda document is linked to in the show notes
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/agenda/boh-agenda-36

The new coronavirus information portal was discussed and the link is included here
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/urgent-alerts/corona-virus-information-portal

The meeting audio runs about 45 minutes so without further ado, let’s listen in to the Board of Health meeting of March 4, 2020  Audio Link 
https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDfQW0wX






We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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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coronavirus information portal

Artist Reception: Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau - March 29

The First Universalist Society in Franklin will be hosting a public reception for Franklin artist Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau on Sunday, March 29, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 

Please join the artist and learn about her series of paintings called “Future Awash”. (www.chrisbluelamb.com) Ms. Toubeau uses art as a vehicle to communicate about the current climate change crisis, and how humans are complicit. 

The exhibit will run from March 9 - May 3 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. www.fusf.org

Please join the artist and learn about her series of paintings called “Future Awash”

Purim dinner, service, and Megillah reading - March 9

Purim dinner, service, and Megillah reading scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 6:00 PM.

RSVP to rac@temple-etzchaim.org for the dinner only.  Location is Temple Etz Chaim, 900 Washington ST. in Franklin

Purim dinner, service, and Megillah reading - March 9

For more about the Temple and its services, visit their page
https://temple-etzchaim.org/

FYI - Purim commemorates the day Esther, Queen of Persia, saved the Jewish people from execution by Haman, the advisor to the Persian king